The exhibition organized around videos and photographic material that’s owned by the Martin Z. Marguiles fund collection in Miami, and it’s set up on 150 photographs and five audiovisuals that belong to 50 authors. Through them they explore the way that mankind lives on the earth, its interaction with it and the way that he has altered nature to satisfy his emotions, everyday life, survival needs and beliefs.

The exhibition was titled taking one of the last poems by the German lyrical writer Friedrich Hölderlin, who dedicated the last years of his life to read Hyperion and his vision on the balance of the stars and the movement of the sun. Based on those thoughts, in his last poems he deals with thinking aspects, who is said to have influenced Hegel and the development of the concept of dialectics.

From those thoughts and investigating the collection of Martin Z. Marguiles, it was possible to generate the main concept of this exhibition and, for that, they created three sections that gather each of the main concepts as: Being in the World, existence of Fluxes, signs and symbols, building, living, mapping. A true space for thought and contemporary outlook on the world.

Martin Z. Margulies began his collection in 1976, led by a passion for beauty and human creation. His first work in the collection was the work by Isamu Noguchi, until he managed to gather one of the most important collections of contemporary art in the world, with American and European artists.

The photography collection of Margulies is renown as one of the top 25 in the world. Many experts, critics and gallery owners consider that it’s one of the best in its field. An important part of its paintings and sculptures are located in his house in Florida, in Key Biscayne, United States.

To preserve the collection of photographs, videoinstallations and sculptures of great size, an interesting rescue plan was developed for an industrial warehouse that was abandoned in 1999, in the art district of Wynwood in Miami, where they’re preserved to develop didactic activities.

Among the authors we can find James Casebere, Bernd and Hilla Becher, Lee Friedlander and Ed Ruscha, whose works are moving due to the metaphysical exploration on the action of mankind on the planet and nature.

For more information: http://www.colectania.es/index.php?i=1&p=2

Nancy Guzman

Renting apartments in Barcelona is a wonderful encounter with nature, where you can dispel all your metaphysical doubts on mankind and the environment by attending this exhibition at the Foto Colectania Foundation.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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On the Montjuïc mountainside, Avinguda Marqués de Comillas 6-8, there’s one of the most extraordinary complexes of industrial modernism in Catalonia, the Casaramona factory. This was a project by the architect Puig i Cadafalch, ordered by Casimir Casaramona i Puigcercós, a cotton factory owner, who substituted the previous factory that was destroyed by a fire. The factory was built between 1909 and 1912, the year that the Barcelona Council named it as one of the best constructions. In 1913 it was inaugurated, the same year that its owner died.

It’s a horizontal building that has two great towers that used to be a water deposit to prevent fires from spreading. Its exterior appearance is made of brickwork, typical of the Catalan construction system, with a lack of decoration other than a ceramic or two on the towers, a mosaic with the owner’s initials and some stone decoration. Even so, the shapes achieved with the bricks on its façade and the forged iron ornaments give the result of a beautiful building that doesn’t need decorative elements.

There are large windows and the ceilings are very high, where light and air comes in. And, differently to many other factories of the time, it doesn’t have a chimney because it worked with electrical power.

But the cotton industry did not last long. In 1920 it closed its doors to become a space that down the years had different uses. In 1929, the Universal Exhibition celebrated in Montjuïc used it for storage. From 1940 onwards it was a stable and a vehicle storage location of the Spanish Police.

It’s worth noting that on the 9th of January 1976, it was declared a Cultural Interest Site because, since its closure, it had slowly deteriorated. Before, in 1963, ‘la Caixa’ bought the complex but it wasn’t until 1992 that it decided to give it back to Barcelona, giving it a new social and cultural purpose. And so, in 2002, after restoring it, modernizing it and adapting it to the new times, CaixaForum was born. Actually, if we visit the building now, we can see that the restoration fully respected both the structure and its elements.

