Palamós promotes the first edition of the Ezequiel Torroella Art Biennial

Palamós promotes the first edition of the Ezequiel Torroella Art Biennial, which aims to promote creation in the field of visual arts and the work of young creators up to 35 years old. The initiative is part of the commitments made by Torroella's widow to transfer a large part of the artist's legacy to the municipality and will include a prize of 5,000 euros and two prizes. Those interested will have to present their candidacies in the form of a curriculum vitae and then the artistic commission will choose nine. They will have until March 20 to present themselves and before the end of June the winning work will be chosen, which will be exhibited in the chapel of the Carme where Torroella's work is located.

The painter Ezequiel Torroella was born and died in Palamós in 1998, the town and the Costa Brava served as inspiration for the characteristic landscapes of his work. He is considered one of the most outstanding Empordà painters of his generation and his oils portray, in addition to portraits and still lifes, a plenary landscape, especially with a marine theme.

In 2008, his widow gave the City Council an important set of his legacy - 835 works -, a large part of which are exhibited in the Carmel chapel. Among the commitments made at that time, there was that of making possible the promotion and encouragement of the plastic arts, especially among young artists.

With this aim in mind, Palamós promotes the first edition of this biennial, which this year will precisely have as its theme The landscape, and the search for paradise, the paradise found in the landscape. The real landscape and the landscape as a creation of the artist.

Accompany the creators in the process

Those interested in participating cannot be over 35 years old and must reside in Spain. They will have until March 20 to present their candidacy, but they will not need to submit a project. The Education and Culture technician, Glòria Ñaco, has explained that in this preliminary phase of the process they will have to present a curriculum detailing their artistic career.

Among all the proposals, the members of the artistic commission - formed by representatives of the MNAC, the MACBA, the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona, the UdG, the UB, the Vila-Casas Foundation, the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation and Bonart Cultural – they will choose nine.

From here, curators of the commission will act as mentors to the artists to "accompany" them in the process of creating the work. Before June 20, the winning proposal will be chosen, which will have a prize of 5,000 euros and which will be exhibited in the same chapel that houses Torroella's work. There will also be two entrances.

The Councilor for Culture, Maria Puig, has said that the biennale seeks to carry out an "accompanying" process and, at the same time, a "training" task among young creators.