Year after year, the ARCOmadrid International Contemporary Art Fair shows its momentum and audacity when it comes to tracking the latest trends in contemporary art. As one of the most important events worldwide, it brings together the sector’s most innovative artists and reputed specialists.
This year marked the 35th anniversary of this fair, and these three and a half decades of history were reflected in the section Imagining Other Futures in addition to the 169 galleries included in the General Programme. The event also included a further 19 galleries in the Opening section, and 18 in Solo Projects. This exceptional representation of galleries and artists reflected the very best of these 35 editions, whilst also including key up-and-coming artists.
For the first time in over 20 years, there was no Guest Country, which highlighted the exceptional nature of this project and the importance of ARCOmadrid on the international art scene.
ARCOmadrid once again revolved around its General Programme, featuring 169 galleries chosen by the Organising Committee. These included galleries returning to the Fair, such as Thaddaeus Ropac, Giorgio Persano, Marilia Razuk, Nathalie Obadia and the classic 1900-2000, Alfonso Artiaco and Denise René galleries. There were also galleries taking part for the very first time, including ones from the Middle East / MENASA, such as Isabelle Van Den Eynde and Selma Feriani, further strengthening the presence of art from this geographical region, initiated at the previous edition by the Sabrina Amrani gallery.
The fair once again presented projects by individual artists or artists working in teams, such as Diango Hernández and Antonio Paucar, Barbara Thumm, Jimmie Durham and Haegue Yang, Barbara Wien, Maria Taniguchi, Carlier / Gebauer, and Greta Bratescu and Iulia Toma, from the Ivan Gallery, strengthening the status of ARCOmadrid as a Research Fair focusing on creators.
This year, the Solo Projects comprised two themes: Art on an intersection with Time – in theatre, music, and dance -; and Subversion through humour. Artists such as Carlos Leppe, Camel Collective, Mercedes Azpilicueta, and Erika Ordosgoitti also took part in the programme that encompassed the offerings of 18 galleries with projects linked to the proposed themes.
Emerging art was displayed at the Opening section, a programme encompassing 19 galleries that have been open for fewer than 7 years.