Independent curator. His trajectory includes the artistic direction of DAMA Fair, Turin (2016-2019), curation at MIA Art Fair, Milan, and many other exhibitions in the global context.
What was your favorite moment at Swab 2022?
Swab is always very charming and gets better and better each year. You can always discover new artists, meet new people, gallerists, curators, and collectors absorbing positive energies while pleasantly walking around the fair and breathing fresh air.
What did you discover at Swab 2022?
Instinctively retracing the images and memories from the past edition of Swab 2022, generally speaking, some of my favourite proposals were: Fran Reus, L21 Gallery, Palma / Galerie Romero Paprocki, Paris / Natasha Arselan, Paris Gallery / Mouches Volantes, London / Lætitia Gorsy, Cologne / She BAM!, Leipzig / L.U.P.O. Lorenzelli Projects, Milan and so forth.
Fran Reus, L21 Gallery, Palma
Mouches Volantes, London
She BAM!, Leipzig
L.U.P.O. Lorenzelli Projects, Milan
Natasha Arselan, Paris Gallery
Galerie Romero Paprocki, Paris
What makes Swab different as a trade show?
Considering it as the greatest strength, what I find very attractive about Swab is its democratic will: the fair offers a perfect balance between emerging proposals and well established projects. Furthermore, it provides the visitor with a very interesting portrait of what is happening both on the local and the international artistic scene, reuniting galleries and independent spaces from all over the world. All in all, I believe that people should go to Swab to keep their curiosity alive.
Where do you think the new trends in emerging art are heading in the coming years?
Apart from re-thinking and re-shaping historical narratives from different perspectives, hopes, humanity’s uncertain future and a certain kind of stream of consciousness transposed into art, geographically speaking I would say mainly Brazil and Argentina.
Which projects are keeping you busy these days?
For the third year I will curate an entire section at MIA Photo Fair in Milan called “Beyond Photography: Dialogue” and the Prisma Art Prize focused on paintings at the end of this year. Apart from that, I’m working on a number of future curated exhibitions in various parts of the world and with different realities.
We spoke to Isa Natalia Castilla. Cofounder and partner of Feria Material Mexico City since 2014. Her trajectory includes opening her art gallery in 2021, Castilla/ Klyuyeva, en Monterrey, and starting Cuadrante, a cultural festival to promote art, design and architecture in Monterrey.
What was the “genesis” of Material Art Fair?
Material started in 2014 in Mexico City as a fair for young galleries and art projects, which were booming in the Mexican art scene. We wanted to do a fair were galleries could take risks and show exciting and emerging artists. Over the years the fair has evolved in many ways; we are an international art fair where prominent Mexican and international galleries participate, we have 5 curatorial programs happening simultaneously at the fair and have expanded to another city, Guadalajara since 2021.
What is the value and purpose of human scale fairs as Material and Swab?
Material has an amount of stands that allows for galleries to be visible and collectors to make a connection with the artworks. For any fair, you want the art work to be the main attraction and what people talk about. Material feels like a more intimate fair to do exactly that.
What would you like to see in this new edition of Swab 2023?
Galleries have to plan their participation also thinking about where they will be showing, so I am interested to see how different or similar it is to what they would present in Latin America for example. I am also interested to get to know more Spanish galleries and artists.
Where do you think the new trends in emerging art are heading in the coming years?
I see a return to painting and artists working with ceramic, a very traditional material and creating some beautiful pieces.
Which projects are keeping you busy these days?
I can´t keep calm, so we are already organizing Material 10 and the second edition of Cuadrante, a new festival I started in Monterrey, where we present art, design and architecture. Organizing large events takes time and if these get organized with time, there are better outcomes and less surprises.
We spoke to Jesper Stieler. Art collector for 35 years and member of the Danish Collecting Society. As the founder of Stieler & Company, he has travelled all over the world on business, an experience that has allowed him to discover the international contemporary art scene and discover new emerging artists.
What was your favorite moment at Swab 2022?
My favorite moment at SWAB was the visit and party at the iconic Miehes Van de Rohe pavilion which is one of the most important “events/design/art” on my wish list that somehow I had never visited before.
What did you discover at Swab 2022?
I discovered a Japanese artist Taichi Nakamura, born in 1982 and Katherinne Fiedler, born in Peru in 1982 and Guillermo García Cruz, born in Uruguay in 1988.
