Blanca Gracia, winner of the 2nd edition of The Cocktail 2024 Art Award
Art has the power to transform, question and connect. That's why at The Cocktail we are celebrating the 2nd edition of the New Rituals Art Award, an event dedicated to recognise and promote the talent of emerging artists who address social, cultural and political issues from an innovative perspective.
This year, the award went to Blanca Gracia and her work El arbolito desde chiquito, a piece that explores the different and the ungovernable, leading us to reflect on that which deviates from the norm. An event that brought together creatives and art experts in a space where creativity and critical thinking were the protagonists.
"The title El arbolito desde chiquito comes from the popular saying and speaks of how the different, the ungovernable, and the deviant from the norm are conceived. A powerful organic support system is woven between these roots that connect beings and plants. That is to say, no matter how many times these weeds are pulled up, they will grow back, stronger and taller."
Blanca Gracia
El arbolito desde chiquito
The winning work is part of the project Malas hierbas, in which Blanca Gracia rescues marginalised figures and identities from history and popular folklore. These characters, like weeds themselves, adapt and survive in an environment that constantly tries to control them.
Drawing inspiration from 17th century scientific drawings, Blanca alters the established taxonomic order to create a new visual universe where the forbidden and the different find their place. Through a narrative full of symbolism, her work connects roots, stems and anthropomorphic beings that speak of resistance and transformation.
Art as an agent of change
The aim of the New Rituals Art Prize is to promote the talent of emerging artists and to reinforce the role of art as a driving force for change and reflection in contemporary society.
“At The Cocktail we believe that creativity can transcend the boundaries of art, directly impacting brand identity and the way it relates to its environment. This award not only recognises artistic talent, but reinforces the idea that companies have a fundamental role to play in promoting discourses that challenge our present."
Alberto Knapp, founder of The Cocktail
With this award, we celebrate art that inspire us to question the established and imagine new possibilities. Blanca Gracia, with her unique and transgressive universe, perfectly embodies this spirit.