As we are officially in the middle of summer, here are the 7 art highlights for July 2022. Some recommendations that include art and culture festivals. Because this time of the year demands it;
We begin with the aforementioned shows, on the one hand, the Galway International Art Festival and the Cap Roig Festival. These two events are always eagerly awaited, as they bring society together to enjoy art. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao exposes the necessary connection with the land itself. Meanwhile, Fundación Loewe is participating in PHotoEspaña by dedicating the exhibition to the photographer George Lynes. The Victoria and Albert Museum traces the history of the meaning of masculinity, and The Met the kimono’s connection between East and West. Plus, we see how Picasso was so inspired by Ingres that he painted one of his works in his style. Let’s get into the 7 art highlights for July 2022!
Cultural diversity once again fills the streets of Galway
The city of Galway is preparing to return for another year of the International Arts Festival. A show that brings together hundreds of people, uniting cultures in every corner of the town. Moreover, the enrichment it brings to the social and economic life of the area strengthens Ireland. As we remember that two years ago it was chosen as European Capital of Culture, the festival being an international reference.
Throughout the two weeks of the festival, visitors will be able to enjoy a very full programme, brimming with performing arts, concerts and exhibitions. The work written by Hans Christian Andersen, The Tin Soldier, will be performed, conveying the magic that the author used to create. On the other hand, dance will be the main focus of the Satori and Unfolding, connecting movement, sounds and light. The show and street art will also flood the streets, bringing cultural diversity to each and every person who appears. For example, the planet Mars will land on a large scale over the city, where it will be possible to see in detail what its surface looks like. Or how the singer David Naylor will cross Galway accompanied by his band mates raising the music of the 70s, 80s and 90s;
Australian choreographer and director Lewis Major has honed his skills to create a work that has received rave reviews around the world. The Royal Opera House in London and the Grand Theatre de la Ville de Luxembourg have praised his work.
Finally, interviews and talks will also be present at the festival. The climate change and the danger to the planet and human beings is a key issue, and no one forgets to treat it seriously. Moreover, as a result of the pandemic these last two years have been very difficult, creating challenges in dealing with art. Therefore, they will also talk about how to reinforce and be able to build new plays or manage theatre companies that have had many losses.
When?:From 11 to 24 July 2022
Where?:Galway City, Ireland
Tickets: You can purchase tickets here.
Els Jardins de Cap Roig brings together its art on white water
Once again, the Jardines de Cap Roig will once again raise music to the skies, bringing together national and international stars. The 22nd edition of the Cap Roig Festivalreturns with new features and artists who will be performing for the first time. Kicking off the opening with the Colombian Sebastián Yatra and the great Christina Aguilera. María Luisa Gistau, Director of Communication and Institutional Relations at CaixaBank, highlights how, over the years, the festival has become a benchmark in southern Europe.
As every year, the festival is hosted in a beautiful area, where visitors can enjoy the fusion between the sea and the accompanying mountains. Girona has a unique charm
With a line-up of well-known musical figures, the Baix Empordà has placed itself at the forefront of the music scene. Moreover, Cap Roig is a festival that generates opportunities and has a positive impact on cultural activity.
The programme will open its first night with Sebastián Yatra on stage, offering his new album, Dharma. The presence of Christina Aguilera is something to look forward to, as the American artist has not been in Spain for 18 years. On this occasion, her return is accompanied by a new album called La Fuerza, sung in Spanish, and featuring Latin collaborations. Miki Núñez, Els Pets, Rosario, Camilo and Sting are just some of the artists who will be performing at the festival. Representing a great variety, honouring great voices from 30 or 40 years ago, while enjoying new singers who are already collecting great successes;
The Catalan singer, Aitana, was one of the most anticipated artists at last year’s festival. This year she will not be there, but the line-up is full of musical gems such as Camilo and Morat.
