Mayrit Biennale
The 3rd edition of the Mayrit Biennale opens its doors to the public on May 22nd, with exhibitions and events taking place across Madrid through May 26th, 2024.
An emerging event that fuses design, architecture and contemporary art, Mayrit Biennale, founded by artist and designer Miguel Leiro, in 2020, is a new and important voice in Spain, and particularly in Madrid. The event seeks to position the Spanish capital as a force for emerging talent and show how it continues to shine as an influential creative capital. Featuring 12 exhibitions, 4 workshops, 12 activities and 3 parties, the Biennale “will transform Madrid into an ephemeral laboratory for experimentation, with a focus on new materials and disruptive proposals to rethink the spaces we inhabit.”
One of the central exhibitions is “Wet Dreams”, developed by researcher Marina Otero Verzier. It presents more than 25 disruptive projects by artists designers, architects and collectives from around the world. The exhibition is about better understanding water not only as a essential resource but looks at its role in eco-social relationships. “The exhibition highlights design practices that adopt decolonial, queer and hydrofeminist approaches, emphasizing forms of embodiment, solidarity and desire in relation to bodies of water and fluid matters.
Other highlights of the Biennale include: “Mirror Mirror” curated by Grandeza Studio and presented at the Museum of the Americas. The exhibition brings together a range of artists whose works “redirect the ‘distorting’ power of the mirror towards the construction of dissident fictions of the patriarchal-colonial legacy. “Computed Matter”, curated by Hyper Studio and presented at the National Museum of Decorative Arts, addresses the contradictions and complexities of the material component in digital creation. “Mañano – The Future of Relationships – From the Loneliness Epidemic to AI Companionship, curated by Cecilia Tham from Futurity Systems and presented at La Central de Diseño, explores the future of human relationships in the era of AI and digital companionship.
In addition to the main exhibition venues, Mayrit Bienal 2024 will feature an extensive program of workshops, talks, tours and educational activities to engage audiences of all ages. They have also launched their first store in collaboration with Bate Social Store, where you can discover objects, artifacts and souvenirs designed by participating artists of the Bienal in the gallery and mutating space of Bate Social Store.
There will be a young talents exhibition with creatives in design, art, fashion, food and other disciplines, that will underscore the raw energy and focus on experimentation by younger artists working in Madrid. Other highlights include; Idiola Cuesta and Ines Sistiaga who present a project in collaboration with Finsa, showing the possibilities with wood, and Inés Llasera, product designer and Inés Quezada, textile designer’s presentation: Kauani – In the sun of fruits, that investigates fruits and flora of Mexico – their shapes, colours and patterns and influence in design. The event will have a cutting-edge food design component made in collaboration with Arche Studio, Fondo Supper Club, and Martin Planchaud. This groundbreaking initiative will feature immersive food experiences pushing the boundaries of traditional art appreciation.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit their website.
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