SWAB RADIO 2024 BY ARTSUPER
IN CONVERSATION
SWAB RADIO presents a series of conversations in which we address the issues of identity, tradition and future that transversally occupy the proposals presented in this 17th edition of SWAB.
The curators, artists and gallerists participating in the fair will address issues about the potential of art in the formation of cultural identities. They will also discuss the various ways in which many art forms draw from their local traditions to express their identity in a globalized and hypermediated world. In this context, SWAB RADIO will open dialogues on what is today the relationship of attachment or de-association with our roots and how we build our identities as we move towards a future that seems increasingly homogeneous.
Symbiosis: common ground between art and design
The event Symbiosis: Common Ground Between Art and Design took place on October 1, 2024, at Sancal in Gràcia. This insightful dialogue delved into the intersection of art and collectible design, exploring how these disciplines blur traditional boundaries.
Collectible design, characterized by its transcendence of pure functionality, challenges the limits between unique artworks and design objects. This unique approach combines aesthetics, innovation, and craftsmanship, resulting in exclusive or limited-edition creations.
During the event, Huaqian Zhang from Dilalica Gallery and MUT designers from Sancal engaged in a curatorial conversation, moderated by Francesca Tur. Together, they reflected on how art and design intertwine, questioning their boundaries and uncovering opportunities for interrelation and mutual enrichment.
Participants: MUT DESIGN (Sancal) & Huaqian Zhang (Dilalica)
Moderator: Francesca Tur
Tradition and innovation: the role of emerging art in Barcelona and Taipei
SOLO SHOW PROGRAM
The objects and bodies presented in “The Blue Color of My Sky” invited the audience to reflect on the traditions of Barcelona and Taipei, which converged in the context of SOLO SHOW. The artistic proposals showcased pointed toward a future where emerging art and its circulation play a decisive role in shaping the collective identities that will define the paths of these metropolises.
In Barcelona, a city renowned for its rich artistic and cultural traditions, the vibrant emerging art scene has flourished over the past decades, supported by a network of independent spaces fostering young creative talent.
Taipei, too, has experienced significant growth in its emerging art scene in recent years. As a city where cultural influences from across Asia meet, its eclectic art scene thrives on experimentation and the integration of technology, establishing itself as a hub for Southeast Asia.
Participants: Carla Jaria, Yipei Lee (curators, SOLO SHOW)
* You can listen to the talk on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.
From the gallery to the city: project, community and context from the youngest spaces
MY FAF
We had the opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation with representatives from the spaces participating in the MyFAF program. These included TUBE from Palma de Mallorca, a city that is increasingly establishing itself as a key hub for emerging galleries; Studio/Chapple from London, which launched during the post-Brexit era, a period that has transformed this rich and dynamic city into a challenging environment for the establishment of young galleries; and PLATO from Évora, Portugal, a region grappling with a deepening economic and housing crisis, creating a particularly hostile backdrop for emerging art initiatives. The discussion provided valuable insights into how these spaces navigate their unique contexts and contribute to the evolving landscape of contemporary art.
Participants: Axel Balazsi (Tube), Louis Chapple (Studio/Chapple), Diogo Ramalho (Plato)
* You can listen to the talk on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.
New voices, new visions: exploring emerging art in Latam
EMERGING LATAM
Discussing Latin American art through the lenses of pre-colonialism, colonialism, and post-colonialism is essential for understanding the complex historical, cultural, and social dynamics that have shaped the region’s identities and artistic productions over time. This framework remains crucial for grasping the rich tapestry of influences that define Latin America’s artistic heritage. However, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, these traditional categories may no longer fully capture the diverse contexts, interests, and perspectives of contemporary Latin American artists who are actively participating in global conversations about art and identity.
In our talk, we delved into the emergence of new identities, interests, and trends that are redefining Latin American art today. By exploring these evolving dynamics, we gained insight into how artists from the region are challenging conventional narratives and creating works that reflect a broader, more interconnected world.
Participants: Santiago Gasquet (curator Emerging Latam), Yuyo Gardiol (Crudo), Raúl Rebolledo (Escombro)
* You can listen to the talk on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.
