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SWAB 2014 expands

More participating artists, countries, galleries and programmes …

02.10.14

This year the International Fair of Contemporary Art in Barcelona will be held from the 2nd through the 5th of October within the Italian Pavilion at the Fira Barcelona, ​​in front of the Magic Fountain of Montjuïc. Swab 2014 will feature the participation of 60 galleries from 20 countries, bringing together the work of 165 artists, this years marks the first edition of Swab Thinks: ideas, words, networks, an unprecedented programme organized by the Independent Studies Programme (PEI) of the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (MACBA). Directed by Beatriz Preciado the programme includes a series of lectures, debates and panel discussions that will take place between Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th  of October, and bring into dialogue with artists, curators, collectors and cultural critics will together review the ongoing changes in the contemporary world and the place of artistic practice.

Swab 2014 brings together the work of 165 artists through different galleries. The countries participating with this edition include; Spain, Russia, Italy, Hungary, UK, Germany, USA, Ireland, France, Belgium, Argentina, India, China, Korea, Venezuela, Budapest, Finland, Switzerland, Greece and Denmark.

  • Swab 2014 Barcelona Contemporary art

    AGGTELEK, “Parrot in a 50‘S boredom”, 2013. Oil on canvas 100×70 cm. Gerhardt Braun Gallery, Palma de Mallorca. (Programa General)


    The participating galleries are organised around the following programmes:

    General Programme. Brings together a collection of international well established galleries.

    Too hot to handle. Under the auspices of Commissioner Ethel Seno, four galleries from the USA present the work of artists David LaChapelle, Manuel Ocampo, Victor Castillo and Olek, including a special performance during the celebration of Swab.

    SWAB Solo. Individual presentations by artists whose projects address issues around “Latin American” (identity, origin and cultural imprint). Selected artists include Adrian Melis (Havana, 1985), Jhafis Quintero (La Chorrera, Panama, 1973), Luis Molina Pantin (Venezuela, 1969), Humberto Díaz (Cuba, 1975), Alejandro Leonardt (Puerto Varas, Chile, 1985) Ana Alenso (Venezuela, 1982) and Regina José Galindo (Guatemala 1974). The curators are Direlia Carolina Lazo and Ariza.

    Positions on Drawing. Eight Spanish and Catalan galleries presenting artists' projects that are based on the art of drawing. The commissioners are Mónica Álvarez Careaga and Óscar Alonso Molina.

    MYFAF. Four newly created galleries participating for the first time at an art fair. The curators are Trallero and Zaida Rosa Lleó.

    American Galleries. Featuring galleries specialising in American artists.

    Asian Galleries. Galleries featuring Asian artists.

  • Nacho Simal etHall

    Nacho Simal, “Invierno”, 2013. etHALL Dibujo Contemporáneo, Barcelona. (General Programme)

  • Sito Mujica

    Sito Mújica, “117. Claudio Capanna”, 2014. Oil on paper 48x32cm. 3 Punts Galería, Barcelona. (General Programme)

  • David LaChapelle, “Gas Shell”, 2012. Chromogenic print 76 x 125.2 cm. Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York. (Programme Too Hot to Handle)

  • Laura Ojeda Bär

    Laura Ojeda Bär, “Astro”, 2014. Óleo sobre tela 195 x 120 cm. Pasto Galería, Buenos Aires. (Programme American Galleries)

     

    SWAB 14 also introduces three new awards, the Foundation Lluís Corominas Catalan Best Artist Award, sponsored by Bonart Cultural, the DKV Insurances  Award for Best Spanish Artist and the Visione Future Award, which have been added to the by now well established awards including: the Foundation Art Award Banco de Sabadell for Best Gallery, the MANGO Best Young Artist Award, the Photography Award supported by Laboratories Color EGM, (the work is subsequently given to the MACBA Foundation), the Marset Idea Award and the Diezy7 Collection Award for Best Drawing.

    The fair also provides a springboard for young artists. Swab Stairs is a working collaboration with Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB), together with art and design schools in Catalonia which gives students the opportunity of exhibiting their work on the walls of the city’s Metro stations. The Barcelona City Council, ​​Swab and the participating galleries with this the seventh edition will be presenting You, Me, and the Local Artists, an exhibition of banners specifically designed for Paseo de Gracia to exhibit in public a selection of the art works created by local artists born after 1970, this event will be carried out through Catalan, Castilian, English, Chinese and Russian.


  • Andres Senra

    Andrés Senra, “S/T serie kommune”, 2013. Watercolour 30x 21 cm. Addaya Centre d’Art Contemporani, Alaró (Mallorca). (Programne Positions and Drawing)

  • Tim Phillips

    Tim Phillips, “Beyond The Beyond”, 2012. MDF, wood, LED lights, acrylic 137x84x48cm, Pantocrátor Gallery, Shanghai. (Programa Asian Galleries)

  • Luis Molina Pantin

    Luis Molina-Pantin, “Best-Sellers -International", 2010. Lambda print photography 50.8 x 61 cm. Henrique Faria Gallery, New York (Programme SWAB Solo)

  • Philipp Haffner, “LAX”, 2013. Fineliner on paper 70 x 100 cm. Vanja Contemporary, Brighton. (Programme MYFAF)

     

    SWAB was founded in 2006 as an initiative put together by the Barcelona Espacio de Arte Contemporáneo Diezy7 private collection. It is supported by major national and international galleries as well as the City of Barcelona and the Generalitat de Catalunya. Year after year Swab has incorporated changes and improvements to its programme with the intention to establish itself as an annual event on the international emerging art scene.