The contemporary figuration of the Bassat Collection

The Nau Gaudí in Mataró is hosting a new exhibition of the Bassat Collection , the fortnight of this collection, which brings together 46 works by 18 different artists and brings to a close an exhibition cycle dedicated to the creations of the 21st century, focusing this time on contemporary figurative art. This show features the participation of artists such as Pep Guerrero , Marisa Cruz , Didier Lourenço , Jordi Prat Pons , Ricard Jordà , Chamo San , Hugo Alonso , Mariana Álvarez, Mrs. Toolip, Mònica Dixon and Roger Sanguino , among others. The amalgam of creators from different latitudes and contexts adds a global dimension to the exhibition, which includes everything from emerging voices to established artists.

'El lladre de bicicletes', Didier Lourenço (2005)

Some artists have decided to reinterpret classic works from a contemporary perspective, as in the case of Pep Guerrero , Jordi Prat Pons , Miguel Zapata , Marisa Cruz and Perecoll , establishing dialogues between past and present. In the case of Marisa Cruz, the artist finds her inspiration in the 'Portrait of a Lady' (c. 1465, National Gallery, Washington), a work by the Flemish painter Rogier van der Weyden . This influence materializes in a creation where the Madrid artist gives a new vision of a classic of medieval painting through her own contemporary gaze.

Sense títol, Marisa Cruz (2017)

With this exhibition, which can be visited until September, the Fundació Privada Carmen & Lluís Bassat , in collaboration with the Mataró City Council , concludes an exhibition cycle that has shown 144 works by 46 artists. These three shows have allowed visitors to discover a panorama of current contemporary art, where different visual languages and trends coexist. According to Lluís Bassat, this selection shows a growing interest in figuration in contemporary art, in contrast to the preeminence of abstraction in previous decades. "These are the most contemporary paintings in our collection, made by long-time artists and by younger ones who are making their way," said the collector. He also reflected on his own experience in the art collection, pointing out that for years he and his wife Carmen have debated whether they prefer abstract or figurative art, a question that still does not have a definitive answer.

In addition, this exhibition includes works that have not been exhibited before and others of recent acquisition, such as those by Chamo San , the artist who designed the poster for the La Mercè 2023 festivities. The exhibition highlights the validity of figurative art and the different approaches that artists adopt to represent reality, while reaffirming the Bassat Collection as one of the most outstanding collections for understanding Catalan art from the second half of the 20th century.

The entire Bassat Collection is exhibited in the Nau Gaudí in Mataró, an emblematic space that was originally the headquarters of a textile industry of the time. This building, kilometer zero of the architect's work, provides a unique environment for the presentation of the works, creating a connection between contemporary art and the industrial history of the city.

'La suavitat de la caricia', Diego Benéitez (2022)