Entrevista a Rafael Gelman: "Anecdotario de un coleccionista"

A.- We went to FIAC for many years, when we thought it was a good fair. The problem is that it went downhill and although they have been trying to improve it for two years, it is still not at the same level as the other five I mentioned before. We went back to the fiac in 2004 and we went this year as well, and we did see it had improved somewhat, but it is not one of the top five.

Q.- Well, you obviously have a lot of Spanish artists in your collection...

A.- Yes, of course. I have "old" things from Spain, as well as new things. For example, in photography, I have García Rodero and García-Álix. I also have Fernando Sánchez Castillo, and several others. As regards contemporary art I mostly have photography. In terms of the "classics," I have works by Saura, Tàpies and Miró.

Q.- What do you think of the quality of Spanish galleries?

A.- It's fine. They can easily stand alongside those located in other countries. Juana de Aizpuru, Helga de Alvear, etc., they are at the same level as any other gallery in the world. There are, obviously, also galleries in Spain that try, but do not make it. For example, I like to visit the Moriarty gallery, in Madrid; I find their pieces quite interesting. There are also galleries in Paris, like the Kamel Mennour gallery -dedicated to photography- that will be very important, without a doubt.

Translation: Laura F. Farhall