Spanking Projects is proud to announce the launch of their first pop-up gallery on Thursday 14th May. It opens with a potent reflection on contemporary reality by Barcelona artist Mantteka (Xavier Puerta).

We are taken on a journey from the intimacy of the sexual to the remote detachment of the political, through bold aerosol street art, sepia ink paintings and mixed media statements.

Sex and politics are the two extreme ways through which human beings relate to each other. The first is the closest, the second the furthest. The exhibition lays out an emotional journey, which has these two poles as its reference. Through the journey that unites them, sadness, passion, hatred, love, outrage, laughter… can be deduced.  And we are here in the middle, relating to our hidden desires, our calculations, also hidden, and of course, a certain reflection of that which we think is expected from us. This time, completely visible. Being conscious of this make us a little more free.

The materials and techniques applied are very varied, if not to say that they are distinct in every work. For Mantteka, the art form chosen to express the image must have the uniqueness of the object itself. Materials from egg tempera to aerosol have been used, passing through oil, acrylic, ink,
directly applied pigment, etc.

“For me, art is either subversive and revolutionary or else it’s just decorative. I’m interested in shaking things up, both individually and collectively,” affirms Mantteka. Both artist and mathematician, he uses these different tools to investigate the abstract structures that underlie reality. Installations add a touch of satire and humour to this compellingly original exhibition.

Spanking Projects means giving life to something you believe in, and this new pop-up gallery is all about breaking down boundaries and leaping over the hurdles of convention to address the real issues of social injustice that matter today. The ones that touch us deeply inside, that nobody else dares speak about. Controversial, perhaps provocative, but always firmly rooted in the belief that not only is a better world possible, it’s our duty to awaken and take action.

Street art is definitely a theme at Spanking Projects, and the artists chosen will bring their own unique perspective that is somehow aligned with the gallery’s mission. Its exhibitions are accessible to everyone, each one an open invitation to a different experience catalyzed by a powerful wake-up call that emanates from pure passion and authenticity.

This new art space is located in the heart of Barcelona’s trendy Born district, next to the Born Cultural Centre. Itinerant exhibitions will also be popping up in other venues around Barcelona and Europe, as the Spanking Projects collective continue to push the boundaries through innovative collaborations and quality proposals.

Welcome drinks for everybody!

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Spanking Projects Pop Up Gallery  is in The Basement of Le RDV Cocktail Bar)