The Bellas Artes of Bilbao, sixth center to exhibit "L'esperit català", by Tàpies, a work from the Museum
L'Esperit Catalàa work of
Tàpies made in this monumental work a urban wall as a place of expression politics and staff, which reflects Catalan life in the last years of Franco's regime. The four vertical stripes of the Catalan flag, the painting is full of inscriptions. In general, these are open messages of spiritual and political renewal: dialogue, social equality, democracy, truth, culture.
Tomás Llorens, member of board of trustees de
María Josefa Huarte donated her entire art collection - about fifty paintings and sculptures - to the University of Navarra in 2008. She did so with the intention of "rooting the collection in Navarra, and helping to place this community in the European cultural current". But, in addition, the text of the donation agreement encouraged the establishment of a relationship with other museums and collections, highlighting the interest in "seeking synergies and mutual enhancement with other centers that share the objectives of promoting art in society, researching it and disseminating it., paying special attention to the nearest museums". Thus, with loan at the Bellas Artes in Bilbao, María Josefa Huarte's wishes are fulfilled. The Bilbao museum is the sixth center to exhibit this emblematic work by Tàpies, a piece core topic throughout the bequest.
In addition to four other Tàpies, María Josefa Huarte's bequest is made up of works by Spanish artists such as Pablo Picasso, Jorge Oteiza, Pablo Palazuelo and Eduardo Chillida, among others, as well as international artists such as Kandinsky and Mark Rothko.
The University of Navarra Museum Collection also includes an important photographic collection, the result of a previous donation, that of the photographer José Ortiz-Echagüe. It is thus clear that the future museum will be a space for collectors.
The University of Navarra Museum building, designed by Rafael Moneo, is under construction at the University of Navarra's Pamplona campus campus and will be officially inaugurated in early 2015.