Guillero Garcí Cruz. Galería Zielinsky
Taichi Nakamura. Cave-AyumiGallery
Katherinne Fiedler. Paseolab Gallery
What makes Swab different as a trade show? SWAB has a very intimate and atmospheric feel “not too big or too small”. The Feria and VIP program is like being with private friends – “Share and relax in good company”.
Where do you think the new trends in emerging art are heading in the coming years?
I think the emerging art scene will move towards a protest against the destruction of the environment and nature, the excessive use of raw materials and a more sustainable world and local crafts will be a more important part of the emerging artist, as well as digital art will be more important.
What was the last work you added to your collection?
Lately I have added 3 new artist to my collection; Johannes Holt Iversen, DK, born 1989 Maria Zahle, DK, born 1979Manon Steyaert, FR/UK, born 1996
Swab Barcelona wishes you a great start of the year and to welcome it we propose you to celebrate as we closed the edition of Swab 2022. Did you enjoy the amazing music of Dübbel G and the wonderful cocktails of Cointreau? Repeat the party with all your loved ones enjoying the ‘Swab 2022 live set closing party’ session and create your own cocktails at home following the recipes that Cointreau offers below.
Warm up this 2023 to meet us again from 5 to 8 October at Swab Barcelona!
LET’S MAKE A PARTY!
1. Music by Dübbel G Revive Swab 2022 Closing Party
Sobre Dübbel G
We all know what an actual good party is, right? Of course we know because we’ve been enjoying them together in every SWAB edition! A great party is somewhere where you arrive soon, half shy, by yourself or with your small group of partners in crime. Where you start ordering some drink, turn your panoramic view on, analyze the location, people arriving, you move your head and knees like if you had some kind of soft spring because of the music… You order the second one; the music starts getting more funky than expected, you clap and move your hands, spring moves are making you feel that you want to go to the bar to order another one. And just after ordering the third you start feeling that everything is getting hot. You listen to some unknown music that tastes like a hit, then another, then someone starts talking to you and say “the music is great, right?”. Then you are not sure if it’s because of the drink, but you really wanna keep dancing and make friends and jump. It’s not the drinks! It’s the music from Dübbel G!
Gerard (@gerardsun_) and Gonzalo (@gonokiwi) two music lovers that meet together in the @neonizednet project and who team up to bring you vibes from soul to hardcore, from disco to techno, from jazz to hits as you could listen in swab parties. Neinized was born in 2007 as a blog-zine dedicated to the best electronic music. It became a record label, artists agency and one of the big meeting points of talents from Barcelona scene the last decade.
2. Cocktails by Cointreau Follow the recipes and enjoy
About Cointreau
Cointreau is the world’s leading triple-sec orange liqueur and is widely present on all five continents. Since its origins in 1849, the Maison Cointreau expresses the same authenticity, inspired by the creative impulse that brought it to life. Balance, moments, pleasure, style… the recipe of this transparent orange liqueur has preserved its original authenticity since its creation. Its character and excellence rely on the selection of the best sweet and bitter orange peels, a meticulous task entrusted to the Master Distiller of the Maison Cointreau, Carole Quinton. Its superior quality makes it a “must” among bartenders and has earned it a place in the world’s most respected bars. Amer Global Brands exclusively distributes and develops the brands of the Rémy Cointreau group in Spain, including Rémy Martin, The Botanist and Cointreau, among others.
Enjoy this New Year’s Eve with the winter cocktails that Cointreau brings for you, perfect to toast this holiday season and surprise your guests.
Sparkling Margarita
Toast with the sparkling version of the Margarita, a reinvented classic with which you are sure to succeed.
Ingredients: 2 cl of Cointreau, 3 cl of Tequila Blanco, 1.5 cl of fresh lime juice, 1 tablespoon of simple syrup and 1 shake of edible pearl powder (optional).
Steps • Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and add ice • Shake and strain into a chilled glass • Add sparkling wine • Garnish with a slice of lime
Cointreau Royale
There is nothing like welcoming 2023 with champagne and this cocktail is ideal to celebrate the New Year in an extraordinary way.
Ingredients: 3 cl of Cointreau and 9 cl of champagne.
Steps • Pour the Cointreau in a chilled champagne glass. • Top with champagne • Garnish with a slice of orange
Alt’ Margarita
A perfect combination of ingredients that, despite its simplicity, never disappoints and always surprises.
Ingredients: 2 cl of Cointreau, 2 cl of lime juice, 10 cl of Botanical Water.
