Events for 6 January, 2016
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Especies de Espacios Exhibition
The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA) will be hosting the exhibition entitled Especies de espacios and will feature fifty works of forty different artists, completely transforming the museum into a space to reflect upon the places and spaces in which we carry out our lives. This exhibition will run from July 16, 2015 until January 30, 2016.
Find out more »Raluy Circus
The Raluy circus has been coming to Barcelona for the last 16 years, offering a classic circus experience with a different twist every time. The clowns have red noses and cry huge crocodile tears, the tightrope walkers make you hold your breath, and the acrobats' gravity-defying stunts leave you searching for invisible wires that probably aren't there. Marvel at the "human cannonball", laugh at the self-deprecating humour of the clowns, appreciate the dexterity of the jugglers, and be prepared for some modern circus sketches involving a lazer light show. This new show includes international performers and is fun for all the family.
You’ll find family discounts and other special offers online.
Find out more »Wild Portrait: Art-science Exhibition
Possibly the most fascinating and obscure exhibition Barcelona has ever seen! Wild Portrait is a tourist art-science exhibition co-produced by La Mandarina de Newton and Fundació MONA, with the support of Barcelona City Council. Chimpanzees are given brushes, paints and paper to create Wild Portrait paintings during their various moments of spontaneity.
This enrichment project questions what is aesthetics and creativity? Is it something unique to humans? Or can these terms also be applied to other animals? Do other animals perceive their surroundings in the same way humans do? This exhibition intends to stimulate reflection on these, and several other questions, and invites you to explore the character and life stories of the chimpanzees through their artwork.
Throughout the exhibition period, a series of talks and discussion sessions will be held to promote reflection and debate around the topic of aesthetics in nonhuman primates. These will be lead by different researchers and experts from the MONA Foundation.
A Trip to the Primates’ World: Iván García, PhD student in primatology, Durham University, and member of the board of directors of the Spanish Primatological Association (APE). January 2016 – Thursday, January 28, at 7pm
Social learning in chimpanzees and the evolution of culture: Dr. David Riba, associate researcher at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) and MONA Foundation. February 2016
Sister minds: emotional apes and rational humans: Dr. Miquel Llorente, principal investigator and head of the Research and Ethology Unit of MONA Foundation and president of the Spanish Primatological Association (APE). March 2016
Aesthetics in primates (humans and nonhumans): Daniela D’amore, Master student at Primatology and Ethology Research Unit of MONA Foundation and University of Molise. April 2016
During this period, Wild Portrait will be open to the public for free. Visitors will also have the chance to take home originals and copies of the chimpanzees paintings.
Find out more »Metric Market ‘Sky and Earth’
This funky restaurant, fabulously located in central Barcelona, will be hosting 7 exciting events throughout 2016. The events are based on the creation of the world and divided into 7 chapters. For each chapter an urban artist paints two murals in Metric space on two of the walls of the restaurant. Design, music, food and events is what defines them.
The first chapter is ‘Sky and Earth’ will be held on January 5th between 18:00h-23:00h.
They have selected Leon Ka a.k.a Kafre, an artist from Barcelona who graduated from Stanford University in philosophy. He has been a graffiti artist since 1991, and still to this day continues to develop his art from an ontological perspective.
The following event will take place on 3rd March, more info to follow.
Find out more »Ongoing
Art exhibition – Human+ The future of our species
As human and machine become more intertwined and evolution surpasses the biological our future is seemingly at a crossroads. Human+ covers a range of themes and perspectives on where we are now as a species, and where we are going, in an exhibition which blurs the boundaries between art and science.
The earlier parts of the exhibition paint a thought-provoking picture of a post-human era, casting light on the intersections between culture, technology and society. Technological extensions of the body, our limitations as people and how we overcome them, problems faced by over-population and ever-increasing lifespans and the interesting relationship between man and nature, are all central themes.
One artist portrays his experiences of the effects of different drugs through myriad self-portraits while other sections simply showcase technology in development – you are able to experience sound as a bat does and try out a headset which interprets your state-of-mind into music.
One documentary Nobody's Perfect (2008) follows 12 people, who were born disabled due to the disastrous side-effects of the drug Thalidomide, who pose naked for a book of photos. With a touch of dark humour the film portrays the feelings and sensitivities of disabled people and society's reaction to them.
In the latter stages of the exhibition various weird, wonderful, bleak or dystopian possible futures are explored. Some seem worryingly inevitable while others border on science-fiction. Ideas such as 'euthanasia roller-coasters' which casually combine thrill-seeking with the want for an early death or operations at birth, such as the removal of toes or the creation of an extra sphincter in the head for rapid drug ingestion leave you feeling uneasy, while another display comically argues the case that the future human will be 50cm tall.
