A dream, a museum, a miracle
By Emma Sanguinetti
Barely a year ago, in January 2020, when we were still living in the pre-pandemic world, the great Uruguayan sculptor Pablo Atchugarry stamped his signature on a stone that was nothing more than a dream: to create a museum for his collection of Latin American painting and sculpture. Its name: MACA (Museum of Contemporary American Art). Its design and architectural project: Carlos Ott (no less!).
Pablo Atchugarry on 7 January 2020 soon to sign cornerstone
But as we all know, a short time later the world blew up and everything that was once certain ceased to be certain, except for Pablo's dream. Thus, overcoming all the obstacles that the virus that afflicts us has unleashed, this January 2021, just a few days ago, we were able to travel and walk that dream that today is more of a miracle than a dream, and that grows day by day to become a tangible reality in January 2022.
In any case, I would dare to say that the museum already is and surprises; for its highly original and sensitive design, for the exquisite use of our woods in its structure and for the subtle relationship that builds its sensual undulating form with the green surroundings of the extensive gardens of the Atchugarry Foundation. This marvellous park, dominated by the large lake and its Tuscan cypresses, displays sculptures of its own and others, managing to envelop the whole in a visual and sensitive organic whole. A universe in which nature, creation and art are one. For my taste, paradise.
The MACA will house the collection that today is exhibited in the foundation and which has pieces of the highest international level such as the large sphere by Julio Le Parc, two spectacular pieces by María Freire and Costigliolo, a large sculpture by Wifredo Díaz Valdéz, but also Torres García, Pavlovsky, Pareja, Iturria, Vik Muníz, Frank Stella, Louise Nevelson and many others. Works that are collected in a beautiful publication that operates as a catalogue of the future museum and at the same time as a record of the creation of the building, giving us the spectacular drawings of Carlos Ott, true autonomous works of art that give off that inspired aesthetic ease so characteristic of the synthetic stroke of the architect-artists.
Drawings of the MACA project, Carlos Ott
The tour was a total enjoyment because it had the simplicity -and good humour- that is a distinctive feature of Pablo, but also because the Atchugarry's are a family that does things together and united, and there was the indefatigable Silvana Neme, Pablo's wife; Gastón and Mariana Atchugarry (Alejandro's children), he directs the construction company of the project, she is in charge of the commercial side; Federico Atchugarry (Marcos' son) is the project engineer and Piero Atchugarry (Pablo's son) is a gallery owner and takes care of the artistic and logistical aspects of the collection. A true Atchugarrys' malón , which is generational continuity and which augurs a long life for the family's commitment to national culture.
After the visit to the collection and the works, the managers of the future museum were presented: the architect Leonardo Noguez will be the director; the advisory board will be made up of Ángel Kalenberg, Jorge Helft, Renos Xippas, Piero Atchugarry and Emma Sanguinetti, while Roberto Vivo will be the President of the Association of Friends of the MACA.
Pablo Atchugarry is a great Maestro who has reached a level of creative maturity and recognition beyond borders that is unusual for our artists, but above all Pablo is a sower and loves Uruguay. If he had wanted to, he could have stayed in Italy and watched us from his international success, but instead he chose to sow, here, in his own land. First there was the workshop, then the foundation, then the collection and now, this imposing museum, because his dreams are sowing and his generosity is harvesting everyone's harvest.