Steps • Combine all the ingredients in a glass full of ice • Stir briefly • Garnish with a slice of lime
Ritz Cocktail
This cocktail debuted in the famous Rainbow Room and was invented by Dale DeGroff, won’t you try it?
Steps • Mix all the ingredients, except the champagne, in a cocktail shaker • Add ice, shake until well chilled and strain into a chilled Old Fashioned glass • Top up with champagne and garnish with a twist of lemon
Holiday Margarita
Rosemary, sugar rim, cinnamon… a very Christmassy Margarita that you will love.
Ingredients: 3 cl Cointreau, 5 cl white tequila, 2 cl fresh lime juice, 6 drops of aromatic bitters.
Steps • Combine all ingredients in a shaker and add ice • Shake and strain into a coupe glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar • Garnish with a rosemary sprig
The Cos-Glow
A safe choice for cocktail lovers that never fails.
Ingredients: 2 cl of Cointreau, 6 cl of vodka, 2 cl of fresh lime juice, 10 fresh blueberries.
Steps • Add the Cointreau and the cranberries in a shaker and mix • Add the rest of the ingredients to the shaker with ice and shake • Strain well into a martini glass or coupe glass • Garnish with chopped cranberries
This year Swab Barcelona invites the smallest ones to celebrate this Christmas with POSCA and Los Superpoderes del Arte. Continuing with the activities carried out during Swab Kids 2022, an area of the fair dedicated to the youngest art lovers, the artist Titeepex launches a series of Christmas templetes for the children to download, print and color with POSCA markers.
Create your Christmas decoration!
1. Download the Titeepex Christmas templetes by clicking on the button below 2. Print the Titeepex Christmas templetes 3. Bring out your creative side and color the templetes with the POSCA markers 4. Decorate your home with your Christmas illustrations
Last day to visit Swab! Today ends an edition that has brought together galleries, artists and emerging exhibition projects from around the world to present the latest trends in the global contemporary art scene, an event that has already received more than 10,000 visitors.
Don’t miss it and visit us today from 12 noon to 9 p.m!
Swab Art Fair 2022 @marcmedina
¿WHAT WILL YOU SEE AT SWAB? EPHEMERAL: INSTALLATIONS BY THE LOCAL FABRIC
Curated by Caterina Almirall and Margot Cuevas, Ephemeral 2022 presents a selection of installation works that aims to offer a curated look at Barcelona’s artistic production, with the collaboration of Barcelona’s Creation Factories: Hangar, L’Escocesa and Fabra i Coats.
Clouds are water on atmospheric dust, an aerosol made up mainly of water evaporating from the oceans that can turn back into water in the form of rain, stone, or snow. Clouds are also the visible state of water vapor when it condenses into droplets or glass. Etymologically the word nube is linked to the idea of covering, this implies that from the Latin nubes also means veil, that which covers both a face and the sky. Aigua sobre pols(Water on dust) is a program that brings together four installations that share notions around these meanings.
Participating artists: Natalia Domínguez (L’Escocesa), Paula García-Masedo (Hangar), Biel Llinàs (Fabra i Coats), Violeta Mayoral (Hangar)
Natalia Domínguez, L’Escocesa
READING: EDITORIAL PROJECTS
Swab is once again making room for publishing disciplines in a program that presents three European projects that work on publishing halfway between the book and the artistic object.
Swab is pleased to present a selection of four young contemporary art galleries, less than two years old, that have not yet participated in any international fair. From the fair we offer this space free of charge to help promote new emerging spaces.
After immersing yourself in the art between galleries, Swab encourages you to take a break in our refreshment area, Swab Picnic, an area where you can enjoy the gastronomic offerings of OMU, and beverages and soft drinks of Metric Market.
Thanks to all that came to visit Swab yesterday on our first day open to the public! This weekend Swab opens its doors from 12 noon to 9 p.m, come say hi and discover the proposals that are defining the international contemporary art scene.
Swab Art Fair 2022 @marcmedina
WHAT WILL YOU SEE AT SWAB? SWAB SEED: EXPERIMENTING AS A COMMON DENOMINATOR
Swab Seed presents twelve independent and artist-run spaces whose common denominator is experimentation. This section seeks to give visibility to new platforms and proposals that are shaking up the contemporary scene.
As part of the Swab Seed programming, yesterday we attended a performance by Will Fredo, a non-binary artist, writer and editor who, presented by Mouches Volantes, explores power dynamics, cultural dislocation and the intersection of pop culture, decolonial thought, blackness, queerness and technology.
