30 years of art in La Capella

La Capella celebrates three decades of commitment to the visual arts, consolidating itself as an essential reference in Barcelona's cultural ecosystem and becoming a living fragment of the city's visual arts history. Born with the aim of welcoming artists with new ideas, offering them a space to develop projects and propose innovative ideas, it has become a meeting point for creators and the public, evolving to the rhythm of the artistic context. The figure of Oriol Gual , the initial driver of the project, gave La Capella a unique identity that has lasted for three decades.

How to face this 30th birthday? David Armengol , artistic director of La Capella, explains that it is done from the recognition of the path taken, but also with an eye on the future, with the will to continue projecting.

The concept of the present has been a constant throughout the trajectory of La Capella, which since 1994 has dedicated itself to reflecting and dialoguing with its time. This commitment is particularly visible in the exhibition 'Between the stones. 30 years of La Capella', a review of the publishing heritage accumulated over the years. With 134 publications - including catalogues, books, fanzines and even vinyl records - the exhibition celebrates the creative diversity that has passed through the center in a horizontal and collective way. Far from hierarchies or selections, the exhibited material acts as an archive that explains everything that has happened at La Capella, without filters or preferences, demonstrating that its history is, essentially, a history of the present.

The design of the exhibition space, created by the SSOP (Support Structures Operations) group , is based on this tradition of the present that has always characterized the center. The space is configured around three tables that support the archive displayed in a simple way. To focus attention on the exhibited materials, the light and sound have been softened, creating a subdued atmosphere with specific points of light highlighting the center of the archive. In addition, a set of lasers has been incorporated that define the limits of the space, underlining the very characteristic design of the building.

The commemoration of this 30th anniversary also includes the series of talks An oral history. 30 years of La Capella, curated by Oriol Gual, which will take place on Thursday 28 and Saturday 30 November. These conversations will highlight the role of the center as a space for constant dialogue. Prominent figures from the world of art and culture, such as Laia Estruch, Joan Morey, Glòria Picazo, Valentín Roma, Marta Sesé, Ramon Parramon, Esther Doblas and Anna Pahisa , will share their experiences and reflections on key aspects of La Capella: from its beginnings to its ability to establish connections with other disciplines and contexts, and its evolution as a motor of artistic production. These conversations want to highlight what La Capella has meant for artists, curators, mediators and researchers, turning individual voices into a collective story.

With these two proposals, it reaffirms its vocation as a space for production, reflection and dialogue, faithful to its founding spirit: a place for new ideas, for collaboration and to generate opportunities.

'Entre les pedres. 30 anys de La Capella'