The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, accompanied King Felipe VI today at the inauguration of the exhibition Flamboyant. Joana Vasconcelos, organized by the Casa de Alba Foundation and the Portuguese artist with the collaboration of the City Council of Madrid, which can be visited at the Palacio de Liria starting tomorrow, February 14, and until July 31.
During the visit, the guests toured the various rooms where the works that make up the exhibition are displayed, distributed throughout the halls and gardens of the Palacio de Liria. The Lisbon-based artist is one of the most prominent creators in the contemporary art scene and is bringing her works to a large inhabited palace for the first time, unlike other interventions in historical spaces like the Palace of Versailles, which imbues the exhibition with a special dialogue not only between her works and this space but also between the artist herself and the Duke of Alba.
The exhibition is also an opportunity to discover less frequented corners of the Palacio de Liria, where visitors can enjoy some of the most emblematic works of the artist. The exhibition tour begins in the neoclassical vestibule of the palace, and from there, visitors can explore other more intimate spaces such as the chapel, which is open to the public for the first time, or the palace gardens, usually closed.
In the library, the work Carmen — a monumental lamp — will hang next to a handwritten letter by Prosper Mérimée, the author of the novel that inspired Bizet’s famous opera, reinforcing the connection between contemporary art and historical artistic expressions. The exhibition also includes other iconic pieces by the artist such as Marilyn and more recent works like Valkyrie Thyra. /
