Art in Unexpected Places

Until 30 November, residents of Manresa can encounter contemporary art in everyday settings through the project Un museu fora del museu (A Museum Outside the Museum), an initiative by the Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA) supported by the Department of Culture of the Generalitat de Catalunya. The scheme places works from the MACBA collection into non-traditional spaces across 23 municipalities in Catalonia. One such location is La Creadora 1936, a clothing shop on Passeig Pere III in Manresa, where a photograph titled Retrat de Joan Brossa (1979) by Barcelona photographer Colita is displayed in the window. The image shows the poet presenting a poem to be dressed, blending fashion and art, a fitting theme for the boutique’s identity. David Augé, manager of La Creadora, said the idea came via a call from the town council and seemed like a good way to bring art into public life. "We thought it was a great opportunity to approach art in the street," he explained. Though the selection criteria for artworks were unclear, Augé believes the piece resonates with their brand.

Video Art Sparks Mixed Reactions

The second venue is the waiting room of the Enric Pintado dental clinic, where Martha Rosler’s 1974 Super 8 film Flower Fields plays on a television screen. The work documents a drive along California’s US Highway 5, capturing scenes of social tension including immigration police and undocumented Mexican farm workers, part of Rosler’s early critique of systemic oppression. However, the clinic's founder, Enric Pintado, finds the artwork unsuitable for the setting. Patients have asked what the footage means, confused by the lack of context. "They just see changing landscapes without explanation," he said. Staff worry the content may stress patients before treatment and are considering requesting a different piece.

The initiative is interesting, but we should reconsider which artworks go where.

Despite reservations, both businesses support the broader goal and would participate again.

Expanding Access to Contemporary Art

Curated by Martí Manen, the project aims to challenge traditional museum boundaries by placing art in daily life, from libraries to shops and clinics. Since 19 June, around 36 works have been rotated across approximately 40 non-museum spaces. In another example cited by Bonart.cat, Xavier Miserachs’ photograph Els Encants, Barcelona (1957) has been installed at Biblioteca Ignasi Iglésias – Can Fabra in Barcelona as part of the same programme, visible from 30 June to 30 November. Augé believes more outreach is needed: better publicity, school engagement, and public information could deepen community connection. For now, both the clothing store and dental clinic will keep their artworks on view until the project ends on 30 November.

Reported by regio7.cat, bonart.cat, Regió 7.