After the fog, the first flowers. Orient and orientalisms, from modernism to modernity

PAST EXHIBITION

FROM 26.04.23 TO 7.01.23

Casa Asia and Casa Vicens present the exhibition project After the fog, the first flowers. Orient and orientalisms from modernism to modernity. This exhibition brings together the work of 24 contemporary Spanish, Latin American and Asian artists who offer their personal creations in an interpretation of floral representation.

The exhibition can be seen from April 26 to January 7, 2024, at Casa Vicens, Antoni Gaudí’s first house where from its conception, the architect established a constant dialogue with the garden that surrounds the house, where a nature-themed ornamental model can be seen in all its rooms.

This is a unique exhibition that, for the first time in Barcelona, will bring together 24 contemporary artists who share a common link, the floral theme. Each one of them will form their own creative discourse through different formats and techniques, such as drawing, painting, photography, video and installation. This exhibition project relates the orientalism of modernism and the globalisation of art today.

Of the 24 artists participating in the exhibition, 11 are Spanish: Antoni Muntadas (installation), Javier Garcerá (painting), Pablo Marchante (painting), Teresa Esteban (painting), Joan Fontcuberta (photography), Nicolás Combarro (photography), Linarejos Moreno (photography), Paula Anta (photography), Manuel V. Alonso (drawing), Marina Nuñez (video), and Marisa González (video-installation). The North American Ana Ance (photography) and the Frenchman Jean Marie del Moral (photograph) have Spanish nationality.

Nine are Asian: the Japanese Mari Ito (pictorial installation), Takashi Murakami (painting), Yasumasa Morimura (photography), Nobuyoshi Araki (photography) and Azuma Makoto (video). The Koreans Han Sungpil (video) and Lee Lee Nam (video), the Chinese Luo Min (painting) and the Filipino Wawi Navarroza (photography). Two Latin American artists complete the exhibition: the Colombian Alberto Baraya (installation) and the Peruvian Cecilia Paredes (photography).

The curator of the exhibition, Menene Gras Balaguer, defines the exhibition project as “a sharing of the representation of floral forms related to all the contemporary productions that have been grouped together, arousing particular interest in the validity of floral representation in contemporary art; and, on the other hand, from the perspective of the floral theme that these artists share, to suggest connections that can be developed between the works shown, the history that precedes them and the links that demonstrate their appeal as manifestations valued by artistic historiography and contemporary criticism”.

Those who come to see the exhibition at Casa Vicens will be able to enjoy a unique dialogue around the floral theme, within the framework of a building that has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, that of Casa Vicens, with works by important figures from the national and international art scene.

Press kit

An initiative of Casa Asia and Casa Vicens Gaudí, with the sponsorship of Fundacion ACS and with the support of aTt and MoraBanc.