Today, CaixaForum offers a wide range of cultural, social and educational programmes. It’s a place where you can visit temporary exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, conferences, debates… All of this in a modernist industrial complex from the beginning of the 20th century, perfectly preserved and adapted to new structures and, most importantly, with a new cultural and artistic role to be practiced and enjoyed by everyone.

For more information: http://obrasocial.lacaixa.es/nuestroscentros/caixaforumbarcelona/caixaforumbarcelona_es.html

Cinta Blanch

You can enjoy apartments in Barcelona after having seen this unique industrial modernist building, now a cultural and artistic reference centre, where you can see an impressionist exhibition and even a jazz concert.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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A cafe in a magical world of enchanted forests, gnomes and fairies. Are you interested?

It seems incredible, walking through the crowded Ramblas, that these very special magic places may exist. It is an essential stop on your visit to Barcelona, which will surely not leave you indifferent.

Bosc de les Fades is the name of the establishment, this cafe is owned by the Barcelona Wax Museum and has existed for years. It is towards the end of the Ramblas, near the monument to Columbus, and although it is a bit hidden is quite easy to find, because you only have to look for signs towards the wax museum, and to our right we find the door to a world of fantasy.

The place is quiet, with few tables, so it is best to go during the week because on weekends, and at certain times, you may find it full. And as you go, you leave behind the hustle and bustle of the city. The decoration is overwhelming. A bucolic representation of nature leads you to a magical world where everything seems possible.

A Perfect spot for any occasion. To relax with a beer in the middle of your sightseeing with friends in a unique and original atmosphere. To share a romantic moment with your partner enjoying its many hidden corners, the sound of water flowing and the discreet lighting blending with the light from the candles. Or to go with your family, and find that within its walls there is  a play area for children with puppets and antique toys, which completes the charm.

The decor pays extreme attention to details. Explore the enchanted forest, discover new details each time through the trees on the roof, at the waterfall … It will not stop to amaze you!

Return and become a child to believe in fairies. Travel to a magical world without leaving the center of Barcelona!

http://www.museocerabcn.com/es/index.html

Noelia-san

Do not forget to rent apartments in Barcelona if you’re going to see this pub with its forest of fairies. Located at the end of the Ramblas, a site that you can not miss if you visit Barcelona

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Translated by: Marc
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If Real Madrid was declared by FIFA as the best football club of the twentieth century, the XXI century so far seems to clearly belong to Barcelona in a  fourth place in the rankings that crowned its rival as the most dominant team of the last century.

Indeed, Barcelona has not only raised three European Cups, two European Super Cups, one World Club Cup, five Spanish leagues ,the Cup of Spain and five Spanish Super Cup since 2003 but, even more significantly, has astonished the world with one of the best teams in the entire history of football, possessor of such a daring, dazzling, magical and seductive style of play, as overwhelming as it is dominating, which safely can be said marked a before and an after and set a standard that we dare to suggest will take long time to be matched.

All this would be a reason enough to awaken the desire in the football enthusiast to visit the of FC Barcelona Museum http://www.fcbarcelona.es/camp-nou/museo with its flagship and beautiful stadium the Camp Nou, with the largest capacity in Europe which can take almost 100,000 followers  along with and the cute Mini Stadium, the Palau Blaugrana (home of the meetings of the very powerful and very prized other sport disciplines that includes basketball, handball, roller hockey and indoor soccer ), the Palau de Gel, the official store and club offices.

One of the highlights of the visit to this environment is the FC Barcelona Museum , ​​where  the countless trophies won by the different sections of the club in its 112 year history (up to 33 European Cups between them all)not only can be seen  but through different interactive video walls you can understand and enjoy  an institution whose motto and hallmark is  “more than a club”

The museum is structured around four areas defined by what the leaders of the Barcelona-not without some controversy, recently revived by the signing of a multimillion dollar contract with the Qatar Foundation in exchange for advertising the Foundation in the players’ shirts – consider the four essential and indispensable values ​​of the club, ie, the Catalan feeling , universality, social engagement and democracy, which must be added to the time devoted to different samples and the exhibition of the six cups won brilliantly under the direction of Pep Guardiola in the memorable year of 2009 when the football team won all the competitions in which they participated.

