Saló de Maig

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The Saló de Maig (Catalan for May Salon ; Spanish also Salón de Mayo ) was an art exhibition founded by the Association of Contemporary Artists in 1956 and held a total of 12 times a year in Barcelona from 1957 to 1970 .

The Saló de Maig pursued the goal of counteracting the marginalization of post-impressionist and contemporary art in Barcelona and Catalonia in the decade between 1950 and 1960. Private sponsors were sought for art activities, as there was no de facto state funding for contemporary art. The model for this event were similar actions of the Société des Artistes Indépendants (Association of Independent Artists) in Paris.

The event provided excellent opportunities for artists, art critics and interested art audiences to come together. Today it is considered to be the predecessor institution of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona. For the first few years it took place in the old chapel of the Hospital de la Santa Creu , the building that now houses the Catalan National Library . It was later moved to the park of the Citadel of Barcelona. In the initial phase of the exhibitions, prizes were awarded; this practice was abandoned at the middle and late exhibitions.

The following people directed the Saló de Maig : Emili Bosch i Roger (1957), Ramon Rogent i Perés (1958), Antoni Cumella (1959) and Santiago Surós Forn (1960–1970). A total of around 900 artists took part in these art events. In addition to Catalan and Spanish artists, numerous foreign artists such as the Germans Will Faber , Erwin Bechtold , Frank el Punto (real name: Frank L. Schaefer) and Wolf Vostell or the Swede Owe Pellsjö took part in the exhibitions. In addition to the Saló de Maig , two smaller art exhibitions were organized in Barcelona in a few years: the Saló de Novembre and the Saló de la Mercè .

literature

  • Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana . 2nd edition, volume 20, Barcelona 1988, 5th reprint 1992, ISBN 84-7739-021-5 , page 184 f., Article Saló de Maig . (Catalan)

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