From the 12th to the 16th July, the 2023 art fair CAN, Contemporary Art Now, is making its second yearly debut as a revolutionary art event, which seeks to redefine the language and spaces in which artists and creations revolve around.
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Curated by Saša Bogojev, independent art writer, curator, and european correspondent for Juxtapoz magazine, the second edition of the fair is set to take place from the 12th to the 16th of July at the Ibiza fairgrounds in Dalt Vila. CAN is the only European art fair to distinguishably take place during the summer, which for five days turns the island of Ibiza into a hotspot for artists, collectors, and enthusiasts from around the globe. According to Bogojev the event strives to provide “a new hug in one of Europe’s most popular destinations, and to be able to select and showcase its most interesting aspects in a refreshing, relaxed and informal new environment”.
CAN art fair features 37 galleries from 13 countries around the world, with the addition of three solo booths dedicated to the works of Gianni di Rose, Laust Hojgaard, and Andrew Salgado. The small number of works allows the fair to create a specific focus. According to Bogojev, all the invited galleries are “hand-picked because of their position at the forefront of the emerging international art scene as well as their reputations for working with interesting emerging and mid-career creators with a strong affinity towards figuration.” This allows them to target a community which remains distinctive for a focused aesthetic and an appeal, and draws them to a location where they get to mix business with pleasure. This is even further encouraged through the itinerary of the fair, which starts at 5 pm and closes at 9 pm. Allowing galleries, artists, and guests to mingle and network in a space that unfolds as the Ibiza nightlife awakes.
Figurative painting remains the nucleus of the event, a missing puzzle piece in the contemporary art scene. CAN means ‘house of’ in Ibicenco, which just as the name suggests becomes the house of Figurative painting. Bogojev wanted to create a fair that focused on creating a home for both emerging and established artists of the figurative genre. The fair itself doesn’t have a theme but a focus on the current digital sphere. Bogojev states that “the digital sphere is a trend that can be dynamic and unconventional. Painting as a medium might be a bit limiting in that sense, but it’s all up to the ingenuity of the artist”. Which will be showcased in the fair through works by prominent artists that combine traditional techniques with an approach towards digital exploration.
CAN Ibiza remains as a hub for an emerging Ibiza Art Week, during which local galleries, institutions, and private collections organize special programming and events all over the island to highlight its thriving cultural scene. Its focus on community extends outside of the foregrounds of the fair, which will allow all guests to merge their excitement for the contemporary art scene with the stress-free and vibrant Ibizan lifestyle.
Cover image: Can Art 2022. Courtesy of CAN.
Written by Kooness
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