With the idea of offering an all-round show for all kinds of audiences, the Cap Roig Mini continues to promote family activities through the Cap Roig Mini. In addition, it continues to support the charity night, with the help of the Fundació Vilmar, and through the voice of Sergio Dalma. All the money raised will be donated to the foundation’s project to bring the art of music to people with functional diversity or mental illness. As a novelty, the gastronomic offer will be completely renewed by the Cal Blay Food Lovers group. A catering company that this year celebrates 40 years in the kitchen, offering first class delicacies.
When:From 22 July to 15 August 2022.
Where: Carrer Camí del Rus, s/n, Calella de Palafrugell, Girona.
Tickets: You can purchase tickets here.
Connecting present and past; nature and technology
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao has opened the Film & Video room for the second time this year with the exhibition The Otolith Group: Horizonte O. An exhibition presented through video art and moving images. The large audiovisual projection has been carried out by the artists Anjalika Sagar and Kodwo Eshun in 2018, founders of The Otolith Group. Through it, we can get to know the figure of Rabindranath Tagore, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.
Horizon O, 2018. The project shows a culture that is perhaps little shown. Visitors will leave the exhibition with an interest to know more and get closer to that which is little known.
The key point of the film centres on the Indian school Visva Bharati of Santiniketan, founded by the author in 1921, claiming the urgent need to take care of nature. At the beginning of the last century, Tagore already foresaw what was going to happen in the future: therisk of climate change, the emergence of sustainability and the action of humans in keeping the planet safe. The discovery of a culture is also present to observe and learn. With Horizon O, dances, rituals and natural landscapes are reflected. Connections between the origin and the future, relating the earth and the new technologies that monopolise the world.
Studies of Santiniketan (A century before us II) Photomontages set in places with their own history.
The naturist vision of the Indian writer is still present in the school today, as they still have a great connection with nature and craftsmanship. Thanks to the work that was done together with him, they managed to strengthen the land, turning it into fertile soil. All this originated in the last century, but The Otolith Group considers that it is still a contemporary thought, and a crucial element for a healthy future. On the other hand, moments before entering the exhibition, visitors can view a series of photomontages entitled Studies of Santiniketan. These depict different parts of the school, the differences over the years and the historical events that have taken place there.
When: 23 June to 9 October 2022
Where: Abandoibarra Etorbidea, 2, Bilbao
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10.00h to 20.00h
Tickets: You can buy tickets here
George Platt Lynes with the soul to revolutionise a very restrictive era
To kick off the summer, Fundación Loewe has participated in Madrid in the 25th edition of PhotoEspaña 2022 with an exhibition dedicated to the American photographer George Platt Lynes. This is the first to be held in Spain paying tribute to his art. The exhibition features 48 works, including pre-à-porter photographs, personal photographs and dance portfolios. During the tour, you can even see delicately photographed nudes.
From left to right: Lynes photographed many artists such as painters and dancers. Marc Chagall, 1941. Mildred A. Lynes, 1930’s
In order to exploit his photographic potential, at the age of twenty he moved to Paris, where he was influenced by numerous artists. The Catalan painter Salvador Dalí, the novelist Gertrude Stein and the French playwright Jean Cocteau were some of his influences. He gained experience and innovation in photography, introducing the use of theatrical lighting and absurd props. He also built his career with major magazines such as Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue.
Throughout the visit, one can see how the eroticism of the male body plays an important role in his work. Despite the fact that photographing naked bodies was illegal in the United States, and homosexuality was considered a disease, Platt Lynes always went ahead with his work. He showed a great fascination with Renaissance art and Ancient Greece, and bodies were not to embarrass anyone. Some of the models who posed for him were the artists Paul Cadmus, Jared French, or the dancer Ralph McWilliam.
From left to right: The photographer, despite being banned from showing nudity, struggled to open up the closed minds that surrounded society. Yul Bryner, 1942. George Platt Lynes and friend
The central essence of the exhibition conveys to visitors the different cultures in which the photographer saw himself reflected. A tribute to one of the thousands of people who struggle to defend gender identity and sexuality. In fact, before his death, Lynes left hundreds of photographs to the Kinsey Institute, as he wanted to be part of the research on sex, gender and reproduction.
