Japan and Spain, united thbaks to Figurative Art
It was only chance that there were seven months separating the inauguration of two Contemporary Painting Museums that, at two opposite ends of the world, have made Figuration its banner. They did not know each other, they knew nothing of their existence from each other and very little of the artists in each of them represented. They were, in conclusion, two very distant worlds that have come to be in an identical sensitivity to the art of our day.
I suppose that the same surprise that I had when receiving the visit of Hiroko Hoki in Barcelona to propose collaboration and friendship, was the one Masao Hoki would have at the time to learn of the existence of a sister museum in distant Europe, moved by similar ones criteria of management and aesthetics.
For me, it has been exciting to be able to collaborate with a family that is capable of creating an institution like the Hoki. That can conceive such a Museum and entrust to a prestigious architectural firm the construction of a building specially designed to house its collections and that has earned the Japanese Architecture Award. That gives body to a collection of works of art of such magnitude and that present them with such dignity. And finally, it is an honor that we are in charge of presenting, for the first time in Europe, the work of a whole generation of artists that will surprise not a few visitors from all over the world.
I sincerely believe that this exhibition of current Japanese artists will arouse the admiration of my European fellow citizens and deserve more than interesting comments outside our borders. The official world of art can not continue to ignore the strength, the category and the decision with which Figuration is invading and all corners of the contemporary. The return to respect for tradition as the basis of the creative act to make the leap to the new expressiveness of the 21st century is already an indisputable fact. And the quality of the work that is being presented all over the world is already of an absolutely irresistible power.
I am sure that this first step of collaboration between our two Museums will continue in many fruitful acts of collaboration between both institutions.
JOSE MANUEL INFIESTA
Director of MEAM
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