In this third call, studies expand municipal funds for the Alicante contemporary art collection. The selection included Inma Femenía, Ángel Masip, Rosalía Banet, Pepe Calvo, Paco Valverde, Alberto Feijóo, Mónica Jover, Pilar Sala, Alfonso Sánchez Luna, Íñigo Lanz, and Elena Jiménez. It was chosen from the works that had been submitted. A total of 119 offers were received out of 164 works presented, with each artist allowed to submit up to three pieces.
The artworks had to be created by a single artist or a solo artist collective who are living or deceased, born and/or residing in the province of Alicante, and linked professionally to a city in Alicante. The new acquisitions will become part of the local artistic heritage and will be stored in municipal facilities. The purpose is to recognize and broaden the representation of generations not yet fully included in public art funds, enhancing the visibility of artists with limited public exposure. The public call aimed to enrich the municipal collections and to illuminate the recent history of visual arts in Alicante.”
The third call featured the assertion by the Mayor of Culture, Nayma Beldjilali, that while gratitude is due to all submitting artists, the high quality of proposals made the selection particularly challenging and underscored the strong artistic level of local creators.
Beldjilali chaired the jury, which included several artists and curatorial professionals. Members evaluated the 119 proposals and reached the following selections:
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Inma Femenía: Version 35 2023. UV ink on PVC and aluminum, valued at 9,680 euros
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Melek Masip: Garden 2013. Glazed ceramics valued at 15,840 euros
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Rosalía Banet: Totem 2 2023. Acrylic on cut paper valued at 4,000 euros
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Pepe Calvo: Sacred Interior 2014. Digital photomontage valued at 5,000 euros
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Paco Valverde: Before the World 2023. Photographs valued at 2,400 euros
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Alberto Feijóo: Trio of the Series 2020. Photographs valued at 4,356 euros
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Mónica Jover: Look with Understanding 2022. Textile dye valued at 3,700 euros
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Pilar Sala: Double Palm Fabrics 1998. Textiles valued at 5,000 euros
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Alfonso Sánchez Luna: Gold 2022. Painting valued at 3,500 euros
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Íñigo Lanz: Geometric Decoration 2014. Illustration valued at 450 euros
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Elena Jiménez: I Can’t Say I Haven’t Broken Plates 2019. Ceramics/video valued at 12,500 euros
28 artists
With these acquisitions, the municipal contemporary art fund now includes works by 28 Alicante artists. The new eleven acquisitions add to the previous seventeen from the first call in 2020, which featured Aurelio Ayela, Miguel Bañuls, Ana Esteve Reig, Daniel G. Andújar, Susana Guerrero, Aurelia Masanet, Luisa Pastor, Colectivo ORGIA, and Jesús Zuazo, and eight artists from the second call in 2022: Isidro Blasco, Elena Aguilera, Juan Carlos Nadal, Rosana Antolí, Olga Diego, Pablo Bellot, Ana Teresa Ortega and Ana Pastor.
Increase in offers
Last year’s call saw 97 offers. This year there was a rise in submissions, reflecting the breadth of artists considered, with ten works selected for a total of 62,000 euros. The pieces that later became part of the local heritage included Corner Cafe by Isidro Blasco; Where Were You Born by Elena Aguilera; Bohai by Juan Carlos Nadal; Dancing in Continuous Stages II by Rosana Antolí; Ruins by Olga Diego; N15 Black on White by Pablo Bellot; and Exile Figures by Ana Teresa Ortega.
The next exhibition?
A year ago, the Ministry of Culture highlighted the first achievements of 2021 with an exhibition at the Alicante Fish Market under Antonio Manresa’s leadership. After a municipal leadership change, the event was not repeated. Cultural Council Member Nayma Beldjilali stated that plans were underway to exhibit some of the pieces, noting that several works are large and would need a suitable space, possibly in the Lonja Exhibition Hall, with the aim of presenting the collection throughout 2024.