On Wednesday, the kings inaugurated the 43rd edition of ARCO, the Madrid contemporary art fair, with the traditional gallery tour and a tribute to Juana de Aizpuru, the founder of the event, who for the first time did not participate in it.
For about ninety minutes, the royal couple walked through the Ifema venue, marking a debut edition that brings together 205 galleries, 135 of which are international. This year emphasizes a stronger presence of women artists, who account for almost half of the total, and centers its discourse on the Caribbean and the process of decolonization.
At the end of the opening, a tribute was paid to Juana de Aizpuru, now 91, who announced her professional retirement last December after being a pioneer in contemporary art collecting in Spain.
The monarchs presented her with an honorary book featuring a dedicated photograph, and the attendees rose to applaud her remarkable contributions to the Madrid fair since its inception in 1982.
“It has been incredibly moving. All these expressions of affection from the art world mean a great deal to me,” said a Valladolid-based gallery owner to reporters, accompanied by her daughter, son-in-law, and great-nephew.
When asked about not taking part this year, she admitted: “I feel deep sorrow about not being there. I never planned to retire, but I just don’t feel well. There is nothing serious, but there is a noise in my head, a heaviness that makes it hard.”
In the tribute, participants included the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, the fair’s director, Maribel López, and other officials who joined the royal itinerary, which featured around fifteen Spanish and international galleries.
After starting the tour at the RTVE space, the delegation wound through the first pavilion, stopping at several booths including the Argentine exhibitor Remota, where they greeted the country’s Cultural Secretary, Leonardo Sifelli, and the Parisian gallery Chantal Crousel.
Two Murcia-based spaces, Espacio Mínimo and T20, where artists like Sonia Navarro are represented, also welcomed the royal visit.
As in previous years, the royals visited the booth of veteran Helga de Alvear, along with Portuguese spaces, Filomena Soares, Brazilian Fortes, and the Colombian Instituto de Visión, led by women in Bogotá.
In the final stretch, the monarchs moved toward the Caribbean section, where the majority of works by nineteen artists from ten countries draw inspiration from decolonization themes.
Their route passed near the fair’s most expensive work, a 1936 Miró titled Peinture, valued at 3.3 million euros, though they did not stop there.
ARCO will stay open until next Sunday, with professionals taking the first two days and the public in the following two days.