What to see at Manifesta, Europe’s most renowned nomadic biennale

Barcelona is just the beginning, Manifesta15 takes over Catalonia in one of its largest edition. Here’s what to see from September 8 to November 24, 2024.

The 15th edition of Manifesta, Europe’s itinerant contemporary art biennale, lands in Catalonia this year with new exciting developments.

Founded in Rotterdam in 1996, Manifesta is a biennial event that presents itself as a “pan-European platform for contemporary visual art,” promoting cultural integration across Europe. The format remains the same: every two years, the event moves to a new location, chosen to revitalize cities often considered peripheral in the contemporary art world but rich in cultural tradition and stimuli. In the past few years, it has been based from the Netherlands to Luxembourg, Slovenia to Germany, Spain, and then Italy, Belgium, Russia, Switzerland, France, and Kosovo.

This year, rather than focusing solely on Barcelona, Manifesta will animate all of Catalonia from September 8 to November 24, 2024. Over 12 weeks, exhibitions, events, and conferences will involve 12 cities, and over 90 local and international participants.

Manifesta15 Barcelona. Geographical Nodes. Courtesy Manifesta15
Manifesta15 Barcelona. Geographical Nodes. Courtesy Manifesta15.

Decentralize to innovate

The 2024 edition of Manifesta represents a significant shift, not just in terms of the themes addressed, but especially in its approach. For the first time, the nomadic biennale aims to start from the already bustling Barcelona and decentralize the region’s cultural infrastructure. This choice reflects the Catalan genius loci, with its tradition of cultural egalitarianism.

This year, Manifesta is focused on spreading culture across the region, avoiding the concentration typical of large events, often leading to the generation of gentrification processes. The goal is to promote openness, collective expression, and the inclusion of local communities.

A prime example is the crochet workshop organized by artists Jin Choi and Thomas during June and July for their project "URCHINS" (2024). The installation, inspired by the skeleton of a sea urchin and designed to pay tribute to Barcelona’s textile and maritime heritage, is now on display at The Three Chimneys.

CHOI+SHINE's Collective, Crochet Activity, Manifesta15. Courtesy The Artists and Manifesta15
CHOI+SHINE's Collective, Crochet Activity, Manifesta15. Courtesy The Artists and Manifesta15

The program features artistic interventions in historically significant sites and industrial locations, many of which have never been open to the public before, now transformed into contemporary art exhibition spaces.

This represents both a clear statement of intent from Manifesta and a significant organizational challenge, demanding greater logistical effort and flexibility from visitors, who are encouraged to move between venues. To help navigate this, we’ve prepared a concise guide to assist you.

Masbedo, Pantelleria, 2022, Single channel video installation with stereo sound. Courtesy The Artists, In Between Art Film Foundation, Manifesta15
Masbedo, Pantelleria, 2022, Single channel video installation with stereo sound. Courtesy The Artists, In Between Art Film Foundation, Manifesta15

The itinerary

If you have limited time for Manifesta 15, try a different approach: instead of starting with the artworks to see, let an itinerary based on the region’s architectural highlights guide you. Key stops include the former Gustavo Gili publishing house in Barcelona, the Three Chimneys in Sant Adrià de Besòs, and Casa Gomis in El Prat de Llobregat.

Check out the complete itinerary in our gallery.

Exhibition:
Manifesta15
Location:
Barcelona and Catalonia
Dates:
September 8 to November 24, 2024

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