Other items allow you to visualise more probable aspects of human life such as a long, multi-generational, typical family tree of the future based on current trends of life expectancy, divorce rates and pregnancy ages. One postulated idea is that marriages will no longer be based on the unrealistic premise of 'til death do us part' but instead will be unromantically based on a 30-year contract. Another section looks at potential answers to the problems the farming industry will face as the demand to feed more and more mouths becomes a reality.
The main strengths of Human+ are the range of ideas which are explored, the balance struck between art and well-presented information and the effective use of multimedia – which together provide an engaging, challenging, imaginative exhibition.
Jamie Stephens.
Find out more »Latin Swing Day
The biggest names and DJs from Barcelona’s latin, boogaloo and latin soul scene including 'El Molestoso' and 'Santo Remedio' get together for one night a week for one spectacular evening. Meeting every Thursday from 9pm, enjoy dinner together, meet like minded people with similar interests in dance and most importantly have a boogie together. So dance and dine the night away and most importantly enjoy!
Find out more »LIMBO AWAKEN Hell Collective
Shake off the lethargy and acceleration of the festive season, the routines and obligations of family traditions. And welcome back to your own personal Hell. What illusions and distractions will you feed the flames with this year? Whose shadows will flicker and disappear behind the embers? And how will you join in with the dance of contemporary culture that surrounds you even with closed eyelids?
A new collective exhibition presents fresh work by restless souls who got busy with the crayons.
LIMBO AWAKEN.
Will you?
Barcelona Pop Up Art
Barcelona Pop Up Art is a brand new project aimed at promoting new, innovative, local artists in different, interesting and sometimes unusual spaces.
Inauguration takes place on Thursday 10th December at 18.00 hours with "Emergence" a four week pop up within new co-working offices close to Sagrada Familia.
The exhibition includes works in Oils, Water Colours, Etchings, Illustrations and Photography. For the six artists taking part, some of whom have been creating for many years, it will be the first time they have exhibited their work publicly.
The exhibition runs until the 8th of January and is open to the public from 18.00 - 20.00 hrs Monday to Friday (except holidays)
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Absurds i Singulars
Alan Ayckbourn has written more than 70 plays, mainly comedies, many which are very well known around the world. His plays haven’t received much exposure in Catalunya, so this new production “Absurds i Singulars” has been eagerly awaited. The play has been translated from the original British version of “Absurd Person Singular”.
It is set in the 70’s, over three Christmas Eves and takes place in the kitchen of three couples ranging from working to upper class. It begins in the kitchen of the suburbanites Sidney and Jan Hopcroft, where we are introduced to the six characters . Sidney, a housing developer, is only interested in making a good impression on his guests and in convincing banker Ronald Brewster-Wright and architect Geoffrey Jackson to invest in his business. His wife Jane, however, is more interested in making her kitchen spotless and serving the guests. In this first act it is already quite obvious how Ayckbourn is able to show the misery and bitterness of a marriage. Geoffrey and Eva’s relationship is on the rocks and Ronald and Marion have to survive to her increasing alcoholism.
The second act is set in Geoffrey and Eva’s modern and elegant flat, quite different from the conservative and cheap kitchen from “last” Christmas. The fancy environment is overshadowed by one of the characters’ desperate attempts to commit suicide and how nobody realizes what’s going on.
In the third and last act, called “next” Christmas, we are shown in a very cruel and ironic way how life is a wheel and your fortune is not for sure.
by Leticia Sauter
Find out more »T’estimo? A History of Love and Marriage
Love and marriage have not always gone hand in hand. This exhibition traces the main changes in marriage and ways to love over time, from the classical era to the present. A tour presents customs and characteristic elements: courtship and seduction, beliefs, customs of the wedding day and the social function of marriage as an institution.
9:00 pm
‘Mundo Lingo’ Language Exchange Social
Multilingual language socials are a great way to meet local people and make new friends. Learn about the country´s language, culture and traditions from a native whilst socialising and enjoying yourself. Mundo Lingo aim´s to break down barriers between locals and foreigners in a relaxed and friendly environment. It welcomes people of all ages, all nationalities and all language levels. Simply arrive at the venue, place the provided flags on your chest and mingle! It couldn´t be easier! There is no need to register and they meet at the same time, same place, every week. For more information about Mundo Lingo and their meetups, check out their website and Facebook page.
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