The Modernist Enclosure of Hospital Sant Pau hosts, from February 26 to March 26, Arte Solidario, a charitable art exhibition with the aim of raising funds for Covid research. This initiative is promoted by the Fundació de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, and stems from a proposal by sculptor Patricia Cancelo who, shortly after the declaration of the first state of alarm, donated a first batch of ten sculptures to raise funds for a research project on the effects of coronavirus on pregnant women, promoted by the director of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Service of Sant Pau, Elisa Llurba.
Starting from Patricia Cancelo's first donation, the Fundació de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau and the artist conceived this solidarity initiative, to which ten more artists have finally joined, all of whom share a special connection with the city of Barcelona. "I had already done solidarity exhibitions in the past, but at that moment I believed it was very important to help science in every possible way, and when I saw the work that Dr. Elisa Llurba was doing, I decided it was essential to help however possible," comments Patricia Cancelo.
It has been a year since the sculptor made this donation, but it had not yet been possible to specify how the exhibition would be held, since the venue did not have available spaces to lend and the different lockdowns made it impossible to carry out. Two months ago, however, the Pavelló de l'Administració became available and it was decided that it was time to make the project a reality.
It was Patricia herself who sought out artists interested in collaborating and, she comments, there were so many that some were left out. "We prepared this exhibition in four weeks, when normally it could take almost a year. It has been a titanic effort but we are very proud and satisfied," says Cancelo.
In the exhibition, the sculptures by Patricia Cancelo, the urban works by Balu, and those by Francisco de Pájaro Art is Trash will coexist. Also present will be the paintings by Carles Azcón, photosynthesis between the world and color; the iconic Pop Art creations by Silvio Alino; visual poetry converted into design by Lluís Cadafalch; the brushstrokes of love by Mercedes Rogla; the floating murals by Valiente Creations; the harmony in the oil paintings by Josep Maria Forcada; the realism of Luisa Chaves and the expressionist portraits by María José Hernández. The art dealer Marc Latorre will also collaborate, contributing the portfolio of artists he represents. Many of the authors have created specific works for the exhibition, based on the current context.
The artists participating in this exhibition have agreed with the organizing entity, the Fundació Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, that the profits from the sale of the works will be divided between the two parties. The foundation will receive 50% of the profits, money that will be used to finance the research project on the effects of coronavirus on pregnant women, promoted by the director of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Service of Sant Pau, Elisa Llurba.
So far, they have received more visitors than expected, and more than 60 works have been sold. Prices range from 20 euros to 20,000 euros, although the best-selling works are usually in the range of 100 euros to 1,000 euros. "What is surprising me the most is seeing how all the people who come are very eager to help. There are people who can afford to buy a work, but there are those who come and tell us they cannot pay for it, but they congratulate us or thank us for the initiative. This makes us feel very satisfied and gives us a lot of strength," concludes Patricia Cancelo.