Museu de l'Empordà reopens with pieces by Dalí, Tàpies, Sacharoff, and Ponç

The Museu de l'Empordà museum in the northern city of Figueres reopened its doors on Friday with pieces by Catalan artists Salvador Dalí, Antoni Tàpies, Joan Ponç, and Tiflis-born Olga Sacharoff.

After construction works and renovations shut down the museum for around four years, the exhibition site now opens with a new approach and a new model. Its director, Eduard Bech-Vila, highlighted that they have omitted the chronological order and centered the visit on artists and locations.

"What we want is for everyone, in a moment of their walk around the Museum, to face a piece that astonishes them and welcomes them," Bech-Vila said.

Visitors will also get to see ceramic pieces and sculptures from the Empúries Roman city ruins, next to contemporary artworks.

Aside from Dalí, Tàpies, or Ponç, there are also art pieces by Tiflis-born painter Olga Sacharoff, who passed away in Barcelona in 1967. There are artists such as Ramon Martí Alsina, Evarist Vallès, and Ramon Reig. Dalí's 'Sant Narcís' painting from 1962 is one of the main pieces, as well as Antoni Tàpies' 'Autoretrat' and 'Dona amb blaus.'

The museum also praises the site's historic collections, such as its beginnings, mainly driven by residents' donations and loans from Spain's Prado Museum. During the visit, there is also room to hang some of the current local artists who are part of the Empordà counties' creative landscape.

To commemorate the museum's inauguration weekend, the managing team has organized several activities and an open door to the site. The opening also coincides with Figueres' local festivities: Fires i Festes de la Santa Creu.

Authorities invested €1.5 million in refurbishing the four-story building, which features a conference hall and an art restoration workshop.

Figures is well known for hosting the Museu Dalí, one of the museums dedicated to the Catalan surrealist painter.