meets
ARCO
A meeting place where folklore and contemporaneity come together.
City
Madrid, Spain
Program
Installation
Type
Open competition (1st prize)
Year
2023
Status
Built
Client
ARCO IFEMA
Photography
Luis Díaz Díaz

The Mediterranean Sea has been, in the words of the curator Marina Folkidis, “an uncontrollable and bittersweet creature. Its cultural hegemony has made it a permanent focus of attention over the centuries. The crossing of cultures, whether through wars or alliances, has transformed world history and distinguished it as the most recognized place of confluence.

It is pertinent, therefore, to start from these premises and take advantage of this breeding ground to imagine scenarios of convergence. Places of interaction that, on the one hand, imagine new forms of relationship, but on the other, draw on the collective imaginary that this region carries within itself.

A space where folklore and contemporaneity have a place. A way of approaching a future that, while uncertain, must be collaborative, supportive and festive, as the most intrinsic essence of the Mediterranean people. Therefore, what better meeting point than one that is committed to openness and, above all, to the interaction of its visitors.

A space that finally flees from restrictions. A space that receives a series of devices that combat the recent isolation brought by the pandemic. The square, the verbena, the tent, the bench, the bar, the table… Design elements recovered from our popular tradition. And whose purpose lies in imagining scenarios where time passing can only be understood through celebration and community life.

In the face of the dispute and confusion that reigns today, our approach addresses this challenge as an opportunity to consolidate a network of alliances. While the great oceans represent hostility, the calm waters of the Mediterranean reflect gentleness. That invitation to pause and reflect is what this space is all about.

The desire to build a coherent and respectful future depends on the interaction of its participants, and it is in this temporary experience where the celebration of life acquires meaning.

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