• Contemporary Art Now 2024

    Spotlight on CAN Ibiza

The third edition of Contemporary Art Now returns to Ibiza from June 26th to 30th at FECOEV, located at Crta d’Eivissa in Sant Antoni. With the addition of events and special projects distributed throughout the territory. It is an annual event that explores the multifaceted aspects of a globally renowned destination and showcases all the latest developments in the contemporary art market.

During the last week of June, at Fecoev in Ibiza, the third edition of CAN Art Fair took place. This initiative began in 2022 and by its second year had already established itself as one of the most significant summer events for the contemporary art market. From the outset, the heartbeat of the fair has been the celebration of the local art scene and its interaction with the international panorama and market. In a land where tourism, leisure, and pure expression have created a local history, this initiative aims to elevate the cultural sphere and offer the public a new level of entertainment where fun, business, and art intertwine.

In a short time, the island has become a significant art spot, attracting the attention of experts from all over the world. It is no coincidence that many galleries have decided to leverage the growing cultural potential and have chosen the island as the location for new openings. One of these is Gathering Gallery, which was founded in London and recently opened a new branch in Ibiza under the name Mira Gathering Gallery. During the CAN Art Fair, founder Alex Flick presented in the new space a show of Stefan Bruggemann and Bruce Nauman, showcasing his new artistic contribution to the beautiful island.

Local support is evident from numerous sponsors and supporters like OD Hotels, Eivissa Cultural, and Pacha Foundation, in addition to international partners such as Loewe, Barceló Imperial, and others.In this third edition, the island hosted over 30 galleries from around the world and more than 110 artists, along with curators, collectors, and other industry experts. Sergio Sancho, founder and creator of the UVNT Art Fair located at Matadero in Madrid, articulates the intention and purpose of showcasing the best of the contemporary avant-garde scene; hence the name CAN: ‘Contemporary Art Now’. Innovation is not the only focus of this initiative; the lifeblood is found in those artistic expressions that originate from the local culture and celebrate Balearic art.

The meticulous selection of participants and the general curatorial decisions have been managed by Saša Bogojev, who has a diversified career in the art world, media, and magazines. For many years, he served as a contributing editor and European correspondent for Juxtapoz magazine before officially starting his journey within the Contemporary Art Now art fair in Ibiza in 2022. His work and stylistic choices have received significant acclaim from the public from the outset; notably, his work for the stand of L21 Gallery from Palma featuring portraits by young UK artist Joe Cheetham was particularly well-received.
The atmosphere and cultural integration on the island are not limited to the standard programme but include additional stimuli and services distributed across various parts of the territory. The OFF PROGRAMME consists of projects outside the main programme, and some of those are available to visit until 14 July.

Five in particular have brought a multifaceted perspective capable of merging with the essence and richness of the territory. Irene de Andrés, with “Donde nada ocurre”, explored the concept of mass tourism and how it has long influenced territorial conformation; her exhibition is located at Sa Punta des Molí, in the bay of Sant Antoni de Portmany (Ibiza). The duo Alejandro Javaloyas and Bartomeu Sastre chose Faro de Ses Coves Blanques lighthouse in Sant Antoni de Portmany as the location to reflect on the role of the observer in both life and art with the exhibition “Espais incomplets”. With “No home” at The Air Raid Shelter of Santa Eulària des Riu, visitors can witness a play of lights and shades delineated by naturally inspired ceramics personally created by the artist Jaume Roig. Guillermo Rubí outlines a completely different atmosphere and reflection, drawing inspiration from punk and post-rock and narrating how the environment has influenced the creation of certain identities. The chosen venue is an Ibizan gunpowder warehouse. Lastly, with “I feel like Robinson Crusoe” at Hotel Blanco, Francesc Rosselló opens the doors to an introspective journey, exploring the artist’s experiences and perspectives.These different artistic interpretations are just a few of the numerous off-programme initiatives. Also under the “Special Projects” category, there are many talks and exhibitions initiated and launched by local institutions and galleries.

The emphasis has been rightly placed on promoting local history and culture. Every land has riches, traditions, and symbols that over time have shaped and created a precise social and environmental impact, contributing to cultural diversity. Following this concept, many projects parallel to the Art Fair have sought to explore and disseminate Ibiza’s musical history and club culture, a status that over the years has made it one of the most sought-after destinations globally.

Creative expression doesn’t confine itself within strict limits, and thus seemingly separate worlds have been addressed and articulated through exhibitions and talks.A standout example was ‘Postering Ibiza (1980-2020): THE VISUAL EVOLUTION OF THE WHITE ISLAND THROUGH ITS GRAPHIC IMAGINARY’, a collection of vintage posters from some of the island’s most historic clubs. The interaction of night culture with artistic horizons and the essence of the exhibition were further explored during two specific events, or rather talks: “Oral history of Ibiza’s nightlife: Cultural and visual influences over the decades” and “Transcending Cultural and Sonic Boundaries: A conversation with Tamer Malki of Bedouin”; both hosted by Nazy Nazhand, Founder of Nazhand Art & Culture.

CAN 2024 establishes and reconsolidates a new way of elevating cultural awareness and preservation. By integrating territorial riches with practical and research work, this historic summer landscape becomes not only a symbol of leisure and entertainment but also of artistic growth and deepening.

CAN Ibiza / Contemporary Art Now 2024

Credits:

Art Fair: CAN Art Ibiza 2024 / @canartibiza
Fourder: Sergio Sancho / @sersancho
Curator: Saša Bogojev / @sashabogojev
Words: Annalisa Fabbrucci / @annalisa_fabbrucci
Editor: Maria Abramenko  / @mariabramenko

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