Exhibitions
Reflections on the vocation and art of collecting
A selection from the valuable art collection of Carmen and Lluís Bassat at La Lonja in Zaragoza.
Since the end of February, La Lonja de Zaragoza has been hosting the exhibition Cómo construimos la Colección Bassat, curated and designed by my grandfather, Lluís Bassat, a passionate collector by nature. Many art critics consider his collection to be one of the most important of the second avant-gardes of the 20th century. At the same time, it is a collection that could be considered eclectic, since it does not follow any conventional pattern.
My grandparents have always bought art that excited them and for the love of art. Being a collector means having a natural inclination and genuine enthusiasm for the activity of collecting. It is not the economic value that drives a collector, but the passion, effort and personal meaning that lies behind each acquisition. Collecting is not just a matter of money, but an activity that is nourished by dedication and enthusiasm. My grandparents are a perfect example of this vocation. Throughout their lives they have collected cigarette cases, fountain pens, razors, but the most valuable and beloved is their art collection.
From a very young age they shared a deep passion for art. At just 15 and 16 years old, they were already visiting galleries, exhibition halls, fairs and museums, dreaming of the day they would be able to afford to buy a work. In 1968 they bought their first work on credit, a painting by Àngel Jové. A few years later, in 1973, they bought La banyista, by Xavier Serra de Rivera, at the Galeria Adrià. That same day, due to exceptional circumstances, they also acquired 35% of the gallery. Until 1980, when the gallery closed, they organised around seventy exhibitions and, from each of them, Carmen and Lluís acquired two or three works. This stage not only enriched his collection, but also allowed him to give support and recognition to emerging artists such as Xavier Serra de Rivera, Francesc Artigau, Joan Brotat, Josep Guinovart, Albert Ràfols-Casamada, Maria Girona, Sergi Aguilar, among many others.
La banyista, Xavier Serra de Ribera (1973). Foto: Gasull
The oil crisis forced them to close the gallery, and it was then that they chose to keep all the works in the gallery instead of the proportional share of the money that was due to them. At that time, the collection began to acquire a considerable dimension. Far from stopping, their passion only grew. They took advantage of their work trips to visit galleries and museums around the world, discovering international art while establishing links with new gallerists and artists.
One of the most special collections that my grandparents have, however, is not tangible: the collection of knowledge. At 82 and 83 years old, they continue to be interested in everything that surrounds them. They have never stopped wanting to learn and discover new things. They could have stuck with the artists of their time, but they didn't. Even today, they enjoy 21st century contemporary art and continue to invest in emerging artists. One of their great dreams was to be able to show and bring the magnificent collection that they have been creating over the years closer to the public. That's how the idea of creating a museum was born. Thanks to the consortium with the Mataró City Council, since 2010 the Bassat Foundation has organized fifteen exhibitions at the Nau Gaudí in Mataró and more than thirty in other spaces, both nationally and internationally.
Now, thanks to the invaluable collaboration of the Zaragoza City Council, you can enjoy an exhibition of the Carmen and Lluís Bassat Collection, composed of 119 works that follow the genuine criteria of its founders. We look forward to seeing you in the magnificent hall of La Lonja until April 27, 2025.
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