Vicenç Altaió, a poet, essayist, and art critic, found himself in Cadaqués when the lockdown was imposed, with only one change of clothes, intermittent Wi-Fi connection, and no computer. However, for one of our most prominent figures in contemporary culture, not much else is needed to analyze the challenging situation that artists and the art market are facing.
Altaió reflects on the personality of the creator and the artist, stating that they are individuals who are sensitive to everything happening around them but also need to work internally. He mentions Catalan authors like Miró, who lived in isolation but whose message was universal. Altaió believes that the current lockdown is a space for reflection. He explains that artists agree on the need to „rebuild society.“ In this sense, he emphasizes that „the worst that can come out of crises is social imbalance,“ and in the reconstruction that will be necessary, culture, which has lost everything, must be placed at the center of humanistic relationships.
Altaió expresses hope in technology as a means to achieve this. Artists live in relation to society, and during this lockdown, which is not perceived as a vacation, he sees a profound reflection taking place thanks to the relationship with society that can be maintained through technology and values.
He recalls how the cataclysms of the early 20th century led to the emergence of a new movement, Dadaism, which completely changed art, giving rise to all the avant-gardes. Altaió believes that „many things will cease to exist,“ but at the same time, there must be hope in art; artists must play a role, and we must adapt to a new language. Regarding the art market that will emerge, he predicts that „we would be mistaken if we invested in the remnants of the past.“
In conclusion, Altaió’s perspective on the current situation highlights the importance of reflection, adaptation, and hope in the face of challenges. The campaign #joimpulsotalent allows for financial contributions to support talent in a simple way, here and now. As we navigate these uncertain times, Altaió’s insights serve as a reminder of the resilience and creativity that can emerge from adversity.