“Argentine art presents a vibrant scene, which despite its challenges attracts the active participation of new names, new buyers, the emergence of new galleries and new ways of making connections. In times of crisis there is a lot of renewal, and arteba is a constant source of stimuli for this to happen”, says the president of the arteba foundation, Larisa Andreani, anticipating what will happen in the 32nd edition of one of the most important fairs in the region. This year will develop from September 1 to 3 at the Costa Salguero Center. Two days before, museums, institutions and guests will be able to make their first purchases.
Difficult crossroads, in a year crossed by the ups and downs of politics, at a hot electoral moment and with an economy that discourages transactions in dollars. Faced with this scenario, where there will be barely ten percent of foreign galleries participating, an effort was made to generate more demand than supply from abroad, with a strong commitment to local creation, through the exhibition of works from more than 400 artists, represented by 58 galleries from more than 15 citiesmostly Argentine.
It is expected that this new challenge will cause “new buyers of all ages” to continue joining, the same ones that, according to Andreani, surprised in the last edition. And that the current conditions result in a greater influx of visitors and collectors from other countries.
“Although there is great electoral and economic uncertainty that makes everything less predictable, arteba is the center of art consumption for Argentines and a notable opening window for collecting at a regional level, as well as an inexhaustible source for discovering new talents and proposals”, says Tomás Redrado from the Miami-based TOMAS REDRADO ART gallery, in his first bet on the local market.
Estela Gismero, from the Del Infinito gallery, redoubles her confidence in the Fair with a 120-meter space and internationally renowned artists. “We know that it is a year of uncertainty in all areas, and we are not exempt; but we continue to bet on art and on this fair, which is a mouthful of freshness and good energy for participants and the public. This time with artists of the stature of Julio Le Parc, Rogelio Polesello, Andre Komatsu and Andrea Vita, among others”, she explains.
How is the sample
It will be distributed in two sectors, the Main Section -linked to established and renowned galleries- and Utopia, incorporated in 2022, which is oriented towards the most recent productions.
As a federalist novelty and in search of new names, they will participate six projects in Resistencia, Rosario, Calafate, Salta, Córdoba and Buenos Aires thanks to the MICA Utopia Scholarshipa program inaugurated this year by the arteba Foundation and the Argentine Ministry of Culture, through the Argentine Cultural Industries Market (MICA).
The selection of participating galleries and spaces was in charge of an independent committee made up of César Abelenda (director of Galería Pasto), the independent curators Carla Barbero and Sonia Becce; Leopol Mones Cazón (director of Isla Flotante Gallery) and Marina Pellegrini (director of Vasari Gallery). This committee sought the coexistence of the great names of modern art in our country, as well as show the most recent work of artists with international recognition.
“Our commitment is to make a fair of the highest artistic quality, attractive and convening. We are going to work for the people who always accompany us, but also to broaden the interest towards a new audience for the artists of Argentina”, says Larisa Andreani. A vast artistic program curated by professionals specialized in each area that includes large works (such as the immersive work by Mariela Vita that will welcome the public at Espacio Andreani), live performances in a section sponsored by Patio Bullrich and the program of IRSA videos that will present works by Marie Louise Alemann, Batato Barea, Federico Klemm and Alejandro Kuropatwa, among others. To this is added the consecrated Isla de Ediciones de Fundación Proa, which links the practice with the theory of art.
A year with an artistic offer so outstanding that it caused several galleries that ran out of space in arteba to unite in “Affair”a brand new artistic exhibition satellite in tune with the Fair, which will bring together emerging artists with vast experience, based at the Saldías Cultural Center, as Art Basel and its parallel exhibitions.
vote for novelty
These powerful proposals, with artistic programs in a diversity of formats and innovative voices in contemporary production, differentiate Vamos a Arteba from other fairs. This year, with a return to painting. A trend that is becoming strong in the world. But, in addition, sustainability, inclusion, diversity and accessibility; hot topical issues that have always been a leitmotif on arteba’s agenda, and that today are redoubling their commitment in a renewed way.
This sustained ideology is reflected in programs such as the Zurich Art and Sustainability program, curated by Lara Marmor, who was also in charge of the show Luz y fuerza: Art and spirituality in the new millennium, currently exhibited in Malba. To which is added an agreement with Genneia to make arteba a carbon neutral event. And also support for art and social impact initiatives in association with YPF.
Another of the novelties of this edition is the Arteba Prize for Collecting, which will be given this year for the first time, as well as the Fundación Corporación América Prize, with the aim of recognizing an artist with the acquisition of his work.
“With more than thirty years, arteba has gone through several political and economic crises, and there have been super successful fairs with a lot of renovation,” concludes Andreani.
This is confirmed by the missionary Andres Paredes. Since his first presentation in the Barrio Joven project in 2005, he has not stopped participating every year in the fair that gave him a strong boost to his career. In this new edition, by the hand of the Cott gallery, together with Lucila Gradin; For the first time, he will have a space of more than 18 meters where he will show painting, something totally unprecedented in his career.
“There have always been moments of crisis, but there is something like an internal engine that this fair generates, a passion for discovering artists and new works that is greatly highlighted. I think it will be a great year for arteba”, predicts the artist.
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