Las Meninas take over the streets of Madrid
Las Meninas, Velázquez's painting of Philip IV's family, is one of the works of art that has been copied and imitated the most. Richard Hamilton, Salvador Dali, Joel-Peter Witkin, Fernando Botero, Eve Sussman, and Pablo Picasso have all made works that reinterpret it. The art is so popular that it might become as well-known in Spain as the bull, the flamenco dancer, and the paella. But for many people who live in Madrid, the yearly project is something to laugh at. On social media, people have said things like "How scary," "A disgrace," "Please, someone, start burning them," "What's the point of causing so much visual damage?" and "I won't buy it unless it's to replace my garden gnomes." There have also been a lot of vomiting emoticons. Spanish artists and intellectuals have also said bad things about the project.
Enough is enough!
Critic Elena Vozmediano, who writes for El Espanol newspaper's El Cutural supplement, said the commercialization of Madrid's public spaces takes "the idea of the city as a business to its logical conclusion." "The link between fashion, fame and a pop format is empty and boring, but it's colorful and sure to be a hit...". She told him, "It has nothing to do with Velázquez." The Meninas Madrid gallery, as it is officially called, has always been criticized, but this year's exhibition is by far the most controversial because almost all the sculptures are paid for by a private company. Those that aren't were made by artists trying to get people to go to the theatre.
A Wonder Woman Menina, a military Menina, a Menina painted with skulls, a foil-wrapped Menina, a Menina with the Visa logo, and a Menina that looks like a Volvo are some of the fifty figures found throughout the city. The creator of the project, Azzato, sells small copies of the sculptures on his website. This year, the street offer has also been "enriched" by the Velázquez Technical Museum, which carries out immersive experiences by projecting images on the figures used in previous editions by the Meninas Madrid Gallery. Meninas Madrid Gallery is promoted by Acotex, Madrid Capital de Moda, and marketing company MKTG Spain. Many figurines are auctioned to raise funds for charity after each campaign.
There are too many commercial interests
Some politicians in Madrid's city council, which is officially involved in the project, are unhappy with the number of business interests involved and the number of people who think the project is bad. The director of the city's culture, tourism and sports department, Andrea Levy, was one of the most vocal critics.
The initiative was not only criticized by the public, but it was also "blocked by culture." During the 2018 edition, curators and critics who disliked Les Ménines created an Instagram account called "Stop Ménines." They threatened to organize a big demonstration against the exhibition. The account keeps posting photos of damaged sculptures. In one post, a Meninas appears to have been destroyed in a foundation, and in another, several people wearing sheets look like they've stolen a sculpture.
The administrator defended "the non-degrading use of the figure of the Menina as artistic and historical heritage", but said that the works of art produced by the Meninas Madrid gallery "are very ugly." The Las Meninas sculptures will remain on the streets of Madrid until the end of this week. Then, most likely, they will return next fall.
Jean Dubreil