ARCO comes to IFEMA

For those plugged in to the contemporary art scene, the 28th edition of ARCO – La Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporáneo –  should be on your itinerary this weekend! A must for contemporary art nuts (or those just trying to look cool and artsy by doing things like going to comtemporary art expos). ARCO opened on the 11th for the art business world (the fair’s main target) and the press, and opens on Friday for the public. The fair, featuring India as its guest country this year, costs a whopping 32 euritos to get in, but if art is important to you, it is certainly worth it. It’s also worth your time if you yourself are shopping for art, but if that’s the case, you’re really not gonna be worrying about 30 bucks are ya? Thought not. Since ARCO is, in the end, a trade show, the atmosphere can be, well, not the most conducive to the appreciation of art – it is not a museum or a gallery – it is a commercial undertaking. And you should be warned, the venue
is massive, and trying to shlep around the offerings of over 250 galleries from all over the world will certainly try your stamina. But you won’t be short of eye-popping, thought-provoking paintings, sculptures, and installations to check out.

Feria Internacional de Arte Contemporánea – IFEMA – Metro: Campo de Las Naciones. 11-16 of Feb. (opens the 13 to the general public) Hours: from noon to 9, on Mon. from noon to 6. €32 (€21 students).

*by Karina Stenquist