LOOP Barcelona: artist cinema as protagonist

Since yesterday, Barcelona has become the epicenter for artist cinema with the celebration of the 22nd edition of LOOP Barcelona . From exhibitions to screenings in galleries, passing through a symposium of professionals in the sector, LOOP is the place to discover artist cinema in all its diversity. But what do we really find in LOOP Barcelona 2024, and how can we understand this particular form of cinema?

In this edition, the topics discussed go beyond conventional narratives and explore critical aspects such as the impact of technology and capitalism on our lives. Works with the presence of artificial intelligence highlight how this technology becomes a reflection of our own human condition. They are worlds that make us question who we are and what future we want. But beyond technological reflections, this year's art puts on the table the need to reinterpret our relationships with the environment, with proposals ranging from symbolic narrative to a review of history from perspectives not colonial

This 22nd edition of LOOP Barcelona invites us to think about images as triggers for change. How can artist cinema influence the way we interpret social conflicts, climate change or cultural identities? The answer may lie in this space offered by LOOP: a place for art without limits, for ideas that move us and for images that propel us forward.

'The feeling Sonnets', Metahaven (2024)

LOOP Festival: a sensory walk through art in motion

This year, the LOOP Festival is under the motto "A Subtle Shake" and explores how subtle artistic gestures can produce powerful effects, shaking consciences. Activities take place throughout the city from November 11 to 24, with events in museums, cultural institutions, and independent spaces. Works by artists such as Yarema Malashchuk, Roman Khimei and the Metahaven collective fill the spaces with an unusual energy. The idea is to present an art that is not only observed, but also experienced and invites you to experience it with all your senses.

But LOOP Festival is not just an art exhibition. The City Screen initiative includes thirty galleries and independent spaces throughout the city, with works by artists representing everything from local tradition to international innovation. Each projection offers a window to new perspectives, from symbolic reflection to social and environmental issues. The big question is: How can such visual and sensory art cause profound changes in our perception of the world?

'Muted explosions', Yarema Malashchuk & Roman Khimei

LOOP Fair: the fair that defines the future of artist cinema

If the festival offers an immersive experience open to everyone, the LOOP Fair is the heart of the event for collectors and professionals. Located at the Hotel Almanac in Barcelona on November 19, 20 and 21, this fair selects 37 pieces that explore themes as varied as memory, archives or the role of technology in our current society. This fair, beyond being an exhibition of works, is a space to discover how artist cinema can become a vehicle for social and cultural transformation.

This year, LOOP has collaborated with technology partner Eidotech, which provides the technical support needed to make each projection shine. In addition, in a hybrid format, all selected videos will be available for streaming on the Loop Virtual platform, extending the reach of these works beyond exhibition halls. Thus, LOOP adapts to the new times and allows you to explore art in motion from anywhere.

LOOP Symposium: rethinking artist cinema

The LOOP Symposium, which will be held on the 20th and 21st of November, this year has the title "Images that move us forward. Commission, Production, Exhibition and Collecting of Artists' Cinema" and brings together a wide variety of experts in artist cinema. This symposium is a space to debate what it means to make artist cinema today, and what are its challenges for the future. Directed by Filipa Ramos, professor at the HGK/FHNW Arts Institute in Basel, it features voices from around the world, from curators to collectors, artists and academics. Topics of discussion include everything from commission to production, exhibition and collecting, and it is a space that invites reflection and the proposal of new ideas.

Have you ever wondered what makes artist cinema unique? Perhaps it is his ability to evolve outside the norms of the film industry or conventional art. In this symposium, participants will not only discuss cinema as an art object, but also how to create more inclusive and innovative spaces for this particular form of expression. This is an opportunity to rethink the future of art, with a special focus on how artist cinema can connect our imaginations with the pressing issues of our time.

'Naomi', Jérémie Danon (2024)