The Antoni Miró Research Chair in Contemporary Art was established in 2015 to promote and contribute to the knowledge and dissemination of contemporary art, with a focus on artists from the Valencia Region. Intended as a platform for reflection and debate, the Research Chair also explores the connection between contemporary art, thinking and other artistic disciplines, such as literature, music or cinema, among others.
This year, with the support of the Valencia Region Government, the University of Alicante’s Antoni Miró Research Chair in Contemporary Art launched a grant programme to fund exhibitions. Three grants have been awarded to cover expenses for materials and the publication of catalogues. Between November 2024 and January 2025, there will be three consecutive exhibitions at the UA Museum’s Cub2 hall to show the work of each of the winners: Empar Santamarina, the “Passejades per Xàtiva amb Estellés” group and Claudia Pastomás.
“Passejades per Xàtiva amb Estellés” [“Strolls around Xàtiva with Estellés”] is a project by a group of nine artists – Carmen Caldes, Fina Caldes, Rubén Colomer, Ernest García, MariaMaria, Miquel Mollà, Joan Ramos, Miquel Soro and Ricard Vila – who pay tribute to the Valencian poet Vicent Andrés Estellés (Burjassot, 1924 – València, 1993) on the 100th anniversary of his birth.
Vicent Andrés Estellés had a special connection with Xàtiva, a city that, together with València and Burjassot, was one of his major sources of poetic inspiration. The exhibition reveals the artists’ admiration for Estellés as well as their close links with Xàtiva and what this place has historically symbolised.
All of them have participated in “Passejades per Xàtiva” [“Strolls around Xàtiva”], a series of literary tours organised by the Friends of La Costera County Association – Institute for La Costera Studies. The tours, offering a combination of poetry, traditional music and heritage, have encouraged them to create their works.
The resulting exhibition blends painting and poetry, highlighting the visual quality and evocativeness of Estellés’ poems.