Overview
The Contemporary Art Museum, dependent on the University of Chile, is a venue for artistic creation, development, study, integration and communication through exhibitions, curatorships and biennial exhibitions, among other programs. It operates in two architectural heritage buildings, one in Forestal Park and the other in Quinta Normal Park; this fact helps to establish and strengthen a link between the public and the arts in different sectors of the capital city.
Both buildings have conference rooms and large halls available for events and photographic productions.
Its notable collection includes works by national artists such as Roberto Matta, Nemesio Antúnez, Matilde Pérez, among others, and foreign artists like Oswaldo Guayasamín, Emilio Pettoruti, Friendensreich Hundertwasser, to cite a few.
On 31 March 2015, in a historical event, was reopened the inner corridor that connect the Contemporary Art Museum and Fine Arts National Museum, located in the Forestal Park. The decision has a permanent nature, and it will allow the free transit of the public between these two institutions, it didn´t happen since 1929.
History
Founded in 1945, it occupied the Quinta Normal building known as the Parthenon, erected in 1885, at the initiative of the painter Pedro Lira Rencoret. In the 1970’s, it was moved to the former Fine Arts School, located in the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Fine Arts Palace) in Forestal Park, where it now operates.
In March 2005, a second seat of the Contemporary Art Museum opened in the “Versailles Palace”, a neo-classical style building located in the Quinta Normal Park.
The collections at the MAC include some 2,600 pieces, among paintings, sculptures, works on paper and others such as tapestries, ceramics and enamels on metal. Works cover a wide period of artistic production, from the close of the 19th century to the present time, with a predominance of mid-20th century works.
The origin of the MAC collection dates back to the first exhibition held in the museum in 1947, thanks to the loan of works by national and foreign artists resident in Chile.
Since its beginnings, it has shown countless exhibitions ranging from restrospectives of national and foreign artists, to exhibitions highlighting current artistic trends.
Permanente Collection
Painting Collection: It includes nearly 600 works, consisting mainly of national creations and, to a lesser extent, works by international artists, mostly consecrated Latin American artists such as Fernando de Szyszlo (Peru), Alejandro Obregón (Colombia), Oswaldo Guayasamín (Ecuador), Emilio Pettoruti (Argentina), Juan Ventayol (Uruguay), Manuel Espinoza (Venezuela) and Cundo Bermúdez (Cuba).
Sculpture Collection: Drawing together about 90 works made with diverse materials and techniques, this is a representative collection of the history of this discipline in the country. It includes works by National Art Award winners such as José Perotti, Samuel Román, Marta Colvin, Lily Garafulic and Sergio Castillo.
Engraving Collection: This collection includes 1,200 highly valuable works, mostly made by national artists who have marked the development and teaching of engraving in the country. Among the highlights are the works by Marco Bontá, Carlos Hermosilla and Nemesio Antúnez.
Drawing Collection: It includes watercolors as well as works done with tempera and mixed techniques. Highlights are the works by Agustín Abarca, Hardy Wistuba, Claudio Bravo, Boris Grigorieff, Delia del Carril and José Perotti.
José Miguel de La Barra, 650, Santiago.