MATEO MATÉ el eterno retorno: Contemporary Art Interventions in Madrid Museums

El Eterno Retorno is an exhibition showcasing the personal universe of Mateo Maté through five interventions across various Madrid museums. The artist intersperses his works with existing collections, aiming to establish a horizontal relationship and reinterpret historical art.

Mateo Maté's exhibition "El Eterno Retorno" (The Eternal Return) is a project involving interventions in several Madrid museums, serving as a tribute to the cultural and iconographic heritage received from artists throughout Western culture. The artist, Mateo Maté, born in Madrid in 1964, has focused his work on analyzing "domestic" themes and his immediate surroundings. This exhibition connects his art with museums he visited since childhood, including the Museo Cerralbo, Museo Nacional de Artes Decorativas, Museo de la Biblioteca Nacional, Museo Lázaro Galdiano, and Museo del Romanticismo, spaces that were pivotal in awakening his artistic vocation. The project establishes a "horizontal" relationship between these museums through joint actions, intercalating Maté's works from various series within their existing collections. The aim is to place different artworks and their creators on an equal footing, acknowledging the cultural heritage inherited. Visitors will discover Maté's pieces interspersed with museum objects, blurring the lines between what is considered art and what was once utilitarian. For instance, at the Museo del Romanticismo, a fallen painting and a camouflaged landscape reinterpret a Carlos de Haes painting, referencing the presence of death even in bucolic scenes. The "Arqueología del Saber" (Archaeology of Knowledge) series delves into past news and events, using newspaper archives as fragmented memories. Military and domestic iconographies merge in the Museo Lázaro Galdiano's armory, while in the Museo de Artes Decorativas, a Spanish bed integrates with centuries of craftsmanship. The Museo Cerralbo features a carpet displaying precise coordinates, mapping the visitor's exact location and serving as a personal geography for the artist.

This exhibition is presented across multiple Madrid museums, with specific dates and hours varying per venue. Visitors should consult the individual museum information for details on access and opening times. The exhibition runs until February 23, 2014, with some venues having earlier closing dates like January 21, 2014, for the Museo Lázaro Galdiano. Ticket information is not explicitly detailed beyond venue-specific operating hours and dates, implying standard museum admission policies may apply unless otherwise specified by each institution. Visit the provided link for more details on exhibition schedules across participating museums.