Sant Feliu de Guíxols to host temporary exhibitions from the Thyssen-Bornemisza until the museum is built

Sant Feliu de Guíxols (ACN).- The arrival of the economic crisis has delayed the construction of the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Center for Catalan Painting in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, on Catalonia’s Costa Brava. Despite this, Baroness Thyssen and Sant Feliu de Guíxols Town Hall are taking steps to avoid stagnation and to foster the link between the coastal town and the Thyssen collection. Two temporary exhibitions will be offered every year in the Abbot’s Palace, while the museum construction is delayed. From May, this recently rehabilitated building will be the site where sixty works by Catalan painters such as Alsina, Sunyer or Amat and by international artists such as Gauguin or Bonnart, among others, will be displayed.

Last year CNA advanced Baroness Thyssen’s proposal to set up a museum in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, but the general economic slowdown has forced the postponing to future dates the construction and unveiling of the Thyssen museum in the Costa Brava town. The Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Center for Catalan Painting is planned to be housed in an old cork factory called Can Serra, next to the monastery that already hosts the town’s history museum. The cultural complex has a cost of 15 million euros and will host a part of the Thyssen family collection currently housed in the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum in Madrid. The Sant Feliu de Guíxols Town Hall is defending that it has done its job. However, it is explaining that it is waiting for an improvement of the economic situation, so that the Catalan and Spanish governments can restart the building works.

Despite this situation, relations between the Town Hall and the Baroness, who has a house in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, are still fine. At the presentation of a book showing 3D images from the 1920s of different municipalities on the Costa Brava, the Thyssen-Bornemisza Baroness, Carmen Cervera, talked about the first temporary exhibition that will be held in May in the town at the Abbot’s Palace and will include works from her private collection.

The first temporary exposition, in May

Joan Alfons Albó, the Mayor of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, explained that they have “to take advantage” of the Baroness’ potential and the fact that she is “resident of Sant Feliu”. This has helped the agreement to offer two temporary exhibitions a year – the most spectacular of which will be in summer, when there is more tourism. The Mayor explained that the Town Hall has invested a lot of money in recovering the Abbot Palace and turn it into a museum site, totally capable of receiving an exhibition of such quality.

Regarding May’s exhibition, Carmen Cervera advanced that works on show will mainly be mainly from Catalan artists such as Martí Alsina, Josep Amat or Joaquim Sunyer. They will take center stage alongside works from contemporary artistic movements, such as surrealism, naturalism, or impressionism. Carmen Thyssen recognised that Amat is one of her favorite painters and one of the artists she most admires. “Art is not for staying at home”, insisted the Thyssen- Bornemisza Baroness.