On the other hand, we are delighted to count with the collaboration of Fundació Vila Casas, which once again joins forces with Swab Seed to sponsor the participation of four Catalan independent spaces:
GENERAL PROGRAM: ESTABLISHED GALLERIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
Swab presents the core of its program in its main section, made up of a selection of consolidated national and international galleries with a notable trajectory in the contemporary art scene:
True to its desire to present emerging proposals from the international scene, Swab dedicates a subsection of the General Program, Swab Emerging, to galleries that, with less than five years of trajectory, already have high quality proposals and solid future projection.
Swab presents the On Paper program, curated by Carolina Diez-Cascón. This edition, titled “Cuerpo sin nombre” (Body without name), exhibits four proposals that explore the figure of the body, its connotations and its possible emancipation from history, gender or origin.
Swab dedicates an area of the fair to the youngest art lovers, Swab Kids, an open space where children can experiment with their creativity. In order for the little ones to enjoy the fair as much as the older ones, this year, Los Superpoderes del Arte (LSDA), a Barcelona gallery focused on children, and Posca, a marker pen supplier, join forces to propose artistic workshops to stimulate the most creative side of children at the fair.
LSDA and Posca take Swab Kids under the premise of creating a board full of ‘post it’ that brings together the individual work of each child to give rise to a collective artistic creation, the result of group effort to achieve a common goal, coloring the walls of your booth.
Swab 2022 opened its doors yesterday to professionals presenting the 75 proposals of this edition from more than 22 countries, becoming once again an essential event of the current art scene to discover the new trends of emerging art.
During the preview for collectors, art lovers from all over the world have come to the fair to see the latest proposals in the art world and to meet this year’s selection of galleries. Swab’s goal is for our guests and visitors to live an intimate and enriching experience, to grow during the fair and to meet artists and projects at the beginning of their artistic careers.
Come and discover these programs and much more from today to Sunday!
WHAT WILL YOU SEE AT SWAB? FOCUS MEDITERRANEAN: GAZE AT MEDITERRANEAN REGIONS
As every year, Swab presents a special program that puts the spotlight on a geographical region that is underrepresented in our context. This edition, the fair focuses on the South and East of the Mediterranean, looking for emerging proposals from galleries that, even though they come from different origins, share a series of dynamics, imaginaries and practices that have to do with the nexus that they all share, the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea.
Swab’s video art program seeks to provide a platform for emerging artists from geographic regions whose art scenes are underrepresented beyond their borders, such as Southeast Asia, Africa and Central America.
This year, Video Box focuses on El Salvador with a proposal entitled Entangled / Entretegidos, presented by Y.ES Contemporary and curated by Omar Lopez-Chahoud and Patricio Majano.
Gabriela Novoa – Dibujar el Deseo
EMERGING LATAM SCENE
Emerging LATAM is incorporated as a curated section within the Emerging program by curator Santiago Gasquet, co-director of PIEDRAS (Buenos Aires), who will present the youngest proposals of the Latin American contemporary art scene.
For this second edition of the program, Gasquet proposes a selection of five hybrid and self-managed spaces that, with less than five years of trajectory, already make up a network of new dynamics of art circulation in the Latin American scene.
Guests and exhibitors gathered yesterday for the opening party at the Mies van der Rohe Pavilion and kicked off our fifteenth edition, enjoying the installation “Mass is More” by Daniel Ibañez, Vicente Guallart (IAAC) & Alan Organschi (Bauhaus Earth), and cocktails and beers by Cointreau and El Águila.
Swab Barcelona 2022 opens today! We open the doors to gallerists, artists, curators and collectors from more than 25 different countries, in a day dedicated to the professional public that functions as a meeting point for the cultural sector globally.
From tomorrow, Friday October 7, Swab opens to the general public and encourages the city of Barcelona to enjoy one more year of the latest trends in the art world.
We look forward to seeing you at Swab! Save the date!
10 SWAB BARCELONA HIGHLIGHTS
1. Majority of female artists. As every year, Swab has an inclusive and diverse program. This 2022, the artistic proposals have a strong presence of women artists from around the world, with special representation from countries such as Argentina, China, Spain, France, Italy, Iran, Mexico and Portugal.
