Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León
Encyclopedia
The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León, better known as the MUSAC, is a contemporary art museum
in the city of León
, Spain
.
Inaugurated in April 2005 by Felipe, Prince of Asturias
, this cultural institution aims to be a "Museum of the Present", in the words of its curator
Agustín Pérez Rubio, and thus only collects artworks
from the latest generation of artists, between 1992 and 2012. The museum has won international prestige for its 21st-century collection and innovative programming, being labelled, for example, as "one of the most astonishingly bold museums to hit the Spanish cultural landscape in years" by The New York Times
.
The MUSAC building is celebrated for its avant-garde
architecture
, and it has been awarded a number of prizes, such as the 2007 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture
(Mies van der Rohe award). Designed by the architectural studio of Luis M. Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón (Mansilla+Tuñón Arquitectos
), the multicolored panels that adorn the exterior of the museum resemble the stained-glass windows of a cathedral
. Indeed, the architects drew their inspiration for this work from the main rose window
(called The Falconer) at the local 13th century Gothic
cathedral, Santa María de León
.
MUSAC has become a landmark
for the city of León
, and an emblem of the new 21st century Spanish architecture
, as showcased in a 2006 exhibition at the MoMA
of New York City
(On-Site: New Architecture in Spain), which selected the MUSAC as one of the arquitectural projects that make Spain
today "an international center for design innovation and excellence".
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
in the city of León
León, Spain
León is the capital of the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile and León, situated in the northwest of Spain. Its city population of 136,985 makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Inaugurated in April 2005 by Felipe, Prince of Asturias
Felipe, Prince of Asturias
Felipe, Prince of Asturias de Borbón y de Grecia; born 30 January 1968), is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain....
, this cultural institution aims to be a "Museum of the Present", in the words of its curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
Agustín Pérez Rubio, and thus only collects artworks
Work of art
A work of art, artwork, art piece, or art object is an aesthetic item or artistic creation.The term "a work of art" can apply to:*an example of fine art, such as a painting or sculpture*a fine work of architecture or landscape design...
from the latest generation of artists, between 1992 and 2012. The museum has won international prestige for its 21st-century collection and innovative programming, being labelled, for example, as "one of the most astonishingly bold museums to hit the Spanish cultural landscape in years" by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
The MUSAC building is celebrated for its avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, and it has been awarded a number of prizes, such as the 2007 European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture
European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture
The European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture or Mies van der Rohe award is a prize given biennially by the European Union and the Fundació Mies van der Rohe, Barcelona, 'to acknowledge and reward quality architectural production in Europe'...
(Mies van der Rohe award). Designed by the architectural studio of Luis M. Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón (Mansilla+Tuñón Arquitectos
Mansilla+Tuñón
Mansilla+Tuñón Arquitectos is a Spanish architecture firm founded in Madrid in 1992 by Luis M. Mansilla and Emilio Tuñón Álvarez ....
), the multicolored panels that adorn the exterior of the museum resemble the stained-glass windows of a cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
. Indeed, the architects drew their inspiration for this work from the main rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
(called The Falconer) at the local 13th century Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
cathedral, Santa María de León
León Cathedral
Santa María de León Cathedral, also called The House of Light or the Pulchra Leonina is situated in the city of León in north-western Spain. It was built on the site of previous Roman baths of the 2nd century which, 800 years later, king Ordoño II converted into a palace.The León Cathedral,...
.
MUSAC has become a landmark
Landmark
This is a list of landmarks around the world.Landmarks may be split into two categories - natural phenomena and man-made features, like buildings, bridges, statues, public squares and so forth...
for the city of León
León, Spain
León is the capital of the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile and León, situated in the northwest of Spain. Its city population of 136,985 makes it the largest municipality in the province, accounting for more than one quarter of the province's population...
, and an emblem of the new 21st century Spanish architecture
Spanish architecture
Spanish architecture refers to architecture carried out in any area in what is now modern-day Spain, and by Spanish architects worldwide. The term includes buildings within the current geographical limits of Spain before this name was given to those territories...
, as showcased in a 2006 exhibition at the MoMA
Moma
Moma may refer to:* Moma , an owlet moth genus* Moma Airport, a Russian public airport* Moma District, Nampula, Mozambique* Moma River, a right tributary of the Indigirka River* Google Moma, the Google corporate intranet...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(On-Site: New Architecture in Spain), which selected the MUSAC as one of the arquitectural projects that make Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
today "an international center for design innovation and excellence".