This summer we had a very much enjoyed family holiday in Spain. During the time there there temperature was hitting 40c in the afternoons, and was so hot it was in the local media with reports about it, so we needed to find some indoor things to do. Usually we do a siesta at home after lunch with the kids watching a DVD and the adults taking it easy and maybe reading a book. It is a lifestyle I could definitely get used to! Anyway we wanted to do something slightly different than just a DVD for the kids but the trouble is most places are closed for siesta; from 14.00/14.30 to 17.00/17.30 hours. Nicole say that there were some galleries in nearby Alicante open throughout the afternoon and they were free. So off we went. there were 2 we visited: the first was the Museo de Bella Artes Gravina (known as MUBAG) and the next was Mueso de Arte Contemporeneo de Alicante (known as MACA). The MUBAG had various local artists work and a special exhibition of paintings of various local fiesta costumed by noted Spanish artist Joaquín Sorolla. Though these paintings were about 100 years old they looked really vibrant still and were of a fascinating subject matter. The museum had displayed them along side of photos taken of the subject and even some of the costumes worn set up on mannequins so you could compare.
However there was one painting there that caused a response in me I’ve never had before with a work of art. It was called Maria la Guapa (Pretty Mary) and was of his daughter I believe. There was just something uncanny about this picture that really touched me and I had a emotional response to it. Trying to put it into words is making it seem silly but at the time I really felt the picture had touched me somehow. As left we left the exhibition Nicole & I chatted about it and we both spoke about that painting first. What I felt really was extraordinary. Here’s a section of the portrait which is actually almost life-sized.
Then we went to the MACA where my response to the artwork was at the opposite end of the spectrum. Whilst I enjoyed the aesthetics of some of the artwork it did make me realise I am very much a Stuckist in the art I like.
The kids were mildly interested in the artwork; Letty more so than Jerome but they tolerated the trip. Then it was off to a late lunch and then back to the flat.