Marcos Mota, winner of the 18th BIAM in Amposta

The artist Marcos Mota , from the collective El Palomar , has been chosen as the winner of the 18th edition of the Ciutat d'Amposta Art Biennial (BIAM) with his work entitled 'The Museum of the Locas'.

This decision was announced during the opening ceremony of BIAM 2024 , held last Saturday, November 30. According to the members of the jury, the work stands out for its "high quality, presenting key figures of queer culture with a minimalist and, at the same time, impactful technical resolution. A mural full of color and pop aesthetics, which acts as a museum-archive and highlights the fundamental role of female pioneers in the deconstruction of gender identities. It is a piece with a relevant enunciation beyond queer narratives." In addition, the jury assessed the forcefulness of this contemporary proposal, which contributes to socializing genealogies of dissident bodies and gestures.

The jury also awarded a special mention to the artist Anna Moreno for her work 'Il Capovolto'. As noted, this filmic work combines archival footage with a soundscape, portraying paradise as a utopian space and time. The work addresses topics such as architecture seen as an archeology of the present, nature restored after military plunder and post-tourism crisis abandonment. With this poetic film essay, the artist invites us to reflect on a modernity that never was.

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Twelve finalist projects

The winning works have been selected from among the twelve finalist projects that are part of the exhibition. The jury was made up of prominent figures such as Elvira Dyangani Ose , director and commissioner of the MACBA; Peio Aguirre , art critic and independent curator; Chus Martínez , director of the Institute of Gender, Art and Nature of the FHNW Academy in Basel, and Aida Boix , director of the Lo Pati Art Center, who acted as secretary with a voice but without a vote.

In this edition, more than 200 dossiers have been evaluated. According to Aida Boix, "A great selection task has been done among more than 500 works. The twelve finalists address very diverse themes, but if you look closely you can find common points. We have selected from emerging artists with trajectories up-and-comers to established national and international names." Boix also emphasized the importance of maintaining this call: "It is a great proposal with 35 years of history and from the Terres de l'Ebre we must continue to bet on contemporary art."

The BIAM d'Amposta prize, held every two years, is a statewide recognition that since 1989 has established itself as a benchmark for contemporary creation and a key showcase for the country's emerging art. The competition awards a first prize of 5,000 euros for the winning work and 500 euros for each of the selected artists. The Ciutat d'Amposta Art Biennial can be visited until February 2, 2025.