HF Visits: Coleccion SOLO in Spain
Recently, Hi-Fructose got to rendezvous with Coleccion Solo, an international arts project based in Madrid, Spain which owns nearly 1,000 contemporary artworks, many of which kept on display within their free, private museum space Espacio SOLO. The main impetus of the visit was to witness the unveiling of their brand-new exhibition “Handle with Care”, showcasing works by a slew of 60+ international artists, including Garry Simmons, SMACK, Vanessa Barragoa, Danny Fox, William Mackinnon, Kajahl, Chino Moya, Yoshitaka Amano, Miriam Cahn, Operator, and Danny Fox, to name but a few. Not only did we have the pleasure of perusing this latest, wide-ranging selection of curiosities (opened on March 20th), but also took the opportunity to check out bits of their impressive collection housed within the museum on a regular basis.
Specializing in all manner of contemporary work such as street art, graffiti, and digital media, a tour through their collection is like taking a wander through a refined Willy Wonka Factory. Nearly every medium imaginable can be found on display, in some form or another, within the labyrinthian space. This includes, but is not limited to, paintings large and small, entangled fabric arrangements, intricate drawings, sculptures both interactive and still-standing, high-tech generative art experiments, digital animation looped on large screens, a proper theatre space, and various installations and props relating to their exhibition theme (such as stacked shipping crates with interesting characters hidden inside).
Some of the spaces are not museum-like spaces, (but) more of a living room…
“Handle with Care” particularly recognizes the act of collecting an artwork, and what that relationship means. In SOLO’s opinion, it shouldn’t merely be a cut and dry transaction- money exchanged for a product- but rather, a way of honoring and extending the life force of that artwork. How a work may continue its legacy depends on choosing an ideal environment with which the piece can be appreciated, how it may interact with that environment, and by, of course, handling with care. It’s apparent that this sentiment is at the heart of everything Coleccion SOLO does, from their thoughtful and exceptionally curated presentations, the vast resources poured into these “viewing experiences”, as well as their ongoing schedule of projects which helps keep the public engaged.
“We try to really look after people,” says Rebekah Rhodes, head of research at SOLO. To create an intimate environment which helps connect the viewer more closely to the art, “Some of the spaces are not museum-like spaces, (but) more of a living room,” she explains. In keeping with this down to earth attitude in their current exhibit, SOLO has even deliberately left upon its walls nail holes and scratches from previous exhibits, as insight into the curatorial process and to honor all works which once hung in those spaces.
In essence, Coleccion SOlO is a team that is immensely passionate about the art that they procure, as well as fostering growth for the careers of the artists they feature. If you happen to find yourself in the culturally rich city of Madrid, don’t hesitate to book a private viewing of this latest exhibit, on view through December, and be sure to keep an eye out for Coleccion SOLO’s upcoming projects, exhibitions, as well as an expanded new location, opening this Fall!
