As we announced last week we are counting the days for our first exhibition on Thursday! We are hosting it together with Quattria in the amazing Galeria Il.lacions here in Barcelona. We had a chat with the founder of the Galeria Il.lacions, Xavier Franquesa, to learn the story behind this design gallery that has become, in just a year and a half, a reference in design Spain.
This is the first interview of many about the people collaborating with Presive, so stay tuned for more! And of course, we hope to see you all on Thursday, find all the details here.
Xavi, we love the idea of Il.lacions as a gallery dedicated exclusively to design. Tell us a bit about how this idea was born, who are the people behind it?
The idea of Il·lacions was born almost 15 years ago. There were two attempts before but none of them worked out in the end. Imagine that the name Il.lacions was decided more than 10 years ago.
The idea of the gallery came after visiting Berlin, Paris and London in a very short time interval. These cities filled us with optimism and desire to start something, to move forward with our ideas. The initial idea was to have our office for interior design and architecture (www.stnex.com) open to the public, with a small space that show ideas or special objects. But in Berlin, where the rents are very low, we saw that this “space” became, in many design studios, something big, perfect for exhibitions and events. This way you achieve attracting people and creating an impact. After 4 months of searching, on the 23rd of April, Saint Jordi’s Day, we discovered our fantastic space. At that time it was occupied, but we said, “it has to be ours” … I passed by almost every week and finally on July 31st I saw that they were emptying so I rushed inside and ask for the owner. The following day it was ours.
During the development of the idea we saw that in Barcelona there wasn’t any design gallery as those in London, New York or Paris … The “alleged” capital of design, world leader in the 90’s, the city with more designers and design students per meter square in the world, Barcelona could not continue without a gallery specialized in design. Someone had to dare to expose mainly design; graphic, fashion, product, furniture, any of its disciplines. Furthermore, being the first gave us an advantage.
Now I carry the gallery. Maria Ruivo helps me with the graphic communication and in the last months we are creating a parallel society together with Paula Karelic, the perfect partner to commercialize the work of Carles Riart and, I hope, the one of many of our designers around the world. It’s incredible!
You are based in the neighborhood of Raval in Barcelona, what made you choose that location?
Raval has the energy of a neighborhood with humble origins who has to fight like Cinderella to be recognized and well considered against others more glamorous and touristic areas. We are getting there little by little. It is the heart of Barcelona, which also has its value. We are next to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MACBA), the FAD and the CCCB. Our street is almost pedestrian, quiet and very nice. We strive for great atmosphere and when we have no presentations it serves as an additional room to accommodate guests! Sometimes we match the inaugurations with Openhouse and we “occupy” all the street Notariat with design and culture. Our neighborhood has that ambiance of North Marais in Paris (where Merci is) or Redchurch in London (in Shoreditch, East End) - a concentration of good design and trends very concentrated.
How does the selection process of designers for Il.lacions work?
When we started the project we had a “wishlist” that had to show our personality and our “approach” towards the world of design. We wanted the best of our local designers and excellent examples from abroad. I think we made it. We have brought Miquel Subirás, Carles Riart, Tomas Kral (who designs for Paloma Cañizares, PCMDesign), we are in contact with Josep Abril, together with whom we’ll one day do something nice, or Txell Miras, who will probably do something for us in October. We had Sarah Böttger from Germany, who gave us a lesson in commitment and good design, with simple ideas brought to the limit, the sublime.
By having created a good reputation and some recognition, many local designers stop by our gallery to show their work and we have been very pleasantly surprised, like with Thomas Keis or Caroline Swift. Each one develop from a very personal point of view, their work and make special and unique objects. They have all been a success. Lately, we are considered a reference in the city, by criteria, by location, trajectory. We realize that we are the preferred choice of many designers. Almost every day we receive a proposal, but unfortunately we can not satisfy them all. Imagine that right now we have the gallery full until mid-October!
What are some of the difficulties you have encountered along the way, and how have you overcome them?
We have encountered the usual difficulties when starting a business. Everything doesn’t move as fast as you would like and time passes very quickly. We have done great things, almost suicidal, but we didn’t work them properly to get the most out of them. We were missing the time to slow down and reflect, relying too much on courage and desire. Looking at it with some distance, we should have thought things over a bit more. What more? Never celebrate the opening of an exhibition when Barca plays, whether it’s Champions League or the Spanish League. Check the timing well in advance! And do not miss any of them, because you might end up alone. Or if you’re lucky with some intelligent women who are not interested in football.
What is your dream for the future, how do you see Il.lacions in 5 years from now?
We would like to be a reference in the world of design galleries. But in the pragmatic sense of the idea that when people think of a design gallery in Barcelona, they’ll think of Il·lacions, because we’ve been able to show the good design that can be found here and that it has nothing to envy to the one from any other part of the world. That it’s simply ours and because of that different which makes us love it.
