The indefinite closure: an unexpected farewell
The Museum of Forbidden Art in Barcelona has announced its indefinite closure, news that has surprised both art lovers and the cultural community at large. Inaugurated in October 2023 in the emblematic Garriga Nogués house in Barcelona, this museum has been a haven for works of art that were once censored or banned for political, social and religious reasons. However, after barely eight months in operation, the museum has been forced to close its doors.
The motive behind this unexpected closure is a “union blockade” that has kept visitors away for four months. This escrache, led by the SUT union, has damaged not only the museum’s daily operations, but also its reputation, putting both visitors and workers at risk. Tatxo Benet, the Catalan businessman behind the collection, faces the reality that, despite all attempts to mediate and resolve the situation, the forces of conflict proved overwhelming.
Emblematic works and their traveling legacy
Within the walls of the museum, nearly 200 works defying the limits of censorship were housed. From the controversial matchboxes by the Argentine collective Mujeres Públicas (Public Women) to Ines Doujak’s provocative sculpture depicting a figure similar to King Juan Carlos I. It also included works by such heavyweights as Goya’s Caprichos, drawings by Gustav Klimt, Pablo Picasso‘s Suite 347, and photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe.
Barcelona becomes the world epicenter of museology
But the closure of the museum does not mean the end of these works. In the official statement, the museum authorities announced that the collection will be transformed into a nomadic collection, with traveling exhibitions planned around the world. This decision comes as an effort to keep the collection alive and continue to provoke reflection on censorship in art. They emphasize that, despite this drastic change, the museum’s goal will be preserved: to serve as a focal point for reflection on censorship.
Root causes of the conflict
The conflict that led to the closure of the museum has deep roots. Since February 26, the SUT union and the workers of two subcontractors have been on indefinite strike. They denounced the precarious working conditions, citing everything from the lack of adequate air conditioning to the lack of appropriate clothing for different seasons of the year, and the lack of fair breaks.
The Museum of Forbidden Art in Barcelona: a journey through censorship in art
Workers from subcontractors Palacios y Museos SL, Silicia Serveis Auxiliars and Magmacultura complained of standing for hours in uncomfortable conditions, enduring standing positions without proper ergonomic resources. In response to these complaints, the museum insisted that the subcontracted workers had been relocated to other facilities and that the main museum staff was never on strike.
Economic consequences and beyond
The protest, which took place right outside the museum’s door, took its toll on the museum’s finances. Visitor numbers fell by 75% from the previous year, with an almost total reduction in expected growth. The financial losses were described as unsustainable by the Museum of Forbidden Art, despite having taken steps to resolve the situation, including labor inspections and mediations.
Picasso Museum of Barcelona offers free visits
The museum, for its part, passed all labor inspections and attended mediation sessions, and even obtained a favorable court ruling confirming that the right to strike had not been violated. However, the persistence of the union blockade blocked any possibility of a return to normality.
A future in motion
So what’s next for the Museum of Forbidden Art in Barcelona? The collection, thanks to its new itinerant status, will be able to challenge boundaries and open dialogue in many more cities around the world. Rather than being seen as a failure, this change illustrates the adaptability and resilience of culture in the face of adversity.
In short, although the museum will close its doors in Barcelona, its mission will extend globally. This turn of events, though unexpected, promises to continue to provide a space for reflection and dialogue on the crucial issue of artistic censorship.
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