Contemporary Art Rooted in Spanish Realism

As part of the "400th Anniversary of Japan-Spain Exchange" initiative, which has seen various events held from last year into this one, "Astonishing Realism: Contemporary Art from Spain and Latin America – The MUSAC Collection" stands out as a centerpiece. The exhibition brings to Japan contemporary art grounded in a unique Spanish realism, from the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, a museum established in 2005 in León, the capital of the northwestern Spanish region of the same name, which has been actively collecting contemporary works reflecting the times.


The lineage of Spanish realism, passed down through centuries from Velázquez and Goya onwards, evolved into "Madrid Realism" from the 1980s, exemplified by Antonio López García. The essence of this realism lies not merely in the precise rendering of subjects, but in the artists' profound engagement with the very concept of reality.

This exhibition, where you can experience the "real" as understood by the Spanish people, showcases works by 27 artists, including contemporary paintings that delve deeply into human life and death, as well as video works and installations. Unique pieces unfold one after another, such as a room where all the furniture is cut in half, or a gentleman in a business suit confidently riding a horse through a university building.


Furthermore, the inclusion of works by Latin American artists offers another highlight: observing how the Spanish sense of reality transforms and "ferments" within the tropical climate of Central and South America.

The poet García Lorca once said, "In Spain, the dead are more alive than the living." Considering the Spanish culture where death has been embraced with more vitality than life, we can anticipate an exploration of how profound life, underpinned by an "activated" death, is rendered with realism. Let us enjoy the astonishing flight of imagination.


Astonishing Realism: Contemporary Art from Spain and Latin America – The MUSAC Collection

Dates: Saturday, February 15th – Sunday, May 11th (Closed Mondays, except Monday, May 5th; closed Wednesday, May 7th)

Hours: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last admission 5:30 PM)

Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

4-1-1 Miyoshi, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Tel. 03-5245-4111 (General Inquiries)

Admission: General ¥1100, University Students/Seniors (65+) ¥800, Junior High/High School Students ¥600, Elementary School Students and younger Free