ARCOmadrid 2015 Closes the Fair

President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos officially closed the International Fair of Contemporary Art ARCOmadrid 2015, organized by IFEMA, in which Colombia participates as a country guest.

President has said: “It is an honor to us Colombia has been chosen as a country guest for this edition of ARCO and that this presence has left an unforgettable mark in the Colombian culture” and the relationships of this Latin American country and Spain. Culture unites us more and more, Juan Manuel Santos highlited.”

After touring each one of the Colombian Galleries, President visited the institutional stand of Colombia, where he made a balance related to the Colombian participation in such event. “The galleries owners who have attended this event have expressed their satisfaction and explained how ARCOmadrid has placed them in a high-level international event, a fair which is increasingly gaining significance.”

During the visit to ARCOmadrid, Juan Manuel Santos has been accompanied by his wife María Clemencia Rodríguez de Santos, his son Martin Santos, director of Buen Gobierno Foundation; Mariana Garcés, Minister of Culture in Colombia; Maria Ángela Holguín, Minister of Foreign Affairs in Colombia; Cecilia Álvarez, Minister of Comerce, Industry and Tourism in Colombia; and Fernando Carrillo Flórez, ambassador of Colombia in Spain. Also, a wide delegation being part of the President official visit in Spain, which is taking place until March 3, attended the event.

Also participated Ramón Gandarias, ambassador of Spain to Colombia; María Paz Gaviria, ARTBO director; Fermín Lucas, IFEMA general director; Luis Eduardo Cortés, IFEMA executive presidente; José María Álvarez del Manzano, president of the IFEMA board; Carlos Urroz, ARCOmadrid director; Arturo Fernández, presidente de la Comerce Chamber in Madrid; and Juan Pablo Lázaro, president of the Confederation of Buisness men in Madrid.

On occasion of the ARCOmadrid closing, María Paz Gaviria has stated: with this link to ARCOmadrid we contribute to the process of internationalization of galleries and artists of the Bogota city.

Also, Fernando Carrillo Florez, ambassador of Colomia to Spain, has pointed out the importance of this Colombian cultural incursion in Spain,” it is a prove of the increasing significance the country has acquired in the art and the boom it has experienced in the last decade with the emerging of new art galleries, public and private museums, art fairs, biennials, cultural spaces promoted by artists, collectors and curators.” It is a cultural boom, “which is useful as a tool to foster peace” since culture and the artistic creation “are fundamental pieces to reconciliation and building of peace.”

On his part, Carlos Urroz, ARCOmadrid director has expressed his satisfaction for the participation of Colombian galleries at the fair and highlighted the quality and diversity of the parallel activities program.

The President official visit also includes his presence in some exhibitions within the programa ArcoColombia. On March 2, President will visit ‘Travesía por los estados de la palabra’ exhibition in Madrid. It is an interactive piece symbolizing a tour though Gabril Garcia Marquez’s work thorugh a selection of literature fragments. Also, and as part of the program, Juan Manuel Santos will officially open in the presence of his majestics the Spain Kings on March 3rd, the exhibition of the care of the San Ignacio church in Bogotta, also known as “La Lechuga, a gest work at the National Museum of Prado.

ARCOmadrid, a meeting place for Europe and Latin America

The ARCOmadrid fair, which was celebrated from February 25 to March first, closed its 34th edition with the participation of over 27.280 collectors and professionals all over the world. Likewise, just few hours to close the Fair, it is estimated to exceed the global figure 100.000 visitors, reaffirming itself as the key appointment for the art market in Spain and as a place for meeting and interchange between Europe and Latin America.

The attendance of Colombia at ARCOmadrid 2015 has been possible thanks to the Ministry of Culture of Colmbia, The Ministry of Foreing Affairs ofClombia and the Embassy of Colombia to Spain in association with the Chamber of Comerce of Bogotta through its ARTBO program, the Art International Fair of Bogota and the official sponsor of  DHL and Telefónica.

Besides the attendance of the galleries at the Fair, a wide program of activities is being carried out in the frame of the ArcoColombia program, which can be visited until late April. It is an initiative covering 50 events in the capital of Spain, of which 20 exhibitions cover the last generations of Colombian artists. The presence of the Colombina art in Madrid will last two months with the participation of artists, curators, art critics, galleries, museums as well as independent spaces and editorials dedicated to art.