Making the July highlights list is one of the most complicated of the whole year, as there is a succession of top festivals and events all over the world, especially in the northern hemisphere where we are heading into summer with a bang. So, after leaving out many events worth mentioning, here is our selection.
A Japanese artist in Madrid
The works of the Japanese artist Tetsuya Ishida will be on display at the Palacio de Velázquez in Madrid’s Parque del Retiro until 8 September. It is a highly recommendable exhibition, however, if by any chance, someone does not get to see it in Madrid, perhaps they will have the chance later in Chicago, the next stop of this exhibition titled Self-Portrait of the Other.
Without a doubt, Tetsuya Ishida’s paintings have a Kafkaesque touch.
But who is Tetsuya Ishida? Or rather, who was he? For this Japanese artist died in 2005 at the age of 32. A very short life and also quite depressing, since, as his works represent, he felt all the dehumanisation of today’s world, a world of lack of solidarity, where we citizens are nothing more than machines within the social machinery. Or at least, that is how he saw his country, and that is how he depicts it in his figurative and at times surrealist paintings.
From Prehistory to Modern Art
As usual, the July highlights also include art exhibitions in other countries around the world. In this case we would like to recommend the exhibition Prehistory, a modern enigma, which until 16 September occupies one of the main halls of the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris. A museum that is always interesting to visit.
Impressive montage that unites the oldest and the most modern of artistic creation.
What do the organic forms of Miquel Barceló, the sculptures of Louise Bourgeois or the photographs of Dave Allouche have in common with Palaeolithic creations? These surprising links across millennia of artistic creation are what await us in this Parisian exhibition.
The Whitney Museum Biennial
The Whitney Museum is not the most famous of New York’s museums, but any art lover knows that it has one of the most extraordinary collections in the United States. What’s more, it always offers a cultural programme of the highest level. Among its events and temporary exhibitions there is one that stands out in the calendar: its Biennial, the first edition of which took place in 1932.
The Whitney Museum Biennial for the first time in Horse highlights.
In 2019, it has once again become the best showcase for American art of the moment. If in its time, this was a good place to promote talents such as Jeff Koons or Georgia O’Keefe. Now the Whitney Biennial invites us until 22 September to discover the work of artists such as the sculptor Simone Leigh, the photographer Elle Pérez or the painter Pat Phillips. In short, a magnificent opportunity to see the most vibrant art in North America.
30 years of the Game Boy
And we end the section on art exhibitions in the highlights of July by suggesting a visit to Zaragoza. Specifically to one of its most dynamic and technological cultural centres: Etopia. Here the exhibition 30 years of Game Boy: a console in the world of art was inaugurated at the end of May.
Image clearly inspired by the old Games Boy.
The evolution of video games has reached limits that were unthinkable three decades ago. That was when the Game Boy came along. It was much simpler, but undoubtedly more revolutionary. And now it has become a cult object. And also a source of artistic inspiration as can be seen in the works of various artists from all continents, which have come together at the Etopia in Zaragoza and which will remain there until 11 October.
Caracalla, back to the July highlights
The Opera Festival at the Roman Baths of Caracalla is already a classic in our July highlights. A classic in the literal sense of the word. Classic because of the place where it is held: a monumental baths of Ancient Rome built at the beginning of the 3rd century. And classic because of the programme it now hosts, operas by the most famous composers such as Verdi or Prokofiev.
The opera at Caracalla is one of the most anticipated events of the summer in Rome.
But it’s not all about historical names. This year’s edition features contemporary artists such as the dancer Roberto Bolle. As well as the interpretative duel between pianists Chucho Valdés and Stefano Bollani. Not forgetting the festival’s grand finale on the evening of 7 August with a recital by Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo.
Avignon flooded by the theatre
Another regular highlight in July is the International Theatre Festival of Avignon, which in 2019 will begin on 4 July and last until the 23rd of the same month. Practically 3 weeks of street theatre and on the most varied stages of the city of Provence. But above all in the courtyard of the Château des Papes, the festival’s emblematic venue.
The courtyard of the Castle of the Popes will once again hang the no tickets sign.
Companies from all over the world come to this town, and there is no performing arts enthusiast who does not want to visit this event at least once in their life. One of the most prestigious on the planet. Something that is perfectly captured in the exhibition “History of the festival” that will be held in the Cloister of San Luis, the best place to understand the artistic and global dimension of this event with decades of success.
Tomorrowland
And from an event with a great historical background to one that focuses on the future. We are referring to the Tomorrowland Festival that will take place in the Belgian town of Boom on the weekends of 19-21 and 26-28 July. Or rather in the area for visitors to the festival, which is called Dreamville, the place of dreams.
Electronic music concerts are visual events in Tomorrowland.
But Dreamville is not just for visitors, it is also home to hundreds of artists from a wide variety of disciplines. It is true that Tomorrowland is known for being the meeting place of the most famous electronic music DJs in the world. But many other creators also perform in its shadow. This is how the most avant-garde is embodied in the form of audiovisuals, paintings, performances and interventions in the environment.
A good end to our July highlights. In fact, a full stop. From Horse we will continue to propose the most attractive events, exhibitions, concerts or festivals that are scheduled around the world. But for the moment we only add one more recommendation: Enjoy the summer!
