A few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of having a free afternoon in Madrid city centre with my daughter. We live on the outskirts of the city so a trip to the centre is always special and fun for us. We went to the Palacio de Liria to see an exhibition by Joana Vasconselos, whose work I have admired and followed since I saw her jawdropping installation at the 2023/24 Dior Autumn/Winter show - check it out here
The Palacio de Liria is a museum that used to be a private residence of the Duke of Berwick, Jacob Fitz-James Stuart y Colón - built in 1767. This neoclassical, generational wealth-enveloped, opulent space is the background for Joana’s show ‘Flamboyant’. While I knew what to expect from her artwork, I was blow away by the playful way in which her pieces were placed around the building. They were both contrasting (to the point of clashing) and complementary at the same time! It was intriguing.
The best part was experiencing it with my daughter. It occurred to me that seeing art with your kids is actually an extension of reading to them. There is so much to ‘read’ and interpret and feel and talk about when you look at art. I’m so glad that we’ll be able to do things like this, long after I don’t read to my kids anymore.
Here are some of the highlights:
Figuring out what we were looking at was particularly fun with this installation.
And finally, another ‘first’ that I experienced with my daughter was ‘crying at art’. The ‘Flaming Heart’ took me by complete surprise and I was moved to tears as I stood there taking it all in. I recorded this clip after I gathered myself up again - just to remember the moment. Perhaps it will move you too…
Thanks Joana!