A commitment to the new art Journeys of the avant-garde in Catalonia through the Rafael and María Teresa Santos Torroella collection Temporary exhibition

In 1951 the Spanish government presented a pavilion designed by José Antonio Coderch with the artistic consultancy of Rafael Santos Torroella at the prestigious architecture and design competition of the 9th Milan Triennale.

This stand combined traditional architecture and that of Antonio Gaudí with samples of folk crafts and ancient art, as well as avant-garde offerings. Among the latter were several pieces by Joan Miró, some lithographs by Josep Guinovart dedicated to Federico García Lorca, accompanied by the Andalusian poet's verses, sculptures by Ángel Ferrant, Eudald Serra and Jorge Oteiza and ceramics by Antoni Cumella and Josep Llorens Artigas.

It was the first time after the Spanish Civil War that Spain exhibited avant-garde art abroad and obtained the highest award in a category contest, which meant the recognition abroad of Spanish culture, which until then had been marginalised by the Franco regime's Autarky policy.