Paul Oilzum

The Museum visits include a tour of the stadium, including the players tunnel and the press area that regardless of their color, will not leave football fans who rent apartments in Barcelona indifferent.

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Translated by: Marc
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Until the 4th of March, Arts Santa Mònica in Barcelona has opened the exhibition Invisible Fields. Geographies of the radio waves. (‘Campos Invisibles. Geografías de las ondas de radio’ in Spanish). The exhibition addresses the outlook of technique and science from conceptual art, and it’s produced by Plataforma Cero, Centro de Investigación, Producción y Recursos de LABoral.

The exhibition is commissioned by Honor Harger and José Luís de Vicente, and it looks to shed light on the imaginable landscape that’s built from radio waves. For that, they’ve designed an interdisciplinary work platform that analyzes through sociologic optics what culture and social change encompasses, scientific communication and artistic practice.

The exhibition includes works by the artists Trevor Plagen, Thomas Ashcraft, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Anthony DeVicenzi, Timo Arnall, Joyce Hinterding, Job Ramos, Semiconductor, Matthew Biederman, Clara Boj y Diego Díaz, Rasa Smite & Raitis Smits (RIXC), Luthiers Drapaires, Irdial Records, Guifi.net, Luthiers Drapaires and Plataforma Cero LABoral.

From the appearance of radio in 1897, when Marconi installed the first radio transmission in the Isle of Wight, up until today, a lot of water has gone under bridge. Radio began as a non-profitable technological scientific crusade and only man’s dreams were involved to change the natural barriers of communication. Shortly after it became a way to transmit more complex messages and bring the events that were taking place to its most immediate environment. Radio, together with the telephone and later the teletype, were inventions that managed to unite continents and turn communications into something instantaneous during the 20th century. Thanks to it, the events of WW2 and the great historical landmarks that shaped mankind were got to be known live.

However, we don’t know much about what’s behind the radio and how do those waves are transmitted through the atmosphere. We also don’t know how a radio works and what interests it has behind it. We also don’t know how much it has actually influenced us in our behaviour and in the actual form of society but we do admit that nobody can be without it and that it’s part of our everyday customs.

Also, this interesting exhibition has given way to the making of a series of workshops that Arts Santa Mònica has organized with Plataforma Cero de LABoral. David Pello is in charge of an introduction to the world of satellite technology, while Pedro Soler and Joanna Griffin will explore imaginary space and the satellites through its stories, names and origins, as well as how the future is shaping up for these space intruders. The activist and investigator Alejandro Duque will show his critique vision on satellites and will show how to trace them down, hack into them and decode the secrets that they have inside.

For more information: http://www.artssantamonica.cat/EXP/EXPOSICIONS/tabid/128/any/201110/language/es-ES/Default.aspx#exposicio51

Nancy Guzman

Don’t torment yourself with the prophecies for 2012. Rent apartments in Barcelona and forget about all the bad vibes that the futurologists are predicting by enjoying the best days of the year.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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Among all the groups hurriedly lauded by British critics in the last ten years, the band from Sheffield Arctic Monkeys, who will present their latest album, Suck It and See (name taken from a scene out of  Stanley Kubrick’s film A Clockwork Orange, a name in accordance with the bands known carefree and irreverent side) at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona (http://www.bsmsa.cat/index.php?id=24&L=1) on the 28th of January is probably one of the most genuinely interesting ones.

The rebellious and mocking spirit the Arctic Monkeys reflected in the title of the album has found its true expression in the many moments of their career where they made fun of the pointlessness of the music industry that has been so interested in them from the beginning but never taking them seriously due to outrageous moments as in that famous occasion when they dressed up as Village People to pick up a major prize.

