The original building of the Hotel Aurea Convento Capuchinos dates to 1637, when Felipe IV reigned in Spain under the government of the Count-Duke of Olivares. The founders of this monumental work were one hundred and twenty monks of the order of the Capuchin Friars Minor, followers of Saint Francis of Assisi, whose patrons were Don Antonio de Contreras and González Bernardo de Quirós, and the wife of the latter, Doña María of Amezqueta and Guzmán.
They chose a location with beautiful views towards the valley of the Eresma, surrounded by palaces, Romanesque churches, and other religious convents. They lived together in a building that consisted of a church, convent, and residence, which, as was customary in Segovian buildings of the 17th century, formed an austere baroque complex with walls built in limestone and reinforced with ashlars at the corners.
During the confiscation of Mendizábal, the convent became a military barracks and artillery school until 1929. But it was the use of the last nuns who inhabited it that gave it the name by which it is popularly known in Segovia, the "Convent of the Oblatas”, and it is here that they were in charge of educating the girls who were sent to them from the Juvenile Court until they left the convent in 1996, which became the first five-star hotel in Segovia.
What has fascinated us most is that the building, despite having been completely transformed in the inside, has kept its exterior appearance unchanged and an interior with character in which history continues to breathe in the noble center of Segovia. For this reason, it is an honor for us to exhibit the works of our artists in one of the new jewels of the city, an enclave with so much history that it is difficult to summarize it in this #post and we can only recommend you visit it, we assure you that worth!
Of Bulgarian origin, Milena Stefanova embarks on her journey in the world of art, departing to Havana, Cuba, where she began her studies at the San Alejandro Academy to later continue at the Higher Institute of Arts in Havana. After completing her training, she returned to Sofia (Bulgaria) and specialized in painting under Professor Iván Kirkov at the Nikolay Pavlovich Academy of Fine Arts, but his links with Cuba did not disappear because, among other events, we highlight her participation in the I Havana Biennial in 1984, the same year in which she received first prize for drawing at the Plastic Arts Hall of the capital.
The artist settled in Madrid in the early 1990s, when a new artistic and professional stage began, and she has established herself in the art scene of large cities, including Sofia, Havana and Madrid, places where her artistic creation has been very well received for more than 30 years.
In this exhibition, the apparent duality that characterizes the work of Milena Stefanova is appreciated: on the one hand, with the use of sober colors opposed to the use of striking colors, and on the other hand, traveling between dynamic artworks such as the series "Migrations" where she investigates the journey of the human being as a social being, and static works such as “Interior Structure” through which she shares with the viewer an introspection about the vulnerability and intimacy of women. In addition, the unique series "From Madrid to Heaven" and a very special one dedicated to the Meninas are shown here, which reflects her love for this city and her admiration for the Prado Museum, the place she says she “it always comes back”, as important sources of inspiration.
We share with you some snapshots of the exhibition and the opening that took place on September 23rd, although once again we encourage you to visit it in person to appreciate firsthand the message and view that the artist transmits through her artworks.
All those who, whether staying at the hotel or not, want to discover the work of Milena Stefanova, you can visit it for free until November 20th.
In the catalog is all the information about the exhibition and the contact channels if you want more information.