RCAB 2

25 I ’d like to mention some isolated model cases of the Circle’s contact with Contemporary art before it came to its current involvement. That is to say, the more than 100 exhibitions, with approximately 25 catalogues organised by the Circle’s current Governing Board, led by J.F. Bentz since 2009. Specifically, the first one was IPAX 2009: International Peace Art eXhibition in the renovated space of the New Hall. IPAX was an anthology of paintings and drawings commissioned by the recently-deceased European Dalí specialist Roger Erasmy. A spectacular initiative by the, as he himself called them, disciples of Dalí from the 17th September to the 18th October in 2009, with a catalogue that started the long production process that bore witness to a sus- tained and on occasion little-known activity. Fortunately the press has started to respond to Bentz’s efforts over the last six years with an interest that, on occasion, verges on the massive, such as in the two very recent displays held at the two spaces currently found at the Circle. The first was a photography exhibition that could be seen at the Casa degli Italiani last autumn. This is an institution that is cele- brating 150 years since its foundation and with whom we have had a collaboration agreement for the last two years. Under the Andalusian Sky, a collection created by 10 internatio- nal photographers directed by Kim Weston and Miguel Soler- Roig was open to the public in the first fortnight of last October. There, ten international artists –under the direction of the two aforementioned artists and on this occasion comissioned by the writer– depicted nooks and crannies of Al-Andalus like Grana- da, Ronda, Tarifa and Seville, amongst other cities. The unique visions of each photographer in relation to the nude integrated into such a spectacular architectural landscape created a complete and exquisite panora- ma of the voyage through Al-Andalus. In this display, the photographers have worked from the detail and the foreground towards the panoramic shots; direct or intervened photography; the aesthetics or the concept, black and white or colour and from sensua- lity or innocence. All this without ignoring the cu- rrent danger of bringing together concepts such as the nude and Islam, although there was no problem in this area. The show is a wandering exhibition throughout Spain. We don’t know why there was such generalised at- tention in digital and written press, given the high quality of the product. At no time was the mentio- ned conflict of civilisations inflamed, as previously noted. We understand art as a privileged message of understanding and peace. It is the most recent one, inaugurated on Wednes- day 13th January, and open until the 29th. This is a unique show about the Penya (cultural and artistic group) La Punyalada, a leader in Barcelona cultural and artistic matters from 1964 to 1998. Various intellectuals, especially painters, but also journalists, lawyers and doctors met to speak of art and literature at the La Punyalada restaurant on Passeig de Gràcia. The anthological exhibition offered by the Circle brings together unpublished original material from the era via 35 paintings from renowned artists like Emili Grau Sala or Frederic Llove- ras. Similarly, there are 60 photographs where we can find the artist Joan Miró and the sculptor Eduardo Chillida participating in some of the penya ’s artistic discussions, and the place whe- re they went when they came to Barcelona ended up giving its name to the collective. Some of the figurative art pictures that can now be seen at the Artistic Circle’s exhibition room belong to famous Catalan artists such as Emili Grau Sala, Frederic Llo- veras, Ramon Llovet, Josep Verdaguer, Xavier Blanch or Ricard Serra. Also, there are two sculptures, once by Josep Viladomat and the other by Martí Llauradó. The artists and the families of the deceased have all lent their works voluntarily for the occa- sion. The very same day the exhibition was inaugurated Manel Sarró, doctor and art collector, presented his book entitled Pen- ya La Punyalada: Memories of a member 1976-1998 . Sarró, who was a member of the penya , brings together the memories of more than 30 years participating in the weekly art discussions on a Saturday. The show was commissioned by the Circle’s vice-president and exmember of the penya , Jordi Rollan and by the artist and me- ritorious member of the Circle, Josep Cruañas. The commissio- ners recognise that the exhibition ‘highlights the value of the role played by the penya in Barcelona cultural life between 1964 The Circle and the Contemporary : An Exhibition of Belgian art in 1921 and the beginning of a new era in the early 21st Century Inauguració / Inauguración / Opening. IPAX 2009 - International Peace Art eXhibition, comissariada per / comisariada por curated by Roger Erasmy (a la dreta / a la derecha / on the right side)