Two very symbolic works for Argentine culture were part, 10 years ago, of the inauguration of the MAR Museum, in Mar del Plata. The first was the “Alfajores sea lion”, a sculpture by Marta Minujín located on the esplanade of the institution, which was not only the first to enter its heritage, but also the one that forever became its iconic image. The second was a giant sculpture of Moria CasanRealized by Edgardo Gimenezwhich was part of the Museum’s first exhibition dedicated to pop art.
The two works undeniably dialogued with the tradition of one of the most important cities in Argentina. Over time, the Museum would also become a cultural symbol of Mar del Plata, a must-visit station for visitors and residents.
This year, on its tenth anniversary, the institution plans a special program, which will provide attractions for very diverse audiences. In principle, two exhibitions expose the best of Argentine art: “EXTRA/ordinary”, an exhibition in the context of BIENALSUR, the great international art biennial (the Mar Museum is kilometer zero of the latest edition); and “Broken Vision”, a retrospective of Luis Felipe Noé, in tribute to his 90 years. But it will also offer a large number of educational and recreational activities. “Collective exhibitions and recognized artists alongside emerging artists; performances, music cycles, sound and digital arts, film cycles and educational programs; actions that will invite reflection, exchange and debate around contemporary art,” the director, Ezequiel Pérez Sáenz, explains to NOTICIAS.
History and present
The Museum was inaugurated on December 27, 2013, under the management of Daniel Scioli in the province of Buenos Aires. The Monoblock Studio was chosen by competition to carry out the project of what would be the most modern museum in Argentina and the first built specifically for this purpose. The design of its 7,000 m2 highlights the use of exterior light and the versatility of its spaces, capable of containing all kinds of exhibitions.
Minujin’s “wolf” is the most characteristic image of the building. It is 10 meters high, made of iron and metal and was inaugurated together with the museum, covered by 50,000 Havanna alfajores wrappers (another symbol of the city). A year later, a crowd of around 10,000 people removed those wrappings along with the artist, in a true popular festival led by the governor. The wolf showed its true skin and people were able to exchange the metallic covers for boxes of real, tangible alfajores.
“More than 450 artists who were part of the museum in these 10 years,” explains Pérez Sáenz. Marta Minujín, Edgardo Giménez, Luciana Lamothe, Nicola Costantino, Mondongo, until this year it became Km 0 of BIENALSUR and had the honor of receiving Luis Felipe Noé. Even the challenge of navigating the pandemic is a moment to stand out.”
What did the creation of the museum mean for Mar del Plata? “It had an enormous positive impact on urban and territorial planning, enhancing public and private spaces and modifying the cultural fabric of the city,” explains Pérez Sáenz. If today we see a postcard from 10 years ago, of this area of the city, and compare it with one from today, there is no doubt that the growth was exponential.”
The museum does not have permanent exhibits. The exhibitions change throughout the year and those who visit in summer always find a different offer. The educational role of the institution is also very important because it interacts with schools in the region by providing informative visits, at the same time that it proposes teaching content in workshops and meetings.
“The museum is a space in which a multiplicity of quality artistic expressions coexist, and in which we give visibility and prominence to the production of artists from Buenos Aires and the country,” says Pérez Sáenz.
The samples
Those who visit the MAR Museum this summer, interested in its contemporary art offerings, will find two important exhibitions.
As we mentioned before, the institution was established as Kilometer Zero of BIENALSUR, an international cultural event that holds exhibitions in different places in Argentina and the world. Within the context of the Biennial, the “EXTRA/ordinario” exhibition exhibits works by Delia Cancela, Gaspar Libedinsky, Marie Orensánz, Liliana Porter, Mariana Tellería, Pedro Tyler and many others, which “appeal to dishabituate our gaze on everyone’s things.” the days, to reveal its subversive potential; with works that redefine the horizon of the domestic,” according to its curators, Florencia Battiti and Fernando Farina.
On the other hand, “Visión Quebrada” is an exceptional exhibition because it brings together all of Luis Felipe Noé’s installations, from the ’60s to today, in tribute to his 90 years. It was made through the joint work of the Luis Felipe Noé Foundation and the MAR Museum, curated by Cecilia Ivanchevich. It exhibits pieces that have never been seen in Argentina along with others made especially for the exhibition. “Noé questions us about the role of the artist in our country. His painting expands, crosses disciplines and creates an interweaving of materialities, historical resonances and conceptual articulations,” explains the curatorial text.
A museum is a living organism that creates an audience and a story in relation to the social and political context in which it is inserted. It can change the expression of a city and become a necessary and innovative cultural beacon. As the director of the MAR Museum expresses, in relation to this almost brand new institution, with a lot of future to create, “we consider it essential that our community and our creators and artists know that we are here to grow together and live inside and outside the walls of the museum.” .
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