http://www.alart.org/contemporary-art-america/
Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Amersfoort (Lakma)
Lakma began with a foundation dedicated to the Spanish artist Jose Gausachs. Gausachs was an artist who emigrated from Spain during the Spanish Civil War, before the Second World War. For many, Gausachs is an unknown name, however, is of great importance for the history of Latin American art. He was the disciple of great masters like Mestre Isidre Nonell and Felix. He cultivated friendships in Paris with other painters of his time as Amadeo Modigliani, Georges Braque and Pablo Picasso. He was appreciated by intellectuals as Tristan Tzara, whose friendship and support made a big difference Gausachs in exile. On the other hand, was praised by great writers of the time: Hemingway acquired one of his paintings, and the poet Carles Ribas wrote a poem to the painter notable after opening of the last exhibition in Barcelona Gausach.
The Gausach Art Foundation has made the project of creating the first museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Spanish, Mexican, Caribbean, Central and South American contemporary art. The museum collection will serve as a gateway for cultural exchange between Latin America and the diverse population of the Netherlands. The museum offers extensive research and many opportunities for study with Casa Latina Cultural Center through various exhibitions and programs.
ALI: What inspired you to start a museum of Latin American art in the Netherlands?
Lakma: We saw that there was a need for an institution to support macro on a non-profit promoting Latin American culture and the arts. We had a good collection, but not much support-when there was a proposal for an exhibition that always came out of the Latin American embassies here. The embassy, however, do not have a budget of several years who are working with one-year budget. They are not interested in something that could take place in three years, and I do not know if it even be established even at home. Museums on the other hand have full schedules of exposure of years ago and need a long-programming sponsorship. There was the problem, so to create movement and interest in Latin American Art, whose effects can be felt in trade, politics, dialogue, education, macro organization needed to be in place to solidify the foundation of all small and the cultural departments of embassies. We had a concept of "union is strength. "We started just under three years ago, there were a number of stakeholders who need to network with embassies and artists, and we finally got enough momentum going to start the projection of a museum. They thought what city would be better wanted a great museum and prestige. In his view, Amsterdam and The Hague, however, settled in The Hague and that is where the embassies and there is a higher status people. This is a politically charged cultural city. There is a new system train under development currently, which will bring passengers directly from Paris. There is a drive for big corporations to solve their headquarters there. This so people can see that there is a potential market of Latin American art.
ALI: How, over the last 5-10 years, Latin American art has been received in Europe?
Lakma: It is considered very high. It is undisputed that Latin America is finding an audience in Europe. When the work of American artists traveled to Europe, increases in value and becomes more interesting. Europeans are investors and explorers are interested in new artists emerging and stories. We have had exhibitions of Frida Kahlo, Javier Marin, the history of art in Cuba, they have all been a great success. The industry is clearly growing higher. This is the first Latin American art museum in Europe. There is an exhibition in Zurich, but is not a museum. This being the first is an indication that the interest is growing and many large companies are being established in the region.
ALI: What was the exhibition of Latin American art in the large European museums before Lakma?
Lakma: There were fewer activities. In the last three years have seen more movement, there has been a synergy that happened at the same time-has the right time. Europe is always looking to North America, there is great interest in Latin American art and business in Europe and North America always tends late for these findings. Now is the time for Europe.
ALI: Where would you say are hot spots for Latin American art at this time?
Lakma: Spain and Italy, but of course, this can be seen as an opportunity to expand the market for Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. There is an interest, but lack the presence of a strong organization to achieve impressive exhibitions and to ensure approval of the government and large corporations they would like their brands to the eye. That is the economic structure is based on this idea at this time.
ALI: In terms of European interest Latin American art, which is more popular now?
Lakma: That's really undiscovered, we are opening a new chapter. There are many different installations of modern art, Brazilian graffiti. The municipality of Rotterdam even made space available for the graffiti to be held in the streets. Countries Netherlands invests heavily in their art and culture. There is a large Latin American population and there is a large population of Latinos in the Netherlands. This should give an indication of how things are going to be increasing.
ALI: What are you looking to do in 2010? Have you been affected by the current economy?
Lakma: Next year we are excited to have exposure to Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and some very impressive artists from Spain and Latin America.
Of course, the economic crisis had an effect, at the same time, also gave cohesion to the community for this to happen. All cultural services felt the effects of recession and a meeting sponsored by the Venezuelan Embassy, to discuss ways of subsidizing cultural affairs, in a crisis like this. Many financial advisers offered their services for free. We meet to look at this face to face as a community.
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