That northern British teenager arrogance  is in as way irresistibly attractive as the the first Beatles were, but has a more nuanced expression in this new CD. Suck It and See is sufficiently representative, because although there are songs like the frantic Library Pictures that seem to remember that teenager arrogance despite its delicious chorus, its most genuine in its  primordial essence, the album reflects primarily an increasingly more sensitive attempt to lower the adrenaline rush for a more classical flavor compositions. This is not to say that the songs have become more domesticated but they show a working approach to the work of the great masters, something that can give us a clue is recent covers by the group, such as the interpretation of  Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds or the particular tribute to Leonard Cohen by Alex Turner (guitarist and lead vocalist of the group) on the soundtrack of the film by Richard Ayoade Submarine-his recognized growing interest in Lee Hazlewood would be another example of the phenomenon.

Parallel to this expansion of their tastes and inclinations, Suck It and See has led them to yet again work with James Ford, the producer of their first two albums, resulting in a full and rich sound of the best British tradition  with more than an echo from bands like the Smiths and Echo & the Bunnymen, and this has raised fears among some of their followers due to the unexpected elegance, subtlety and interest in new subject matters such as the passage of time, the evils of love and a sense of sentimentalism and melancholy that somehow was born in Sheffield, creating a different challenging group effect for which they are essentially known for so far.

Paul Oilzum

A concert is naturally the best idea to get rid of any doubts and judging by the quality of the new songs, they are playing on the current tour we know something really good is going to happen. Make up your own opinion if you rent apartments in Barcelona

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Translated by: Marc
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Today we give value to those objects loaded with history that may be new or used, but which reflect the feel of an era long past. That is why that, that may be nostalgia, has seized upon urban tastes and all large cities have their corners of fashion vintage or antique with style. Barcelona is not at all behind when it comes to vintage, being recognized for having shops that are very sophisticated in this trend. For you to enjoy the vintage world, we are going to share some secrets to delight youon your next trip  when it comes to buying clothing and accessories with history.

A dreamed space for the lovers of vintage is Patrimonio. Located in Carrer de les Banys Nous 14, it has become a reference in clothing and accessories vintage. There you can find all kinds of hats, clothing of wool, lace, jewelry to accompany and handbags of important brands that will be the envy of your friends. The styles are so varied that you can find clothes and objects in a perfect state from the 19th century, or beautiful garments from different eras of the 20th century. Prices are in accordance with the quality and it is never too much to give yourself a small caprice

The Lentejuela is a vintage store that hides the best treasures of Barcelona. Men and boys, women and girls, you can find everything from an old toy to the finest jewelry. It is located in the limit of the Gothic quarter with the Born and has won the preferences of the lovers of “old with class”. There are all kinds of sunglasses and handbags that are a irresistible temptation. The fun thing is that you don’t have to search and dig to find the treasures, because it is like grandmother’s attic. In prices has no comparison, you can find many offers that will make you addicted to this shop.

If you want a broad assortment of fashion from the 40, 50, 60 or 70, Retro City is the place you must visit, I assure you you will find some sort of suit that will transport you in time. There is clothing for men and women at very affordable prices. Located in Tallers street, one of the old and main streets of the Raval.

Gallery Vintage is a large store clothes where you can find handbags, shoes and accessories of very good quality. There is a wide variety of fashion from various eras and top brand handbags. You have a entertaining Web page where you can search for hours clothes items and objects that you want to buy without leaving your home, you can just click on your paypal account to make it yours and without delivery charge. But if you want to see and try out what you are going to buy, you have to go to Torrent de l’Olla, 117.

A stroll through Paris Vintage is a good closure for a shopping tour of flavored with the glamorous past. It has the best brands of clothes from the 1950s to the 1990s: Yvest Saint Laurent, Christian Lacroix, Roberto Cavalli, among others. Their address is calle Rossello 237.

Nancy Guzman

Nothing better than enjoying the beginning of the year in apartments in Barcelona and to complete the pleasure of having the best, take a stroll around these vintage clothes shops. We assure you that you will not resist the charm to buy some missing garments in your wardrobe.

