The Olympic Port, Barcelona's new cultural and artistic space

The Port Olímpic takes a step forward in its transformation as a cultural reference in Barcelona thanks to a collaboration with the MAPFRE Foundation and the Institut de Cultura de Barcelona (ICUB) . This alliance will allow the deployment of an annual program with three outdoor photographic exhibitions linked to the programming of the KBr photography center and the funds of the Fundació MAPFRE Collections , as well as music and dance shows by the Conservatory of Liceu and the Theater Institute . With a completely accessible and free proposal, the aim is to bring culture closer to citizens and consolidate the Port Olímpic as a neuralgic space for artistic and cultural expression.

The first chapter of this cycle is the exhibition 'Portraits. Collections Fundació MAPFRE', a selection that explores the richness of photographic portraiture through 22 works by great masters of the 20th century . The photographs, printed on a large scale and exhibited outside, invite both to rediscover the space of the Port and bring photography closer to a wider audience.

The exhibition takes a journey through the history of photography, from the Straight Photography revolution with figures such as Paul Strand and Garry Winogrand , to contemporary works by artists such as Alberto García-Alix , an icon of the Madrid movement. Also included are pieces by Joan Colom , a key figure in the photographic avant-garde of the 1950s, known for his spontaneous images of the streets of the Raval, which authentically capture everyday life and are today symbols of an era in transformation.

'Retrats. Col·leccions Fundació MAPFRE' al Port Olímpic de Barcelona.

Other outstanding names are Harry Callahan , with intimate and introspective portraits such as those in his 'Women Lost in Thought' series; Fazal Sheikh, Graciela Iturbide, Jitka Hanzlová and Emmet Gowin , who are also present with powerful works that explore themes such as refugees, Latin American culture and collective identities; and Richard Learoyd , with his camera obscura portraits.

Apart from Joan Colom and García-Alix , the exhibition also features national artists as relevant as Cristina García Rodero , the first Spanish photographer to be part of Magnum ; Carlos Pérez-Siquier , with iconic images of a Spain marked by the tourist boom; and Anna Malagrida , who reflects on the human experience with a depth that will also be explored in an exhibition at the Tàpies Museum in the spring of 2025.

As for the proposals beyond photography, next December 15 the Port Olímpic will host a jazz concert by performers from the Liceu Conservatory . Looking ahead to 2025, the dancers of the Institut del Teatre will present a choreography inspired by the themes of the photographic exhibitions. The program will also include regular activities, such as fortnightly artistic photography workshops for children and shows during the weekends throughout the year, with the aim of reinforcing the will of Port Olímpic to become a space that the most accessible art and culture.

Sense títol, Joan Colom (1958-1961). © Joan Colom. VEGAP, Madrid, 2022