This Friday, a historic event for local culture took place in Concordia: the inauguration of the Lucio Fontana Room at the Municipal Museum of Visual Arts, where the iconic work Muchacho del Paraná (1942) by the world-renowned Argentine artist Lucio Fontana was permanently installed and showcased.
The ceremony was attended by the Mayor, Dr. Francisco Azcué, municipal authorities, cultural leaders, special guests, and residents of the city. After the ribbon-cutting and the religious blessing, the community was able to visit the space, specially designed to protect and enhance one of the most representative pieces of Argentine art.
The opening of this new space reaffirms the path of cultural public policies that promote the preservation and enhancement of heritage, strengthen the city's cultural and tourist circuit, and consolidate Concordia as a reference point for visual arts in the region.
“THIS WORK BELONGS TO THE WORLD”
“Thank you to the community of Concordia for being able to continue working together for our land. Today is a very important day not only for our administration but for the people of Concordia because of everything this work means, no longer just being part of our history but of our present and future,” stated Mayor Azcué.
Calling for a sense of belonging, Azcué affirmed that “it is important that we become aware of what we have, being privileged by what it means for our culture, and it is something that transcends us. This work belongs to the world, and we have the honor of having it here and enjoying it every day.”
RECOVERY OF A SYMBOL
The Undersecretary of Education and Culture, Prof. Carlos Gatto, highlighted the significance of this moment: “Today we are experiencing a moment that deeply moves us as a city. It is not just the inauguration of a room, but the recovery of a symbol, of a memory that belongs to us all. The Lucio Fontana Room opens its doors to honor and permanently safeguard a unique work: Muchacho del Paraná.”
Gatto thanked Mayor Azcué for his constant support, the team at the Municipal Museum of Visual Arts directed by Hugo Musser, the Volunteer Firefighters of Concordia who collaborated in the transport of the sculpture, and the different municipal areas that collaborated in the enhancement works of the Room.
“Everything we see here—the enhancement of the room, the conservation of the work, the curation, and the installation—was carried out entirely by municipal agents belonging to the Museum. Women and men committed to our heritage, who with professionalism and love for the city demonstrated that, by taking care of resources and working as a team, we can reach international quality standards,” the Undersecretary stressed.
“The inauguration of this room is not a point of arrival, it is a starting point. It means betting on cultural public policies that value our heritage, that open spaces so that future generations know where we come from and can project where we want to go. This room is yours, it belongs to all the people of Concordia. Visit it, take ownership of it, share it with your children and grandchildren,” concluded Prof. Carlos Gatto.
The cultural day continued at Plaza 25 de Mayo on Urquiza Street, where artistic performances were held in tribute to Fontana and his work: Municipal Folk Ballet “Renovando Sueños,” directed by Paola Garay and Sergio Lugo, with the performance Muchacho del Paraná; Folk Ballet “Sembrando Futuro,” directed by Luis Oyarbide, with the work El Paraná Nos Cuenta; musical ensemble Julio Chivel Trío, composed of Luis Bordoy, Jeremías Toledo, Yoel Sánchez, and Sebastián Arlettaz. The closing was performed by the band De La Hostia.
Provincial Senator Cielo Espejo, municipal officials, representatives of intermediate institutions, and the general public were present.