The art space between the gallery and the digital market
Wherever the possibilities and needs of human experience extend, art and its market spread. During the pandemic, online platforms became the main venues for art. Museums, galleries, and independent artists used digital media to present their works, organize virtual exhibitions, and hold online events. This transformation not only democratized access to art, allowing people to enjoy it from anywhere in the world, but also fostered new forms of creation and collaboration. These platforms eliminated many of the geographic and economic barriers, enabling emerging and established artists to reach wider audiences without the physical limitations of traditional spaces. They also facilitated interaction and dialogue between artists and viewers, enriching the artistic experience and creating global communities.
Despite the digital boom, the post-pandemic era has seen a resurgence of interest in analog. After long periods of isolation and virtuality, people began seeking tangible, sensory experiences. Physical exhibitions, workshops, and face-to-face encounters regained their appeal, offering a direct and emotional connection that digital experiences could not replicate.
Looking ahead, it seems clear that digital and analog art will coexist and complement each other. Analog art will continue to offer unique experiences that satisfy the human need for interaction and physicality. At the same time, online art sales platforms will remain essential for the dissemination and accessibility of art, especially in an increasingly interconnected world.
Participants: Diana Vedova (Artsper)
* You can listen to the talk on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.
Territory in focus: art and context in the Middle East
The situation in the Middle East has always been a topic of global interest, partly due to the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region, in which all the great powers are involved. At the same time, it is a territory with a rich, extensive, and diverse cultural production that spans centuries. We spoke with representatives from spaces in Syria, Lebanon, and Iran that participated in Swab this year about their perspectives on the region, both in terms of geopolitics and emerging artistic practices.
Participants: Mohammad Ali Ahmadifar (Yafteh), Abir Boukhari (AllArtNow), Marie-Nour Hechaime (Takeover)
* You can listen to the talk on Spotify or watch it on YouTube.
On the post-global horizon: echoes of tradition from Tokyo and Seoul
FOCUS TOKYO-SEOUL
Globalization, far from being a homogeneous process, has revealed multiple tensions and contradictions that have affected our societies. While global dynamics have accelerated the interconnection between cultures and economies, they have also magnified the differences in how social concerns, struggles, and frustrations are experienced. In this context, East Asian cities such as Tokyo and Seoul have occupied a unique place in the interplay between tradition and modernity, reflecting a negotiation between preserving their cultural roots and adapting to the currents of a globalized world
Participants: Kelvin Kyung Kun Park (curator Focus Tokyo-Seoul), Kim Inseon (Space Willing N Dealing)
Have your own forest with Perhutana
PERHUTANA
PERHUTANA, part of the Kota Terakota project, consists of reclaiming an 8 hectare plot of land from the industrial development plan and turning it into sacred (conservation) land. It involves the act of creating a collectively owned forest, utilizing the transactional logic of a real estate company as a method of collective action.
By participating in PERHUTANA one gets the following: a 4m² plot of land that will later be donated for the creation of the forest, a terracotta certificate, designed and made by artists from Jatiwangi Art Factory and a digital certificate.
Participants: Aldizar Ahmad (Jatiwangi Art Factory), Álvaro Gurrea (Swab)
Trends, future and influences
GENERAL PROGRAM AND EMERGING
The late capitalism or hyper-fashion era is governed by the constant desire for renewal and discarding that feeds our consumption habits. According to sociologist and philosopher Gilles Lipovetsky, art and its market do not escape from these logics, being a sector in which its trends, interests and modes of operation are constantly changing. We will explore the changes gallerists have detected in the sector and the trends they believe are to come.
Participants: Enrique Suasi Carayol (Stain), Jordi Vernis López (ADN)
Beyond traditional galleries: self-management and opportunity
SEED
The art market is a space of change and transformation. Increasingly, artist collectives are finding new forms of agency over the marketing and production of their work. Around SWAB SEED, a program dedicated to independent spaces and new gallery formats, we look at the opportunities and challenges for them to promote their activity in these types of self-managed spaces.
Participants: Aubrie Higgin (Chilli Art Projects), Juan Pablo Piñero (Casa Espacio)
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
