06/11/2001
by Elisa Paulsen

Spanish contemporary art is not widely known with the exception of Juan Munoz, Cristina Iglesias and Eulalia Valldossera. Of late, however, there has been an increasing interest in the country. Emerging names like Santiago Sierra, Bernardi Roig, Enrique Marty, Domingo Sanchez Blanco and Txomin Badiola are now all backed by domestic dealers as well as German and US galleries. The group show - Down Algunas demoliciones - currently running until the 10^th of November at the Zonca & Zonca gallery in Milan, has given the Italian market a closer look at such artists as Santiago Sierra (b. 1966), a native of Mexico City, who is presented courtesy of the ACE Gallery in New York and Los Angeles. Last year Sierra held a one-man show at the Kunst Werke in Berlin and PSI in New York, and Italy got its first glimpse of his work at this year’s Biennale in Venice. The artist deals with social issues (capitalism being one), documented through photographs and videos. Sierra’s first photographic work was taken in Mexico City in 1998, and entitled 160 cm line tattoed on a person (one in an edition of five, 160 x 235 cm) is worth $ 10,000 (€ 11,152). The artist used the same theme in a video, which he shot last year under the same title and produced in three editions, each worth $ 6,000 (€ 6,691).

Bernardi Roig (b. 1965) spends his time between Madrid and Majorca. Last year he was picked up by the Adriana Schimidt gallery in Cologne and Stuttgart and by Max Estrella in Madrid. Roig works with drawings, installations and videos, all marked by frequent literary references and subtle eroticism with the human figure playing the leading role. The prices of his drawings (pencil and chalk on paper) vary according to size. For example a 200 x 70 cm chalk and pencil drawing on paper entitled Dibujo Ahumado is available for $ 5,500 (€ 6,200), while a 100 x 70 cm sized work can be had for $ 2,500 (€ 2,800). Works from his Homo series, an 180 cm high installation which always contains bronze human figures, are more costly. For example, Homo dos, Homo is valued at $ 11,100 (€ 12,400) with Homo Milano available at $ 10,200 (€ 11,350).

Enrique Marty (b. 1969), who lives and works in Salamanca, has since 1996 been represented by the Madrid gallery Espacio Minimo. Last year he held a personal exhibition called Family at the Espacio Uno at the Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid. His one-man show, Bed and Wardrobe, is currently running until the 10^th of November at the Galleria Carbone in Turin, Italy. Marty uses painting, installation, photography and video to depict violent and melodramatic scenes, focusing around the theme of family and religion. According to Espacio Minimo, the value of his works has been rising since 1996 and while items are still available at reasonable prices, his market is distinctly on the up. In 1996 an oil on panel measuring 60 x 60 cm would have cost $ 590 (€ 660). In 1998 the price had risen to $ 690 (€ 600) and this year the same work is worth $ 810 (€ 890). A 60 x 60 cm format can be had for $ 690 (€ 770) from Italian dealer Carbone, while larger sizes (80 x 80 cm-100 x 100 cm) are available for between $ 1,200-2,000 (€ 1,330-2,220). The series Juegos de ninos, made up of 9 oils on panel (each 60 x 60 cm), is for sale at Zonca & Zonca at $ 7,400 (€ 8,230), while videos and oils have similar prices and Bed and Wardrobe costs $ 690 (€ 770). Enrique Marty is now at the "Artissima" show in Turin with Espacio Minimo.

Another Salamanca artist is Domingo Sanchez Blanco (b. 1955), a performer, organiser of boxing matches, clandestine gambling, photographer and even porn movie director. His violent subject matter was shown at the Adriana Schmidt Gallery in Stuttgart and the Biennale della Habana last year. In Italy his work was on show at the exhibition The Overexcited Body at the Arengario in Milan earlier this year. Blanco’s installation, La caja del escapista (box in wood with various materials) is for sale at $ 5,000 (€ 5,560), while a photograph bearing the same title printed in five copies (70 x 50 cm) costs around $ 930 (€ 1,030).

Last but not least is Txomin Badiola (b. 1957) who lives and works in Bilbao. Since 1993 Badiola has been represented by the Soledad Lorenzo Gallery in Madrid and is currently in their show SOS. Work in this show range in value from $ 2,960 (€ 3,290), for a small-sized photograph (1/5) to $ 48,490 (€ 53,950) for one of his installations. Photography, video and installations are Badiola’s bread and butter with scenes showing glamorous objects and interiors. At the Zonca & Zonca gallery in Milan, his first appearance in Italy, two of his colour photographs, Bah and Fantasmas (both 176 x 174 cm) could be had for $ 3,760 (€ 4,180). This year also saw the artist exhibit at the Sala Metronom in Barcelona.