MANILA, Philippines?A private initiative is providing Barcelona with a fresh viewpoint on modern and contemporary art. And unlike many artistic efforts, this comes without the excess baggage of ideology or history.

Fundació Suñol?s rooms are taken up by the permanent collection which is comprised of Spanish artists? works that are exquisitely mounted, allowing viewers to appreciate them in all their magnitude.

The positioning of some of the pieces reinforces both the readings of formal tendencies and interests of a particular generation.

The collection also takes pride in its neat showing of the long creative process of some of the early works.

Mini-Warholand

As soon as you enter the first room, you understand what the collection?s intentions are.

The first piece that you see is Andy Warhol?s 1983 portrait of Fernando Vijande, a gallery owner from Madrid. Fundació Suñol?s in-house collector Josep Suñol acquired his first pieces from Vijande himself.

Then, you?re treated to Warhol?s Mao and Campbell?s soup pieces. The collection continues with the works of Fontana and Gargallo, then the El Paso group and Equipo Cronica, and emerging Spanish figurative artists Gordillo, Genoves, Arranz Bravo, Garcia Sevilla, and Zush.

There?s also a must-see Avedon and Man Ray feature in the photography section, as well as a Sergi Aguilar and Pomodoro tribute in the sculpture area.

Art hall blues

The Nivell Zero space is perhaps the most important in the Foundation. It?s being dedicated to young artists with specific, multidisciplinary or sound projects and is serving as a venue for literary presentations, performances, and debates.

The Foundation plans to present more of its collection in the coming year. It?s also preparing to show its latest acquisitions, continuing its pursuit to give life to emerging art names and demonstrating the conceptual openness of its owner.

www.fundaciosunol.org