Magazines - Tribal Art Winter 2007

By Elena Martínez-Jacquet, an art historian specializing in African art

This interview article was written on the occasion of the reopening of the Musée Barbier-Mueller d'Art Precolombí in Barcelona. Featuring views of the galleries and photographs of objects chosen from among the collection's masterpieces, the piece covers the history of the institution over six pages.

Introduction:
On November 15, 2007, the Museu Barbier-Mueller d'Art Precolombí in Barcelona reopened to the public after several months of construction. A new gallery was inaugurated adjoining the Court of Honor of the Palau Nadal, which has been the museum's home for over a decade. Designed to host temporary exhibitions, the space opened with Amazonia, Prehistoric Brazil,, on view until the end of April 2008, featuring thirty stone and terracotta sculptures from the island of Marajo, Brazil. The museum has also initiated "The Invited Piece," which highlights one masterpiece of pre-Columbian art borrowed from another museum collection. A Purhépecha culture ceremonial stool from Mexico belonging to the Museum Rietberg in Zürich is the first piece to be showcased here.
Tribal Art correspondent Elena Martínez-Jacquet spoke to the museum's director, Anna Casa Gilberga, at the time of the reopening. She enthusiastically explained the concepts behind the restructuring and discussed her future plans for the museum.