Es Baluard Museu d'Art Contemporani de Palma
Spain
In addition to preserving and promoting its collection, Es Baluard organizes temporary exhibitions, cultural events, and educational programs. The museum's collection of prominent artists and art movements associated with the Balearic Islands has grown since its initial presentation in the year of its opening. The original core of the museum's collection consisted of donations and loaned works from the Art Serra Foundation, as well as artworks deposited by Palma City Council, the Council of Mallorca, and the Government of the Balearic Islands. Over time, the collection has expanded through the acquisition, donation, and temporary loan of additional works by artists, collectors, and organizations.
Location
The primary structure, conceived in 2003 by Lluís García-Ruiz, Jaume García-Ruiz, Vicente Tomás, and Angel Sánchez Cantalejo, underwent a remarkable design. Spanning across a vast area of 5,027 m², the building comprises 2,500 m² dedicated to exhibition spaces. Its architecture is ingeniously divided into three floors, seamlessly interconnected with the outdoors, the city walls, and one another through ramps, skylights, and expansive interior balconies. This unique arrangement aims to emulate the ambiance of an indoor street, fostering a dynamic and interconnected atmosphere.
The Collection
The Es Baluard Museu d'Art Modern i Contemporani de Palma houses a remarkable collection that encompasses artworks from the most influential artists and movements that have shaped and continue to shape the Balearic Islands. Spanning from the late 19th century to the present, the collection offers a comprehensive view of artistic developments.
The collection commences with the works of pictorial modernism, highlighting the significant role of Mallorca in its advancement. Artists such as Joaquim Mir, Santiago Rusiñol, Hermen Anglada-Camarasa, Joaquín Sorolla, Antoni Gelabert, and Tito Cittadini represent this period, spanning from the late 19th century to the 1930s. Additionally, Pilar Montaner de Sureda and Norah Borges, both female creators associated with the artistic and literary trends of the time, contribute to the rich tapestry of this era.
The early 20th century witnessed the emergence of various avant-garde movements across Europe, challenging the dominance of Western figurative art. This cultural crisis, exacerbated after World War I and continuing into the 1940s and '50s, advocated for a critical examination of the artistic object. The collection features notable artists like María Blanchard, Wifredo Lam, Fernand Léger, André Masson, Roberto Matta, Joan Miró, Robert Motherwell, Jorge Oteiza, Picasso, Juli Ramis, and Antoni Tàpies, among others, who played pivotal roles during this transformative period.
From the 1960s onwards, artistic tendencies such as New Figuration, Pop Art, Minimalism, and Conceptual Art emerged, coinciding with a time of social and cultural change later termed "postmodernism." Artists like Erwin Bechtold, Joan Brossa, Erró, Juan Genovés, Hans Hartung, Rebecca Horn, Antoni Miralda, Pablo Palazuelo, Antonio Saura, and Rafael Tur Costa paved the way for the new generation of recognized painters, including Miquel Barceló, José Manuel Broto, Miguel Ángel Campano, Maria Carbonero, Ramon Canet, Luis Gordillo, Anselm Kiefer, and Juan Uslé. Today, the artistic panorama is characterized by a wide diversity of artistic languages, exemplified by creators such as Lida Abdul, Marina Abramović, Pilar Albarracín, Christian Boltanski, Daniel Canogar, Toni Catany, Ñaco Fabré, Mónica Fuster, Alberto García-Alix, Núria Marqués, Jorge Mayet, Joan Morey, Michael Najjar, Marina Núñez, Bernardí Roig, Francisco Ruiz de Infante, Amparo Sard, Antoni Socías, and Nicholas Woods. These artists represent the evolution of contemporary artistic practice.
Overall, the Collection of Es Baluard Museu d’Art Modern i Contemporani de Palma showcases a diverse and significant range of artworks, encompassing historical and contemporary contributions from both local and international artists.