Art Madrid'25 – CRISTINA GARCÍA RODERO AND THE LAND OF DREAMS

Work by Cristina García Rodero “Land of dreams”

 

 

Cristina Garcia Rodero, (Ciudad Real, 1949) is a Spanish photographer who began her career in the late 60's, portraying traditions and cultures in their national beginnings and later around the world. Her reports are stained with a very personal and human vision that captures the essence of those he portrays. It was the first to enter the prestigious agency Magnum and she has received a large number of awards such as the World Press Photo in 1993 or the National Photography Award in 1996.

 

 

Work by Cristina García Rodero “Land of dreams” 

 

 

The exhibition reveals the daily life of women from all sectors and classes of Anantapur in the state of Andhra Pradesh, one of the most disadvantaged areas of India, where marginal communities live. With 80 photographs of varied format Cristina, wants to raise awareness and give visibility to the international cooperation actions carried out by the Vicente Ferrer Foundation in collaboration with the "La Caixa" Obra Social. 

 

 

View of the exhibition

 

 

An initiative narrated through images that address contemporary sensibility and highlight the role of those people who, like the photographer from La Mancha, show their particular vision of seeing the world. Some of the photographs show the hard face of the region, and in fact, the project was not easy to start, as the artist herself says: "When I accepted the commission I thought it would be easy, but when I arrived in the city, I saw it was Horrible, horrible landscapes and the frightful light, and I did not get people to stop chasing me for what I thought, how I'm going to do a good job. "

 

 


Work by Cristina García Rodero “Land of dreams”

 

 

Land of dreams, is the result of a month and a half of experiences that told under the astonished look of the artist, have managed to capture the attention of the observer. The warm and close feeling transmitted by these snapshots makes these mothers, seamstresses, peasants, teachers and students take their leading role in transforming the communities of Anantapur. Its assembly meetings show a memorable activism that together with a solid network of solidarity have made possible protection centers for battered women among other issues.

 

View of the exhibition

 

 

The exhibition can be visited until May 28. Around the exhibition there is an educational workshop entitled "Namasté. A look at India "aimed at middle school and upper elementary school students and ESO. This action helps to bring the young people to a reality different from the one they are familiar with.

 

 

At the most recent edition of Art Madrid, artist Luis Olaso (Bilbao, 1986), represented by Kur Art Gallery (San Sebastián), received the Residency Prize of the Art Madrid Patronage Program. This award, the result of a collaboration between Art Madrid, DOM Art Residence, and the Italian association ExtrArtis, enabled him to undertake an artistic residency in Sorrento (Italy) in August 2025.

Through initiatives like this, the fair reaffirms its support for contemporary creation—a commitment aimed at increasing artists’ visibility and strengthening art collecting through concrete actions such as acquisition prizes, recognition of emerging talents, and international residencies.


Artists in Residence. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of Agata D’Esposito.


The DOM & ExtrArtis 2025 Residency Program took place in Sorrento from August 1 to 31, 2025. The artists lived together at Relais La Rupe, a 16th-century villa surrounded by cliffs and centuries-old gardens, which became an ideal setting for experimentation and exchange.

In this edition, residents worked around the theme “Reimagining Genius Loci”, an invitation to reflect on how the movement of people and traditions transforms the “spirit of place.” During the residency, DOM organized two public group exhibitions: the first to present the artists’ previous work, and the second to showcase the projects developed in Sorrento.


Work by Luis Olaso. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of Agata D’Esposito.


Luis Olaso’s work moves between expressionist figuration and abstraction, always employing a pictorial language charged with strength and emotion. Initially self-taught, he later graduated in Fine Arts and has developed a solid international career, with exhibitions at venues including JD Malat (London) and Makasiini Contemporary (Turku, Finland), and participation in fairs such as Untitled Miami, Estampa, and Art Madrid itself.

His work is part of prestigious collections, including the Tokyo Contemporary Art Foundation, Fundación SIMCO, and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, and has been recognized in competitions such as the Reina Sofía Prize for Painting and Sculpture and the Ibercaja Young Painting Prize.

In Sorrento, Olaso found a unique context to expand his pictorial research, engaging in dialogue with the Mediterranean landscape and the region’s historical heritage. The residency provided him with time, resources, and a framework for exchange with other international artists, fostering the production of new works that were later presented in the group exhibitions organized by DOM.


Luis Olaso working on his project. DOM & ExtrArtis. Image courtesy of DOM.

Luis Olaso’s experience at DOM Art Residence concluded with a public showcase of the works produced, reinforcing his presence on the international circuit and consolidating his position as one of the most prominent Basque artists on the contemporary scene.


Through initiatives such as this, Art Madrid demonstrates its active role as a platform for direct support of contemporary creation, creating opportunities for research, production, and intercultural dialogue that extend beyond the fair itself and accompany artists in their professional development.