When: From 22 June to 22 October 2022.
Where: Calle Verónica, 13, Madrid.
Hours: Monday to Friday from 10.00h to 20.00h. Saturday from 10.00h to 14.00h and from 16.00h to 20.00h. Closed on Sundays.
Tickets: Free tickets.
What does masculinity represented in fashion mean?
Victoria and Albert Museum, with sponsorship support from Gucci, invites visitors to discover how men’s fashion has evolved over the centuries. The exhibition Fashioning Masculinities: The art of menswear explores the designs chosen by tailors, and how the visual idea of what masculinity means has changed. The tour is made up of 100 different outfits and 100 works of art divided into three stages. Garments such as those by Raf Simons alongside iconic photographs or paintings such as those by Joshua Reynolds.
From left to right: In ancient times it was not uncommon for upper-class men to wear clothes that today are associated with women. This is controversial, as there are no rules about what to wear and what not to wear. Jean-Baptiste, by Omar Victor Diop, 2014. Harris Reed Fluid Romanticism 001
The curators of the exhibition, Claire Wilcoxand Rosalind McKever, detailed the importance of the passage of time and the concept of gender.
Men’s fashion is enjoying a period of unprecedented creativity. It has long been a powerful mechanism for encouraging conformity or expressing individuality. Rather than a linear or definitive history, this is a journey through time and gender. Bringing together historical and contemporary looks with art that reveals how masculinity has been constructed.
The suit SS2021 by designer Craig Green has been chosen to welcome visitors. A deconstructed suit that reflects the central element of the show: unlearn to adapt again. In this case in the evolution of the meaning of masculine on the garments. The three stages within the exhibition are Undressed, Overdressed and Redressed. The first section looks at the exploration of the male body and underwear. Highlighting how designers made fabrics their own, opening up new ideals as the years progressed.
Toupees and half-unbuttoned shirts were a trend for a long time. Chris Steele-Perkins, Market Tavern, England, 1979
Overdressed features the most elitist wardrobe, with silk and velvet garments. Reflecting symbolic patterns that hark back to great wealth. Works by Joshua Reynolds and Jean-Baptiste Perronneau, or the suit worn by Billy Porter at the Golden Globes in 2019, are on display at this stage. As for the last stage, Redressed, it reflects on tailoring and the origins of the suit. It traces the creativity that emerged through them with the subcultures, the changes in style and attitude throughout the different stages.
From left to right: Contemporary fashion trying to revolutionise fashion. Alessandro Michele for Gucci, 7 FW 2015. Craig Green SS21 by Amy Gwatkin
Throughout the visit, you can see clothes worn by famous faces such as David Bowie, Sam Smith or Harry Styles. Giving visibility toinnovative creationsthat represent the diversity of what we wear. Because each garment is unique for each individual, and goes beyond the classic binarism. In fact, it has been announced that this autumn, British singer and actor, Harry Styles, is collaborating with Gucci to launch a new capsule collection. A set of garments that are grouped under the name of HAHAHAHA, a mid-season proposal that seeks to break with the canons of beauty..
When: From 19 March to 6 November 2022.
Where: Cromwell Rd, London, UK.
Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday from 10.00h to 17.30h. Friday from 10.00h to 21.30h
Tickets: You can buy tickets here
The power of oriental culture reflected in clothing
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Met, once again offers visitors the magic of fashion, on this occasion, of a very characteristic garment from Japan. The exhibition Kimono Style: The John C. Weber Collection will explore the evolution of the kimono itself from the late 18th to the early 20th century. An exchange between Japanese art and its approach to Western fashion with more than 60 kimonos, including adult and children’s clothing. In addition, this is complemented by haute couture garments, Japanese paintings, figures and prints.
