Yesterday a catalog was presented in Girona that includes the work of the artist Josep Niebla from the art funds of the Generality of Catalonia
- The book “Niebla. Catalogue of the collection of the Generalitat de Catalunya” collects in the form of a catalogue the more than 1000 works, including paintings and drawings, which today make up the entire Niebla collection owned by the Generalitat.
- The catalogue, which is also offered in digital format, incorporates an extensive commentary on the artist and his work by the historian and art critic Eudald Camps.
- The book presentation took place on Thursday, July 4th at 7pm at the Territorial Cultural Services of Girona.
The Generalitat of Catalonia, through the Territorial Services of Girona of the Department of Culture and with the participation of the Girona Art Museum, has presented the edition of a book-catalogue that compiles all the works of the artist Josep Niebla (1945-2021) owned by the Generalitat of Catalonia.
Most of these works were incorporated into the public collections in 2020 through a symbolic purchase. Montserrat Fort, the artist’s widow, offered the collection with the desire to preserve the painter’s memory. The collection acquired by the Generalitat de Catalunya consists of a total of 1,030 works, including paintings, graphic work, sketches and personal documentation of the artist and his private library. A year later, in a similar operation, Montserrat Fort offered the artistic collection of Niebla to the Girona City Council, consisting of around 600 works by various artists.
After the acquisition by the Department of Culture and with the support of the Girona Art Museum, efforts were devoted to the registration, documentation and cataloguing of all the collections. This work was carried out by Genís Tolosa, who had already made the first inventories and had a good knowledge of the collection.
An important selection of works from the collection were incorporated, above all, into the Museu d’Art de Girona, but also into the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, the Museu Marítim de Barcelona and the Museu d’Història de Girona. The artist’s documentation and personal archive were deposited in the Arxiu Històric de Girona, and his library, in the Biblioteca Carles Rahola de Girona, reflecting Josep Niebla’s deep connection with the Girona region.
The publication of a comprehensive catalogue of the entire Niebla collection was one of the agreements after the acquisition of the artist’s collection by the Generalitat de Catalunya, with the aim of disseminating his work and offering it for public consultation. Finally, this desire now sees the light of day in the publication of a book that goes beyond a strict catalogue of work.
A catalogue available to the public, museums and exhibition centres
This catalogue makes the legacy of Josep Niebla available to the public and to museums and exhibition centres, seeking to serve the memory of a relevant artist in the panorama of Catalan contemporary art. In addition to the list and relationship of works from Josep Niebla’s personal collection, it also incorporates a critical analysis by the historian and art critic Eudald Camps, who proposes a thematic reading.
Camps traces the artist’s career from his training and foundations, and presents an itinerary through what he himself calls “the territories through which Niebla’s plastic and conceptual adventure has traveled over the years”. Thus, he delves into themes such as landscapes (interior and exterior), the poetics of signs, that of political commitment, hedonism (with series such as those dedicated to African memory) or his seas and skies. At the same time, the text allows the artist’s work to be contextualized within the panorama of Catalan contemporary art.
The 195-page book-catalogue edition also includes a presentation by Josep Calatayud, director of the Territorial Cultural Services in Girona; an introduction by Carme Clusellas, director of the md’A in Girona; a section dedicated to the Niebla Foundation and a biographical note on the artist. And finally, it concludes with the reproduction of the works and a technical sheet for each of the works and drawings: those acquired in 2020 and those that were already part of the public collections, before the incorporation of the artist’s collection.
The catalogue is presented on paper, but can also be consulted digitally from the DRAC repository ( https://drac.cultura.gencat.cat/ ) of open data and resources.
The publication of this catalogue is an important step in the dissemination of the painter’s legacy, and a fundamental tool for future research and exhibitions. The project reinforces the commitment of the Generalitat de Catalunya to the preservation and promotion of Catalan art and culture, facilitating public access to collections of high historical and artistic value.
The book presentation took place on Thursday, July 4th at 7 p.m. at the Territorial Cultural Services of Girona (Casa Solterra. C/ Ciutadans, 18. Girona)