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Translated by: Marc
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Until the 5th of February 2012, La Virreina Centre de la Imatge in Barcelona presents a great retrospective exhibition with the photographic work of the 20th century avant-garde French artist Claude Cahun. The exhibition is organized by the Jeu de Paume in Paris and co-produced by La Virreina Centre de la Imatge and The Art Institute of Chicago.

At the same time as the exhibition, La Virreina has made a series of activities which show the avant-garde character of Cahun and highlight the current effect of its aesthetic proposals with the contemporary discourses of the Queer theory, which poses sexuality as the result of a social construction, not biological, rejecting all the categories built from hegemonic vision, such as homosexuality, transsexuality, etc. due to their restriction of culture which underlies in these categorizations.

Among these activities, on the 10th of January there’ll be the conference ‘Paris was a woman’ and on Thursday the 19th of January 2012, the conference ‘Surrealism (Y) Queer’, and both will begin at 7pm at Espai 4.

In the Sala Xavier Miserachs they will screen the film ‘Playing a Part: the story of Claude Cahun’ by Lizzie Thynne. The film was made with previously unseen images and follows the surreal aesthetic of Cahun. It’s made with images from archives from different times, interviews to critics such as David Bate, Elisabeth Lebovici and Ann Caws that refer to the importance of Cahun in art, as well as interviews to people who knew her who give account of anecdotes of her life.

Lucy Renée Mathilde Schwob, Claude Cahun’s real name, was born in Nantes (France) in 1894 in a culturally refined atmosphere which brought her to opt to concentrate on literature and image, adopting the pseudonym in honour of her great-uncle Leon Cahun. Her outlook on the world, from the liberation of body and spirit, brought her to be conflictive in her time and equally ignored by the most important art circles.

At 26 years of age she moved to Paris with her partner Suzanne Malherbe, the real name of Marcel Moore, and began as a columnist of ‘Mercure de France’. During that period she mixed fundamentally with writers linked with dadaism and surrealism.

Parallel to writing and theatre, Cahun worked on photography and, in 1929, her images were first published in the magazine ‘Bifur’. A year later she published her autobiographical book ‘Aveux non avenus’, which she illustrated with photomontages.

Cahun participated in all political and trade union activities of the time, being an active militant of the Association of Revolutionary Writers and Artists, where she participated next to Breton and Bataille, with whom she would start the magazine ‘Contre Attaque’. During the Second World War she participated in anti-nazi actions with the Resistance, being arrested in the process.

Despite her work not being recognized during her lifetime, Cahun is today a reference of 20th century surrealism and avant-garde, as well as the new struggles linked to Queer politics.

For more information: http://virreinacentredelaimatge.bcn.cat/es/claude-cahun

Nancy Guzman

Nothing better than apartments in Barcelona to spend a week of relaxing and pleasure in January, and so you’ll be able to visit this wonderful exhibition and get to know the life of this important woman who lived ahead of her time.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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Until the 15^th of February, 2012 the stage of the Teatro Romea de Barcelona will see all kinds of perversions and love conflicts. “Qui té por de Virginia Woolf?” In English “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Is a fantastic and very interesting play, one of those that you don’t want to miss any detail of the plot.

Exciting fascinating

But, why would anyone be afraid of Virginia Woolf? First we need to know, if you didn’t already know, that Virginia Woolf was one of the most important writers of the twentieth century and one of the figures who have most contributed to the feminist cause. She was the one who invented the famous phrase “A woman must have money and her own room if you she is writing fiction,” and her great triumph was noted as a woman writer in a world totally dominated by men. The title of the play is a word game that comes from Walt Disney short “The Three Little Pigs.” “Who’s afraid of big bad wolf?” the men of the aristocracy of London might well have feared a writer fighter such as Virginia Woolf in her time.

“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” began as a play, written by Edward Albee in 1962 and was exalted with his film adaptation only 4 years after being awarded with 5 Oscars and 8 nominations.

