Joana Vasconcelos : Flamboyant I Palacio de Liria

On the occasion of Joana’s exhibition, Flamboyant, the artist has developed a unique project in which she intervenes in the salons and gardens of the palace. The Liria Palace is an 18th-century neoclassical building located in Madrid, Spain, and serves as the primary residence of the Dukes of Alba.  It houses one of the most important private art collections in Europe, featuring works by renowned artists such as Goya, Velázquez, Rubens, and Titian. In Flamboyant, Joana’s work merges with the artists in the collection, creating a striking dialogue between past and present.

This is the first time that the artist brings her works to a grand inhabited palace, unlike her previous interventions in historic spaces such as the Palace of Versailles. This creates a special exchange—not only between her works and the palace but also between the artist herself and the Duke of Alba. The exhibition will be open to visitors at the Liria Palace starting 14 February and will also offer an exceptional opportunity to explore lesser-known areas, such as the gardens— usually closed to the public—where visitors will be able to see some of the artist’s most iconic works.

THE CROCHE PAINTINGS

The Crochet Paintings by Joana Vasconcelos are a series of works that challenge the boundaries between painting and sculpture. Inspired by the landscapes of classical painting and using traditional techniques associated with the domestic environment, the artist overlays hand-made crochet volumes, creating three-dimensional compositions that invite interaction. These pieces combine figurative and abstract elements, resulting in playful and immersive landscapes that seem to emerge from the surface of the canvas. Each work is framed in an ornate manner, reinforcing the connection between the traditional and the contemporary.

Additionally, the artist frequently collaborates with craftswomen from Pico Island, in the Azores, who produce lace and crochet of high technical and aesthetic quality. These collaborations result in unique pieces that celebrate the legacy and skill of the women who keep the crochet tradition alive.

BESTIÁRIO

One of her most iconic series is the "Bestiary," where ceramic animals are covered with hand-made crochet. In this series, Vasconcelos selects animals with which humans have relationships of control or fear, such as horses, bulls, wolves, cats, snakes, and crabs. The sculptures are based on naturalistic ceramics, hand-painted, and inspired by the works of the Portuguese artist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro. Each piece is covered with crochet made by craftswomen from Pico Island, in the Azores, highlighting traditional techniques and honoring the cultural legacy of these women.

 
The use of crochet in these works creates a "second skin" that simultaneously protects and traps the animals, generating a tension between comfort and power. This approach invites reflection on the dichotomies between the domestic and the wild, the feminine and the masculine, the public and the private. Furthermore, by incorporating elements traditionally associated with women's work, Vasconcelos questions and subverts gender stereotypes and cultural hierarchies.