2. International scope. In its mission to be a fair with an international perspective, Swab 2022 is pleased to present galleries from up to 25 different countries. This way, Swab becomes a meeting point for diverse geographies and regions that present the most emerging proposals of their contexts.
3. Focus Mediterranean. Swab presents a special program that focuses on the southern and eastern Mediterranean region, looking for emerging proposals from galleries that, although coming from different origins, share a series of dynamics, imaginaries and practices that have to do with the nexus they all share, the proximity to the Mediterranean Sea.
4. Video Box | Entangled. Our video art program seeks to be a platform for emerging artists from geographic contexts whose scenes are not enough represented beyond their own borders. This year, the focus is on El Salvador with the presentation Entangled/Entretejidos, which explores the concept of identity and the motherland linked to migration.
5. Emerging LATAM is incorporated as a curated section within the fair’s emerging program by curator Santiago Gasquet, co-director of PIEDRAS (Buenos Aires), which will present the freshest proposals from the Latin American contemporary scene.
6. Swab Seed presents twelve independent and artist-run spaces whose common denominator is experimentation. For this edition, Fundació Vila Casas continues its sponsorship of four independent Catalan spaces.
7. Ephemeral 2022 presents a selection of installation works that aims to offer a curated look at Barcelona’s artistic production. Curated by Caterina Almirall and Margot Cuevas, this program focuses on pieces produced by artists in residence at the Fábricas de Creación de Barcelona.
8. My First Art Fair. In order to promote the insertion in the international circuit of galleries that have just started, Swab selects four exhibition projects with less than two years of life, which have not yet participated in any fair, and offers them free stands as a platform for visibility.
9. Swab on Paper. Another of the fair’s curated programs is On Paper, curated by Carolina Diez-Cascón. This edition, titled “Body without a name”, presents four proposals that reflect on the figure of the body, its connotations and its possible emancipation from history, gender or origin.
10. Swab Kids. Swab dedicates an area of the fair to the youngest art lovers, Swab Kids. In order for the little ones to enjoy the fair as much as the older ones, this year, Los Superpoderes del Arte (LSDA) and Posca, join forces to propose artistic workshops to stimulate the most creative side of children at the fair.
Image credits:
1. Erika Hock, Curtain (wave / vase & sock), 2020. L21 Gallery. 2. Ernesto Gutiérrez-Moya, The Garden, 2022. Emerson Dorsch. 3. Daniele Genadry, Deir El Kaala, 2020. Saleh Barakat Gallery. 4. Lucy Tomasino, Piel y Cicatriz, 2021. Video Box | Entretejidos. 5. Ileana Moreno, Garpha Spektra 2, 2022. Lolita Pank. 6. Laura Juanós, Sin título (Together or not), 2022. Halfhouse. 7. Natalia Domínguez, ST (Parachute), 2020. 8. Giuditta Branconi, Entusiasta senza riserve sempre tutta la vita, 2022. L.U.P.O Lorenzelli Projects. 9. Barbara Lüdde, Kissing Without Penetration, 2021. Laetitia Gorsy, She BAM! 10. Los Super Poderes del Arte.
BODY WITHOUT A NAME Curated by Carolina Diez-Cascón
The earliest known paintings depicting the human figure date back to 15,000 BC. They consist of elongated, stick-shaped bodies performing activities of daily life. With no other purpose, it seems, than to bear witness to their story, the known history of illustration and the figuration of our own figure begins.
In the contemporary age, the approach to the body as a historical narrative is often associated with the idea of the body as a political entity. A body that has been adopting connotations that it has not been able to get rid of, such as origin, gender or capacity.
This project presents four proposals that bring together different views on the body at the present time, looking from the religious, sociological and historical perspective associated with this figure.
Is it really possible to free the figure from the context?
Swab presents: Swab Emerging, a subsection of the General Program that includes a selection of galleries with less than five years of trajectory with the most innovative proposals of the current art scene.
Emerging LATAM joins Swab Emerging as a curated section by Santiago Gasquet, co-director of PIEDRAS (Buenos Aires), who will present the most promising emerging proposals of the Latin American contemporary art scene.
The galleries participating in this program explore alternative formats of production and management and, within the framework of the fair, present artistic proposals that seek to generate a field for the construction of knowledge, discourses and identity given by the characteristics of the context each one of them inhabits.
As every year, Swab presents a special geographically localized program, and this 2022 puts the spotlight on the Mediterranean. A selection of emerging galleries from this context will present the freshest proposals defining their art scene.
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