Spain: Towards a fourth Thyssen Museum, this time in Barcelona

And one more Museo Thyssen! Everyone knows the one in Madrid, which resulted from the purchase by the Spanish state in 1993 of a large part of the family collection, long housed in Lugano. There is also the one founded by the baron’s widow in Malaga in 2011. A small third exists, well hidden in the principality of Andorra. The fourth, which has just been announced, will be housed in Barcelona, ​​the hometown of “Tita” Thyssen. Opening planned for 2027.

Private funds

For Carmen Thyssen, who is turning 82, the materialization of this project is like revenge. The former Miss Spain, promoted to businesswoman, had fought in vain against the former mayor of the city Ada Colau, who did not want to hear from this private institution. It must be said that with the Baroness, born with a cash register between her two ears, we quickly end up with financial ultimatums. Ada has completed her term. She was replaced by the socialist Jaume Collboni, who was more cooperative. The current project apparently costs the Municipality nothing. The money would come entirely from private sources. Note that it will take a lot, but the Spanish economy seems to be thriving today. The former Comedia cinema, on the corner of Paseo de Gracia and Gran Via, despite its condition, would cost 75 million euros, paid by Stoneweg Place & Experience, a fund based in Switzerland. The restructuring would cost another 25. There are some 9,000 square meters to exploit there.

Everything ends up in the hands of a company created ad hoc, the Fundación Arte Y Legado Barcelona. This would benefit from the works owned by “Tita” Thyssen, who rented them (hey, here’s a material condition again!) to Stoneweg Place & Experience. The lady would of course be part of his council, as one of his daughters. The only thing remaining mysterious is the contents of the future museum, dedicated to Catalan art of the 19th and 20th centuries. A bygone era interacting with current “emerging talents” and appropriately “international-level” exhibitions. A real catch-all according to the article originally published in the Spanish “Le journal des arts” by Roberta Bosco. I see there indeed classic, modern and contemporary artists mixed with decorative creations, fashion and jewelry. No name has yet been mentioned, if only to get an idea. We also do not know which architects will take care of the transformations of the former Cinema Comedia, inaugurated as such only in 1941 despite its architectural style appearing before 1914. So far there is only question of immersive spaces, a concept store and gastronomic offer. We will see and taste in due time.

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Born in 1948, Etienne Dumont studied in Geneva which were of little use to him. Latin, Greek, law. A failed lawyer, he turned to journalism. Most often in the cultural sections, he worked from March 1974 to May 2013 at the “Tribune de Genève”, starting by talking about cinema. Then came fine arts and books. Other than that, as you can see, nothing to report.More info

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