A DIALOGUE OF ART AND FASHION, WITH MIRIAM P. VILASECO

Store entrance, with Álvaro Negro (left) & Gloria García Lorca (right)

Art and fashion maintain a constant dialogue, and at OTTODISANPIETRO they have always found the perfect space to converse. From contemporary installations in our windows to artisanal selections from the great fashion houses, the line between art and fashion has always appeared blurred within our spaces.

The term fashion itself is an immensely broad concept. One that easily takes on a textile, sociological, design, photographic, or myriad other interconnected meanings. When we speak of fashion, we refer to a selection of collections created by different designers featured in our stores. Collections that reflect their current social vision through the DNA of the house they work for, and that complement the other artistic disciplines envisioned for these spaces.

Works by Oriol Aribau & Antonio Murado

Our new store at Juana de Vega 6 (A Coruña), designed by the renowned architecture studio Elsa Urquijo, elevates this relationship to a new level. In collaboration with the celebrated Galería Vilaseco, the project creates a space in which the scales tilt between store and gallery.

Opened in 2003, and with over 150 exhibitions held, the Gallery serves as an international meeting point between the city, art, and artists. Currently directed by Miriam P. Vilaseco, direct descendant of Ana F. Vilaseco—the gallery’s founder—Vilaseco highlights the original work of a carefully selected group of national and international artists, all with global reach and presence in leading galleries. The Gallery also participates in exhibitions such as ARCO through its editorial division. In her Espacio Vilaseco, located in Chantada (Lugo), Miriam has created a place of research and direct contact between art and nature. A laboratory for creation and experimentation, with experiences open to both artists and the public. It also serves as a platform to showcase the value of art in connection with rural life.

We spoke with Miriam about the development and presence of our joint project, as well as her perspective on the field she grew up in. We discussed the meaning of art, its link to fashion, and the process of curating works for the store, such as the spectacular piece by Gloria García Lorca.

(Translated & adapted from Spanish)

O: What was the vision for the collaboration with OTTODISANPIETRO?

M: This collaboration arose from the invitation of architect Elsa Urquijo. In her project for OTTODISANPIETRO, Art is present from the very beginning. One of her inspirations was Brancusi’s studio in Paris, where the artist’s sculptures were closely tied to the space.

Works by Álvaro Negro & Antonio Murado

Some elements and materials at OTTODISANPIETRO transport you to that place. I believe Elsa and her team’s idea was for works from our gallery’s collection to become part of the store, allowing art and fashion to coexist in a balanced and natural way.

O: How was the commissioning process for the paper work by Gloria García Lorca currently displayed in the store?

M: When I was proposed this collaboration, I immediately thought of Gloria’s work. She’s a multidisciplinary creator, with a very interesting background and a body of work that is both serious and at the same time free and fresh. She’s a restless artist who has always been interested in moving along boundaries. She has a very powerful relationship with space, and she creates pieces that generate a dialogue with the place where the work will reside.

'A flote', by Gloria García Lorca

The installation that welcomes visitors at OTTO is titled 'A flote'. It’s a paper installation, made up of more than 400 unique pieces, hand-cut by the artist herself. Its volume and movement evoke the traces left by waves on the sea, and/or the passing of different human or natural actions that may occur in a landscape. It’s a very poetic and suggestive piece.

From the gallery, we’ve accompanied Gloria throughout the entire process, from selecting the type of paper to the final installation.

O: What moves you to approach an artist for representation?

M: I regularly attend exhibitions, both in museums and galleries. I also visit contemporary art fairs. I stay in contact with curators and we collaborate with other national and international galleries.

Ceramic work by Lola Riviere

To represent an artist, I usually follow their work for years—it’s not a rushed decision. Their works must move me or stir something within me for me to take the step of contacting them, or their representing gallery, to begin showcasing their pieces and establishing a long-term commitment.

O: Your work (with Espacio Vilaseco) promotes dialogue and exchange between art, architecture, and design. Where does textile, or fashion, fit into Vilaseco’s vision?

M: Textiles are very present at Vilaseco. Some of our represented artists have been creating textile works for years, bringing visibility and value to this practice. I’ve just returned from accompanying Sonia Navarro at the opening of her first institutional exhibition in Madrid, at Sala Alcalá 31. Sonia has been painting with fabrics for over two decades. Her work is rooted in thread and fabric as fundamental materials to honour the silent labour of many women throughout history.

Espacio Vilaseco

Also, in our Production Space in the village, we’re carrying out a fibre lab. One of our current projects is a traditional, experimental and collaborative flax cultivation. We research the material, and around this project we organise various textile art gatherings.

'Lino' project at Espacio Vilaseco

In August, writer Sara Herrera and designer Sofía Nieto will carry out an artist residency as part of our programming, inspired by the textile work that was once developed in that area for so long. We don’t yet know what the result will be… perhaps a limited edition artist’s book. We’re not so interested in the outcome itself, but in the experience, the dialogue, the coexistence…

O: What disciplines do you believe can be considered art forms?

M: Well, that’s a complicated question. The other day I heard psychiatrist Luis Ferrer respond to the question “what is art?” and I found it quite accurate. He said something like: an artist is someone who creates something capable of provoking an emotion in the viewer. If that emotion isn’t there, then there’s no art.

Espacio de Producción

O: Which discipline do you feel attracts people the most?

M: Within the visual arts, I feel it’s painting.

Quick look at some of the works in store, by Antonio Murado, Teo Soriano, Carla Souto & Oriol Aribau

O: Do you have any plans in mind to celebrate your 25th anniversary?

M: Yes, but we like to keep the mystery and not lock ourselves into anything just yet. There’s still time!

Front of Galería Vilaseco (A Coruña)