The Ampersand Menina,Calle Serrano, Barrio Salamanca, Madrid
A large group of plastic artists, actors, chefs or athletes give life to these 1.80-meter-tall meninas.
The fun is going to be in running into dozens of sculptures in the middle of the street. Walking, for example, through the Puerta de Alcalá, through the Plaza de Cibeles, through the Gran Vía. Each one decorated in a different way, with different colors, with personal visions and individual messages.
All the figures incorporate a QR code that will be scanned with a mobile device. This will serve to access the information of each menina, her presentation and the approach that the artist has wanted to give her. Some figures will be auctioned and the benefits will go to the NGOs selected by the artists or sponsors.
Reinterpreting Velázquez
Of course, the initiative proposes to reinterpret the work of Velázquez known as Las Meninas. Actually, the painting was not originally called that, but The Family of Felipe IV, which is the one portrayed. But since the 19th century, the name that referred to the companions of the Infanta Margarita of Austria became popular.
La Meninas Madrid Gallery intends to pay homage to this paradigmatic painting of the Spanish Golden Age. Or rather take art to the streets of Madrid, using the iconic claim of the meninas.
It is also a tribute to diversity, to freedom of expression. To everything that Madrid represents as a melting pot of cultures and artistic manifestations. As its organizer, Antonio Azzato, says, if you stay at home you always miss something.
Azzato has studied Velázquez's painting in depth. Aware of the numerous interpretations that have been made of this canvas throughout history, he now dares to reinterpret it in his own way.
To do this, Azzato has brought together a wide group of artists from various disciplines. From designers, sculptors and painters to actors, some established, others emerging. All willing to contribute their personal vision.
In the first edition we saw meninas signed by Marta Hazas, Jordi Molla, Vicky Martín Berrocal or Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada. In the second we saw those of Dani Rovira and Ouka Leele among many others. The third brought us those of Antonia Dell'Ate, Jaime Martínez Alonso, Marta Sánchez, Modesto Lomba or Asier Etxeandía. And the fourth to Ana Obregón, Boris Izaguirre, Chef José Andrés or DJ Nano.
This fifth edition of Meninas Madrid Gallery has the participation of Los Morancos, Paulo Coelho, Carmen Lomana, Pablo Motos and Saúl Cravioto among many others. In addition, this year the organization has invited students from design schools and universities, such as the European Institute of Design or the Francisco de Vitoria University, to participate.
Every year we find some menina that triumphs for some reason. For example, last year there was a pilgrim menina, on the occasion of the celebration of the Xacobeo Year, next to the church of Santiago. It is also one decorated by the designer Lorenzo Caprile next to the Puerta de Alcalá.
There are more than 40 sculptures that will decorate the streets of Madrid. The City Council has ceded the main spaces of the capital so that the figures can be freely admired by the widest possible public.
The sculptures are made of fiberglass and are life size of a person. That is why they do not attract the citizen's attention too much from a distance, but rather when he comes across them. A height of 1.80 by a depth of 1.60 and a weight of 30 kilos are appreciable dimensions on the ground, once located.
Each sculpture has a QR code that can be scanned with any mobile device and explains the concept of the work as well as presenting the menina virtually.
The event is charitable. At the end of the exhibition, some works will be auctioned and the proceeds will go to organizations selected by the artists themselves or sponsors. As they will bear the signature of their authors, it will be a unique occasion for collectors.
Las Meninas are located in open and central spaces, common places of passage. The idea is that many people see them. But those who want to see them need to orient themselves around the city to find them.
The Ampersand Menina,Calle Serrano, Barrio Salamanca, Madrid
A large group of plastic artists, actors, chefs or athletes give life to these 1.80-meter-tall meninas.
The fun is going to be in running into dozens of sculptures in the middle of the street. Walking, for example, through the Puerta de Alcalá, through the Plaza de Cibeles, through the Gran Vía. Each one decorated in a different way, with different colors, with personal visions and individual messages.
All the figures incorporate a QR code that will be scanned with a mobile device. This will serve to access the information of each menina, her presentation and the approach that the artist has wanted to give her. Some figures will be auctioned and the benefits will go to the NGOs selected by the artists or sponsors.
Reinterpreting Velázquez
Of course, the initiative proposes to reinterpret the work of Velázquez known as Las Meninas. Actually, the painting was not originally called that, but The Family of Felipe IV, which is the one portrayed. But since the 19th century, the name that referred to the companions of the Infanta Margarita of Austria became popular.
La Meninas Madrid Gallery intends to pay homage to this paradigmatic painting of the Spanish Golden Age. Or rather take art to the streets of Madrid, using the iconic claim of the meninas.
It is also a tribute to diversity, to freedom of expression. To everything that Madrid represents as a melting pot of cultures and artistic manifestations. As its organizer, Antonio Azzato, says, if you stay at home you always miss something.
Azzato has studied Velázquez's painting in depth. Aware of the numerous interpretations that have been made of this canvas throughout history, he now dares to reinterpret it in his own way.
To do this, Azzato has brought together a wide group of artists from various disciplines. From designers, sculptors and painters to actors, some established, others emerging. All willing to contribute their personal vision.
In the first edition we saw meninas signed by Marta Hazas, Jordi Molla, Vicky Martín Berrocal or Ágatha Ruiz de la Prada. In the second we saw those of Dani Rovira and Ouka Leele among many others. The third brought us those of Antonia Dell'Ate, Jaime Martínez Alonso, Marta Sánchez, Modesto Lomba or Asier Etxeandía. And the fourth to Ana Obregón, Boris Izaguirre, Chef José Andrés or DJ Nano.
This fifth edition of Meninas Madrid Gallery has the participation of Los Morancos, Paulo Coelho, Carmen Lomana, Pablo Motos and Saúl Cravioto among many others. In addition, this year the organization has invited students from design schools and universities, such as the European Institute of Design or the Francisco de Vitoria University, to participate.
Every year we find some menina that triumphs for some reason. For example, last year there was a pilgrim menina, on the occasion of the celebration of the Xacobeo Year, next to the church of Santiago. It is also one decorated by the designer Lorenzo Caprile next to the Puerta de Alcalá.
There are more than 40 sculptures that will decorate the streets of Madrid. The City Council has ceded the main spaces of the capital so that the figures can be freely admired by the widest possible public.
The sculptures are made of fiberglass and are life size of a person. That is why they do not attract the citizen's attention too much from a distance, but rather when he comes across them. A height of 1.80 by a depth of 1.60 and a weight of 30 kilos are appreciable dimensions on the ground, once located.
Each sculpture has a QR code that can be scanned with any mobile device and explains the concept of the work as well as presenting the menina virtually.
The event is charitable. At the end of the exhibition, some works will be auctioned and the proceeds will go to organizations selected by the artists themselves or sponsors. As they will bear the signature of their authors, it will be a unique occasion for collectors.
Las Meninas are located in open and central spaces, common places of passage. The idea is that many people see them. But those who want to see them need to orient themselves around the city to find them.