The adaptation we will see in the Teatro Romea is led by the Argentine Daniel Veronese and see how it Pere Arquillué, who plays George and Emma Vilarasau who plays Martha, are capable of anything on a Saturday night that does not seem to finish. Both husband and wife are psychologically mistreated during an evening using their knowledge of the dirt and weaknesses of the other. But the story is much more grotesque if we know that this happens before the bewildered eyes of their two hosts, a university professor and his wife, who will not escape to be relevant characters in getting to know some uncomfortable truths.

The dialogues perfectly draw the relationship problems of American society. The deception, frustration, taboos and perversion will pass before our eyes, turning us in those hosts who find themselves in a Nightmare.

The plot is gradually uncovering all sorts of unexpected secrets becoming more and more unexpected. This is a very emotional and visceral play that leaves aside the formalities to deal with a very revealing approach to relationships conflicts.

We do not want to reveal the secrets that will emerge in a strange Saturday night, we prefer you to discover them by yourself and enjoy a play that you don’t want to miss.

Fernando Paterna

If we are foreigners and we plan to go and see the play, renting apartments in Barcelona seem as a good option. It is very common and makes it easy to enjoy the city, an affordable option that will allow us not only to see “Qui té por de Virginia Woolf?”, but also discover a little more of one of the most interesting cities in the world.

Translated by: Hans
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You just have to see the names of their songs (El ectoplasta; Incendios de nieve; Te hiero mucho—also known with the name of El amante guisante–; La mirada de la gente que conspira; Noche reversible; Los colores de una sombra; Historia de una Hache que no quería ser muda; Dios por Dios es cuatro; Carta a todas tus catástrofes; Houston, tenemos un problema; Mi primera combustión; Marlene, la vecina del ártico…), some of which require, due to their surreal lyrical humour, being played live, almost like a low budget Flaming Lips, with the help of all sorts of scruffy costumes made essentially from accessories bought in the off licenses run by Pakistanis which characterize the city of Barcelona, or some of their albums (1999, o como generar incendios de nieve con una lupa enfocando a la luna; Cuentos chinos para niños del Japón…) to understand that the peculiar Catalan band Love of Lesbian -who we can see together with Amaral, Iván Ferreiro, Antonia Font, Delafé y las flores azules and Cyan on the 29th of December at the FNAC Music Festival 2011 (http://www.dodmagazine.es/festivales-2011/fnac-music-festival-2011/)- possess their peculiar own universe which make them an especially strange and recommendable band.

And if this wasn’t enough to affirm the seductive way in which they walk on a separate ground, maybe the most skeptical of people will allow themselves to be convinced by experiments such as the one carried out in April 2010 at La Riviera in Madrid. Also related in their own way to the project by the Flaming Lips ‘Zaireeka’ (which consists in an album made up by four different discs which have to be played in an almost simultaneous way -at first they were dozens of tapes with different music which had to be played approximately at the same time in the radio-cassettes of the cars parked in an underground car park.) the adventure starring Love of Lesbian consisted in gather 1999 fans (the same number which gives the name to their latest album) so that they, taught in previous weeks through audiovisual tutorials on the internet, could also play with their own guitars and other different instruments (from ukeleles to violins) different songs in a simultaneous way.

Since their foundation in 1997, Love of Lesbian, who began singing in English, something which they would do until 2005, have given good account of a healthy playful spirit which, in some way, pairs them with the most outstanding antiartistic trends without stopping from making seductive, intelligent, poetic and interesting rock music, whose consecration was precisely 1999 (o como generar incendios de nieve con una lupa enfocando a la luna), an album which at last has given them a slice of success and general acknowledgement shown, for example, in the deserved 2010 Rolling Stone Spain Awards for ‘Tour of the Year’ and ‘Band of the year’.

Paul Oilzum

After the extensive and tiring tour which ended last February, establishing them as one of the most loved bands in Spain, Love of Lesbian took a small break to regain impulse and turn the page. Hence that their appearance at the FNAC Festival has caused such expectation. Don’t miss it for the world if you rent apartments in Barcelona

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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