Dart 2024: art, identity and critical reflection

A new edition of Dart is coming, the festival that explores the social, political and cultural depths of contemporary art through documentary film. This year, the festival proposes a critical reflection on the artistic system and its market, as well as on the new currents that still influence the current scene. The program brings together key figures in contemporary art and offers a space to debate topics such as preservation, the democratization of access to art and the connection between art and science, all through pioneering projects that 'have questioned traditional boundaries.

From November 27 to December 10, Cinemas Girona, Phenomena, Zumzeig, Maldà and spaces such as MACBA , Disseny Hub, The Social Hub and Laie Pau Claris will be the stages of this proposal, reaffirming, once again, Dart's commitment to art and critical reflection.

Key figures of contemporary and historical art

Great figures of contemporary and historical art will be found in this year's edition. Among them stands out Frida Kahlo , starring Frida, directed by Carla Gutierrez , a documentary that recovers the soul of the artist through her own voice, revealing a more intimate account of her figure. Jeff Koons , known for his controversial and challenging art, is also explored in Jeff Koons: A Private Portrait by Pappi Corsicato , a work that balances his public life as an artist and his everyday life as a family man. Antoni Tàpies is honored on the centenary of his birth with two works that allow us to delve deeper into his creative universe: Tàpies, el joc de saber mirar, by Sergi Guix Planas , and Elements of a Journey: Antoni Tàpies, by James Scott .

Jean Cocteau, a documentary that reviews the essential role of this multifaceted genius in the artistic avant-garde, will also be present at the festival. Likewise, Martin Parr stands out, with his ironic and accurate look at contemporary society, in I Am Martin Parr, directed by Lee Shulman , who will inaugurate this 8th edition of the festival, which also includes DELA, directed by Verena Freyschmidt , which offers a powerful insight into the life of Derek Jarman , exploring his artistic work and social impact. Gilbert & George , the irreverent duo, are portrayed in The Pilgrimage of Gilbert and George , a film that delves into their creative process. Finally, György Kepes , a key figure in the intersection between art and science, appears in György Kepes: Interthinking Art + Science , which analyzes his contribution to multimedia art.

Jeff Koons: A Private Portrait (2023)

Art as a space of memory, identity and innovation

Dart 2024 offers a program that interconnects themes such as identity, cultural memory and innovations in the world of art, through three main axes.

One of the fundamental pillars is the criticism of colonialism and the vindication of identity. Dahomey, by Mati Diop , awarded the Os d'Or in Berlin, explores the restitution of the cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Dahomey in Benin, confronting the loss and recovery of historical memory. White Cube, by Renzo Martens , reflects on how art can be a vehicle to reverse historical injustices, focusing on the experiences of Congolese workers affected by colonialism. At the same time, The Plant Namer transports us to the Colombian Amazon, where Abel Rodríguez , Nonuya indigenous sage, channels his ancestral knowledge into botanical illustrations that perpetuate the memory of his natural environment.

A second axis focuses on the art market and historical artistic movements, as well as museum innovations. In this section, Arte Povera - Notes for History analyzes the revolutionary impact of this Italian movement in the 1960s and 1970s, while Taking Venice narrates the irruption of contemporary art on the international scene through the Biennale from Venice Taking an introspective approach, Kelcey Edwards ' The Art of Making It highlights the difficulties emerging artists face in an increasingly competitive market, while Depot - Reflecting Boijmans examines museum innovations at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen , focusing -se in the first depository of art accessible to the public.

Finally, national production occupies a prominent place, highlighting local creative diversity. The Western Archive, by Sergio Caballero , closes the festival with a surreal reinterpretation of the western inspired by the work of the duo Lolo & Sosaku. Artefacto 71, directed by Rafa Rodríguez , explores the multidisciplinary work of Martí Ansón , known for his playful and innovative approach. Also at the national level , The Wisdom of Wonder, Eugènia Balcells Once and Again , which celebrates the career of Eugènia Balcells , a pioneering artist in the connection between art, science and spirituality, stands out. And finally, Pax in Lucem commemorates the 150th birthday of Joaquín Torres García , valuing his legacy within the noucentisme and the avant-garde.

White Cube (2020)

Reflections and debates around art

Beyond the screenings, Dart offers a series of parallel activities that delve deeper into the themes discussed in the festival's documentaries. These proposals will explore the link between art and society from various perspectives.

In collaboration with Laie, two outstanding training activities have been organized. The first, Art and eroticism: a journey from Jeff Koons to Classical Art, directed by the art historian Artur Ramon , analyzes the relationship between sculpture and eroticism from antiquity to the present The second proposal, A look at the future of the documentary on art: video games, androids and twin towers, led by the Spanish director Guillermo Logar and the Mexican producer Fernanda Valencia , will offer a vision on the evolution of the artistic documentary in the 21st century.

In addition, the MACBA will be the setting for a special session focusing on the artist Renzo Martens and the Congolese collective CATPC (Cercle d'Art des Travailleurs de Plantation Congolaise), who have been protagonists of the 60th Venice Biennale with the project The International Celebration of Blasphemy and the Sacred. This project reflects on the economic, ecological and social implications of reclaiming degraded land in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The day will include the screening of three short films from the group and a debate with those involved, moderated by Elvira Dyangani Ose , current director of MACBA.

White Cube (2020)