Inside the exhibition you can see the contrast between the old kimonos and how they have evolved over the years. Photo: Bruce Schwarz
The kimono, as a cultural part of the Japanese land, has served to transmit its history and the position of its citizens. Something that the great couturiers have taken as a reference to innovate new patterns. This has been remarked by Monika Bincsik, curator of Japanese decorative arts at Diane and Arthur Abbey.
The variety of patterns, colours and often changing trends reveal much about Japanese culture. In addition, Western manufacturing techniques and materials, along with artistic trends, contributed to the modernisation of T-shaped garments, helping to create fresh and comfortable styles. – commented Monika Bincsik.
From left to right: We can see how the Japanese fabrics carry their drawings that represent them so well. Full of colour that reflect life and youth. Coat, Comme des Garçons, Spring/Summer, 2018 and Sweater, Comme des Garçons. Rei Kawakubo
It is known that the weaving and embroidery techniques were growing with great success in the Edo period, between the 17th and 19th centuries. At that time, the military class was the only one who could afford to wear kimonos, as the materials were a luxury. In addition, the woodblock prints were exhibited and many Western fashionistas were able to be more aware of the way they created the silhouette. Figures such as Cristobal Balenciaga and Madeleine Vionnet were inspired by them to devise new creations; With the emergence of consumerism and capitalism at the turn of the last century, the kimono moved from the elite classes to the poorer classes of society. With cheaper fabrics, the large stores were filled with these garments so that mothers, fathers and children could also wear something very recognisable from the country of the rising sun.
When:From 7 June 2022 to 20 February 2023 .
Where: 1000 Fifth Avenue, New York, United States.
Hours: Sunday to Tuesday and Thursday from 10.00h to 17.00h. Friday and Saturday from 10.00h to 21.00h. Wednesday closed
Tickets: You can purchase ticketshere.
Picasso and Ingres in dialogue through their art
For the first time, The National Gallery offered a confrontation between the painters Picasso and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. The work Woman with a Book, on loan from the Norton Simon Museum, and the work Madame Moitessier, from which Pablo Picasso drew his inspiration, are shown side by side. This, being a special collaboration between the two museums, is being warmly welcomed. The Malaga-born artist admired Ingres and his artistic journey, and depicted him in his works during a more neoclassical phase in the 1920s. In this way, the London museum conveys how Picasso was connected to create a different version of the same woman painted in 1856.
The majestic façade of The National Gallery, London
Madame Moitessier reflects luxury and class, surrounded by exquisite objects. A confident woman who Ingres took 12 years to paint, and who is depicted in a large floral dress. These characteristics can also be seen in the canvas next to her. Flowers on her garment, one of her hands brushing her face and her reflection in the mirror. The director of the museum, Gabriel Finaldi, is thrilled to be able to have the union of the two canvases and to be able to offer them to art lovers. He also stresses the importance of uniting past and present in order to understand them both:
I am delighted that our unique collaboration with the Norton Simon Museum brings Ingres and Picasso together in a confrontation that demonstrates the ongoing dialogue between artists of different periods. Picasso makes us look again at Ingres, and Ingres helps us understand Picasso.
From left to right: The similarity between the two paintings can be seen at a glance. Madame Moitessier by Ingres, 1856. Woman with a Book by Picasso, 1932.
An exhibition that is launched as an opportunity to discover the affinity that Picasso had with Ingres. He had such a connection that he somehow stole that original idea. Even Pablo Picasso himself acknowledged that little artists borrow, while big artists steal. At the end of the London show, the exhibition will move to the Norton Simon Museum from 21 October 2022 to 30 January 2023.
When:From 3 June 2022 to 9 October 2022 .
Where: Trafalgar Square, London, UK.
Hours: Saturday to Thursday from 10.00h to 18.00h. Friday from 10.00h to 21.00h.
Tickets: Free admission.
Images courtesy of Galway International Art Festival, Cap Roig Festival, Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Fundación Loewe, Victoria and Albert Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The National Gallery
