“It would be very clumsy not to rely on Borja-Villel’s previous work,” he adds
MADRID, 7 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The new director of the Reina Sofía Museum, Manuel Segade, has advanced in an interview with Europa Press some of the lines along which his mandate at the head of the institution will revolve, such as the shielding of ‘Guernica’ or the idea of ??giving more space to women artists.
Despite not having had “time to think about more emergencies than his own”, Segade advances an immediate challenge that does seem “pressing, because the press reports it as pressing”. “It has to do with the pace of activity and the famous administrative issues: room surveillance”, he has stated, referring to the lack of guards that has even led to the temporary closure of some rooms.
Also among these challenges is the possibility of an exit from Picasso’s painting ‘Guernica’ to the Prado Museum, a subject that has been parked for years. “I think we are all clear that ‘Guernica’ is a central piece, almost like the central knot of the museum’s nervous system, which is the collection, and in this sense I think that I already respond to a possible exit, right?” has questioned.
Regarding whether politics has a place in the museum, Segade has assured that “there is a direct link between the present and the things that concern society and contemporary art.” “This is inseparable, it is not doing politics with art. As I have already said, the heart of the collection is ‘Guernica’ and it is a piece that deals with an issue that cannot be more political than war”, he pointed out. .
“This is something inseparable in the Reina Sofía but also in the Prado Museum: the next thing is what kind of stories are generated and in this case I believe that it is essential to generate an important consensus on the collection itself and that there be a story choral, with many more voices”, has defended the cultural manager.
Segade believes that it is necessary to “give more space” to female artists, “obviously”, and despite not handling “numbers”, he does anticipate a change that could take place based on his perception. “Yes, I have noticed in the collection that the rooms have many men’s names and very few women and this is something that can be done better,” she pointed out.
He has also opted to maintain the high number of visitors to the museum — “it is extremely important to attend to all possible levels of public,” he explained –, achieving a “link with popular culture.”
The new director acknowledges being “overwhelmed and happy” after his appointment as replacement for Manuel Borja-Villel, whom he has supported after 15 years at the helm of the art gallery and whose work he will “support” in his first moments.
“It would be very clumsy not to rely on previous work, it is evident that international visibility has been achieved, administrative tools and even the story of the collection have been consolidated. All of them are important milestones,” Segade pointed out regarding a policy of continuity .
“It is also obvious that I would not have entered the contest if I did not have my own project, which I believe can help to consolidate that same model and expand many of its premises. I also owe a bit of loyalty to the museum team itself: first I will confront the reality of the museum itself and from there I will be able to start talking about it in public”, he highlighted.
Segade has acknowledged being “surprised” by the low number of candidates submitted to the contest –less than ten–, something that he attributes to “a very high level of tension” generated with the departure of Borja-Villel. “It has been frankly unfair and you have to learn that when projects or people are attacked, sometimes the institutions themselves are also being attacked”, he lamented.
The PP came to ask for the postponement of this election, understanding that it was taking place during an electoral campaign. “There is a contest carried out with all the good practices in which I have obtained the highest score and I think there is no doubt. Obviously anything could happen, but I trust the democratic structures and I believe that any party has always had respect to this freedom of the institutions themselves”, has pointed out whether a change of government would put his appointment at risk.
