Key takeaways
"Warning: Perception requires involvement," reads a large red sign on the window of Galeria MPA at 2 Rivington Street. For its downtown Manhattan pop-up, the international extension of Madrid-based Galeria Moises Perez de Albeniz has opted to present a group show gathering seven of their artists. Its paintings, sculptures, and installations give the feeling of entering a heterogeneous art fair booth, nine miles away from Frieze's tents on Randall's Island.
For gallery director Jordi Rigol, not participating in the main event of New York's art week is a no-brainer: "The art market is something the art world doesn't like too much." For its first time trying the pop-up model, the Spanish gallery has found a way to "have a stronger presence outside the country." According to Rigol, the experience was successful and he will continue to pop up even as the gallery participates in major fairs in New York and South America.
According to Rigol, being "more affordable" is not the only reason the pop-up model has been successful for him. The economic crisis hit Spain very hard, and many of its publicly funded art institutions cut their budgets, which actively affects the support of contemporary creation. As a result, the local contemporary art scene is weakened. In order for Galeria Moises Perez de Albeniz, launched in 2013, to maintain its ambitious programming in its large 1800-square-foot white-wall, grey-floor gallery in the heart of Madrid, they will have to embrace the nomadic aspect of the contemporary art industry.
In the seven-artist group show at 2 Rivington Street, you will find featured artworks by established and upcoming artists such as American Tony Oursler and Spanish painter Santiago Giralda. The exhibition is a good entry point to the artistic direction of the gallery. As the "Warning" artwork by Muntadas tells at the entrance: in order to experience these artworks properly, you will have to make an effort. Jordi Rigol explains that the gallery is interested in exploring the current trends of political and social context-based artworks while also supporting contemporary creation in the more traditional medium of painting and sculpture. "Painting has been murdered so many times!"
A "must" visit if you're in the neighborhood.
Interested in staging your own exhibition or pop-up gallery? Explore our spaces or get in touch with the Parasol Projects team.