Yeah, But Is It Art?

My cousin Al (first-cousin once-removed) is a curator of contemporary art visiting from the United Sates and, until he mentioned it, I didn't even know Sevilla had a Center for Contemporary Art. So, it was an even better surprise to learn it was a pleasant, short walk from our house. The Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo is located on the Island of Cartuja where there were rich clay deposits used by the potters of Triana to produce their ceramics products. In 1400, the Monastery of the Cartuja was built on the island and in the mid-19th century an English businessman bought the property and turned it into a world-famous pottery factory. In 1992, Sevilla restored the monastery as part of the Universal Exhibition. There are a number of chapels on the property. In one, Saint Anne's Chapel, the body of Christopher Columbus lay in the crypt from 1509 to 1536.

BACK ENTRANCE ("RIVER DOOR"). MID-18TH CENTURY.

There were a couple of special exhibits Al wanted to see and they fortuitously didn't end until Sunday. So we walked over in the baking sun.

THE SIMPLE TILE WORK OF THE LAYMEN'S ARCH.

HUH?

HUH?

HUH?

AND... HUH?

I raised my eyebrows a number of times at some of the art on display. But, the two artists Al was especially interested in seeing were both names I recognized (although really knew nothing about) and artwork I found interesting.

THE LARGE CLOISTERS.
LOOKING FROM THE ORIGINAL REMAINS TO 19TH AND 20TH-CENTURY RECONSTRUCTIONS. 

MY COUSIN THE CURATOR (BACKGROUND, RIGHT)... READING.

THE "LITTLE CLOISTERS." MID-1400s.
(THE KNEELING NUNS AT FIRST GLANCE LOOKED LIKE YODA.) 

CHAPTER HOUSE. BURIAL PLACE OF THE RIBERA FAMILY (PATRONS OF THE MONASTERY).

IS THAT A BREATHING TUBE?!?

GALLERY BUILT AROUND PART OF CHIMNEY BASE.
A JOSÉ PIÑAR "REMASTERING" ON THE WALL.

JOSÉ PIÑAR: "GREATEST HITS."
(A GREAT EXHIBIT, BUT MAYBE THEY SIMPLY RAN OUT OF WALL SPACE.)

FIONA TAN: FRONT-AND-BACK PROJECTED "FAMILY' SLIDES IN HER "POINT OF DEPARTURE" EXHIBIT.

FIONA TAN: ONE OF MANY [POINT OF DEPARTURE] DOORS INTO HER VIDEO EXHIBITS.

BRITISH-STYLE OVENS FROM 19TH- AND 20TH-CENTURY CERAMICS FACTORY.

"HOMBRE-ORQUESTA" ("ONE-MAN BAND") BY CURRO GONZÁLEZ
THERE WERE HORNS ON A NEARBY WALL FROM WHICH MUSIC RANDOMLY PLAYED.

ENTRANCE GATEWAY AND OUTER CHAPEL.
AL AND I WENT IN THE BACK (RIVER) ENTRANCE AND OUT THE FRONT ENTRANCE. REBELS!