A Place in the Sun
Irene de Andrés
A Place in the Sun is an artistic research project that draws on two case studies: the Ciudad Residencial Tiempo Libre in Marbella and the Colónia de Férias Um Lugar ao Sol in Caparica. These architectural complexes, located in areas where tourism is the primary source of income, serve as models for the process of industrialization and commodification of working-class vacations—from the dictatorial regimes under which they were built to the social democratic governments that continued to utilize them.
The research conducted between 2024 and 2026 has been translated into various works that draw on archival material as well as advertising and documentary images of these complexes. The body of work is divided into several series of graphic works that narrate the history and development of these architectural complexes, two video installations that bring us closer to the past and present experiences of these places, and finally, two works that use the format of a memento or souvenir to highlight the transformations the landscape has undergone to fulfill the promise of a place in the sun.
The exhibition layout is designed to divide the two locations—Marbella and Caparica—as if they were mirror images of each other, drawing a parallel between these two complexes while preserving the unique characteristics of two enclaves separated by just over 700 km of coastline.
Irene de Andrés (Eivissa, Balearic Islands, 1986) holds a degree in Fine Arts and a Master’s degree in Artistic Research and Production from the Complutense University of Madrid, where she is currently completing a PhD. She has been an artist-in-residence at institutions such as Escuela FLORA Ars+Natura in Bogotá, The Harbor at Beta Local in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Visual Artists Residency Program at Centro de Residencias Matadero Madrid, and the Spanish Academy in Rome, among others. Among the grants and awards she has received are the Leonardo Grant from the BBVA Foundation, the Acquisition Award of the Community of Madrid at Estampa, Generaciones award from Fundación Montemadrid, Circuitos de Artes Plásticas in Madrid, the Ciutat de Palma Award, and the DKV–Es Baluard Audiovisual Creation Grants. She is working on her next solo exhibition at Es Baluard (2027) and other institutional solo exhibitions include Centro Párraga in Murcia, Museo Patio Herreriano in Valladolid, and Espai 13 at the Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona. Her work has also been shown in numerous group exhibitions at institutions such as Art Sonje Center in Seoul, the Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Santiago de Chile, TEA – Tenerife, M HKA in Antwerp, La Casa Encendida in Madrid, Biennale für Freiburg, Frestas Triennial in Sorocaba, Es Baluard or the Spanish Cultural Center in Montevideo.
APERTURA MADRID GALLERY WEEKEND
September 10-13 2026
Proyect supported by the Leonardo Grants for Scientific Research and Cultural Creation – BBVA Foundation 2024
