She started this process without intention of forming a collection that eventually has grown and in the present is composed of more than 300 pieces, a mixture of painting, drawing and sculpture. Very interested in the avant-garde of the 20th century, she has now centred her interests also in contemporary art with special attention to emergent artists.

 

Agapè visited her private gallery where her contemporary art collection is found. She charmed us with her view towards the Spanish situation involved with the art world.

 

 

Do you invest in Art Candela?

 

I do not invest, I want to clear this out. For me art is not an investment, it is a passion. There are people who buy art for investment; I think those people are wrong. Works of art are not actions as in the stock market, I think that if you buy art it has to be for love and passion. People who buys art by investing really has no idea. They are recommended an artist, say: Manolo Valdés, this is a secure firm, and buy a Manolo Valdés piece. A part from the fact that it looks sophisticated to have a good piece in your home, there are a lot of people and snobbism that buy art for this reason.  But the true art lover buys because he/she likes it , either if it has an elevated price or it is an poorly recognised artist. In this I am very.. there is us , who love art and the ones that say it is an investment. I respect it but I am in the other line in art.

 

 

What does it mean to be a private art collector in a reduced environment?

 

I think there are three main pillars in the art world; the artists, which without them it cannot exist. Secondly, the gallerists s or the dealers who are the intermediaries who should be in charge of defending, protecting and promoting the artists. And finally the collectors, we are the ones that also enjoy art and we need the artists and the gallerists to complete the circle.

 

 

Do you consider that there is a vague movement, support and promotion of art in Spain? How can we deal with approaching art to the public?

 

I think that in this sense it is progressing significantly. What has to change is the understanding of people, many people think that in fairs a beginner is not able to understand anything. People get scared, they have a lot of respect towards it. Especially in the more advanced fairs, the avant-garde. This shouldn´t occur. Stampa, Suma, Just Madrid, Arco and many other art fairs are perfect for the initiation in this world. Gallerists are become aware in the educational matter, i the learning system, they know they have to approach and foment art to people. The matter is that from state organisms collecting art  is not fomented, but instead is penalized. The VAT is very elevated, art works are highly taxed and therefore their movement is not promoted. In the United States the opposite occurs. The market there is free to foment transactions, there is fiscal advantages while here it is considered a luxurious object without importance. Art is not taken care of in Spain, we have to start from this problem.

 

How is the artistic situation at the moment in Spain?

 

The economic recovery is noticeable and this is determined in any area. This year Arco was a representation of it. More people have attended and most important of all, more transactions. A lot was sold which showed people were pleases, I hope it continues like this.

 

Which type of artistic expressions is heading stronger in Spain? In what areas is required more potential?

 

Madrid with no doubts is the artistic epicentre. In Barcelona there is some movement but nothing compared to Madrid.  Photography has emerged with great force in the last years, but the progress is slowing down now.

Video art was also very common, but it has also reduced in terms of creation. Five years ago people where convinced that the painting movement would decrease significantly due to video art, but this hasn´t occurred. I think that in the end painting is the base of everything, the splendid world of photography continues and video contributes a lot to the art panorama. There is still a lot of painting and a lot of installations. Sculpture in the other hand never dies.

 

R:  Photography could stand in third place; presented in series it is more accessible, perfect for a public that can´t or doesn´t want to access other artistic expressions.

 

How do you see the international Art situation?

 

In Paris in the 20th century it was really fomented. Specially in the second half of the period. New York with no doubts is the worldwide centre. There are fairs of all types and for a diverse public.

 

London with a potential level but still behind NYC. "Frieze" is worth it in the Fall season, it is economically accessible which captures the attention of all the public. 

Many artists from all around the world go to Berlin. There is a lot of movement but they lack of economic means. There is no sales market there, it is more of a place for creation.

 

(Raquel Díez joins the conversation, a Spanish photographer very close friend to Candela)

 

Raquel- There is significant creation but they don´t sell. In Germany there is a lot of money, but more is sold in Hamburg, Munich, Stuttgart or Dusseldorf.

 

(Candela continues)

 

The artistic world makes a pause every year in Art Basel, a week where everything occurs in the city of Switzerland, Basel. This is where tendencies are marked, where interests are overwhelmed. It takes place in June and it is celebrated for a period of four days, It is the most interesting act that occurs now a days in the world. The latest and classic is present there as the most recognised galleries of the world go to Basel. There is a central pavilion where in the bottom floor there is the galleries that deal with 20th century art: Picasso, Miró.. The classic avant-garde are there. Basel is a museum. There is multitude pavilions with installations, activities, numerous artists... it is astonishing. 

 

There are other small satellite fairs with more accessible prices. Now a days, there is a lot of acquisitions in fairs, because of the internet and the facility that galleries approach tend to loose importance.

 

The new technologies change the way of production and selling. The information is available, you can follow artists, their work.. Definitely it is much easier now.

 

 

.Could you recommend our reader any physical or digital platform to follow the artistic landscape internationally?

 

"The Art Newspaper". This is the newspaper that sets art worldwide, probably every person interested in art now a days buys it because digital art magazines are lacking.

 

And finally Candela, describe us three pieces of your collection that you feel like sharing your love towards them.

 

Xavier Mascaró

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really like this piece. I saw it in a working area he has in the outskirts of Madrid which is splendid. What captured my attention was the concept it has of the trapped women in trying to break the iron bars to break her ties to free herself. I don´t want to implicate the piece a feminist message, and the artist wasn´t looking for it either. It is made of ceramic and iron. It is made in an old style, it was burried to obtain a different texture and find break ups that metaphorically symbolise  cracks, displease, life problems.

 

 

Anish Kapoor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I bought this piece in Basel. I was impacted by it from the beginning. It is the artist of the moment that I like the most, and the colour; red, is my favourite colour. He always works with big holes where you get lost, in immense installations. Another thing that captures the viewers attention is the erotism he includes in his work, I always liked the erotic touch in art.

 

 

Tony Oursler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don´t collect video art but what caught my attention of this piece is the ultra Avant garde of the video combined with the classic of the painting. I really like video art but I don´t collect it. I enjoy Tony Ourselr´s work, he lives in NY. He always gives a touch of humour in his creations. I always have crushes with phrases in art, many times I collect pieces just because of what the phrase it contains makes me feel. I like this one, I find it really funny. It represents the discussion between men and women " I cannot understand, tell me more". He has a great sense of humour.

 

 

Thank you very much, this is a great collaboration for the art world and this project is beautiful. Good luck Agapè.

 

Candela Álvarez.

Covered by Cayetana Llopis and ÁAA.