Team

Miguel Ángel GILFER

Miguel Ángel GILFER: REPRESENTATION AND GENERAL COORDINATION

Visual artist

Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Complutense University of Madrid. With a long career in both domestic and international projects, combines his artistic work with teaching at the art school he founded in 1991 in Madrid. 2010 introduces a new stage as a researcher in a project that works with the contemporary art management system in Finland. This includes a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture of Spain and an opportunity to reside at the HIAP center (Helsinki International Artists in Residence Program ). Since then, and after several attempts to create a cultural and artistic link between Finland and Spain, finally the end of 2013 marks the co-founding of THE HUG, now HUG CULTURE, where he is the director.

Miguel Ángel GILFER

Miguel Ángel GILFER: REPRESENTATION AND GENERAL COORDINATION

Visual artist

Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Complutense University of Madrid. With a long career in both domestic and international projects, combines his artistic work with teaching at the art school he founded in 1991 in Madrid. 2010 introduces a new stage as a researcher in a project that works with the contemporary art management system in Finland. This includes a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture of Spain and an opportunity to reside at the HIAP center (Helsinki International Artists in Residence Program ). Since then, and after several attempts to create a cultural and artistic link between Finland and Spain, finally the end of 2013 marks the co-founding of THE HUG, now HUG CULTURE, where he is the director.

Rafael Agudo

Rafael Agudo: CULTURAL COORDINATION AND PROGRAMMING

Cultural producer

BA from the University of Alcalá de Henares. After a Master’s degree in Culture Management from the University Carlos III, worked as a coordinator in Casa del Lector, in Matadero Madrid. Also worked as a coordinator for cultural activities in the Spanish Cultural Center in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. He is coordinator of the association since its foundation.

Rafael Agudo

Rafael Agudo: CULTURAL COORDINATION AND PROGRAMMING

Cultural producer

BA from the University of Alcalá de Henares. After a Master’s degree in Culture Management from the University Carlos III, worked as a coordinator in Casa del Lector, in Matadero Madrid. Also worked as a coordinator for cultural activities in the Spanish Cultural Center in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. He is coordinator of the association since its foundation.

María Suárez

María Suárez: PRODUCTION

Artist and Cultural producer

Her education and career has been linked to institutions and associations like: Proyector/ Videoarte Platform, Inland Campo Adentro, Sub-directorate General for the Promotion of Fine Art of the Ministry of Culture of Spain, Complutense University of Madrid, Royal College of Art y Central Saint Martins.

María Suárez

María Suárez: PRODUCTION

Artist and Cultural producer

Her education and career has been linked to institutions and associations like: Proyector/ Videoarte Platform, Inland Campo Adentro, Sub-directorate General for the Promotion of Fine Art of the Ministry of Culture of Spain, Complutense University of Madrid, Royal College of Art y Central Saint Martins.

Anna Mertanen

Anna Mertanen: ARTIST RELATIONS

Philologist and Finnish teacher

Finnish lecturer and a creative mind with a heart to see artists flourish. MA in Comparative Literature from the University of Eastern Finland. She appreciates both Finnish and Spanish art and is working towards strengthening the connection. At Hug Culture Anna is in charge of artist relations and communication.

Anna Mertanen

Anna Mertanen: ARTIST RELATIONS

Philologist and Finnish teacher

Finnish lecturer and a creative mind with a heart to see artists flourish. MA in Comparative Literature from the University of Eastern Finland. She appreciates both Finnish and Spanish art and is working towards strengthening the connection. At Hug Culture Anna is in charge of artist relations and communication.

Toni Ledentsa

Toni Ledentsa: COORDINATION IN FINLAND

Independent curator and producer

He has a BA in Cultural Production and Management from the Humak University of Applied Sciences and an MA in Curating, Managing and Mediating Art (CuMMA) from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Helsinki. He has worked extensively in the fields of contemporary art, music and other live arts, in Finland and internationally. He is interested in creating connections between different disciplines, cultures and geographical areas. Consequently, he finds residency programmes very important and beneficial.

Toni Ledentsa

Toni Ledentsa: COORDINATION IN FINLAND

Independent curator and producer

He has a BA in Cultural Production and Management from the Humak University of Applied Sciences and an MA in Curating, Managing and Mediating Art (CuMMA) from the Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture in Helsinki. He has worked extensively in the fields of contemporary art, music and other live arts, in Finland and internationally. He is interested in creating connections between different disciplines, cultures and geographical areas. Consequently, he finds residency programmes very important and beneficial.

Tiiu Tiilikainen: INDEPENDET CURATOR AND PRODUCER 

Cultural coodinator

Having worked in various artistic and academic fields, Tiiu Tiilikainen is a creative all-rounder currently working as a Strategic Designer based in Madrid. Passionate about photography, audiovisual production and media literacy she has a special interest towards impulsing societally impactful and sustainable projects. She links cultural influences from her home country Finland to enrich and broaden the possibilities for knowledge sharing and continuous learning, aiming to build bridges especially between the Finnish and the Spanish artistic scene.

Susana Nevado

Susana Nevado: UNIVERSITY AND ARTIST MANAGEMENT

Visual artist

Finnish citizen of Spanish origin, teacher of Fine Arts at the Turku University of Applied Sciences. Master of Fine Arts from the Complutense University of Madrid, with various postgraduate courses completed in Helsinki Academy of Fine Arts and in Turku University of Applied Sciences. Studied curating and participated as a panel member in various exhibitions and biennials. Artistic career extends from Finland to various artist residencies for Finnish artists around the world. Held exhibitions in numerous countries and worked closely with HUG CULTURE for the development of cultural exchange between Finland and Spain.

Sari Torvinen

Sari Torvinen: COLLABORATOR

Visual artist

Sari Torvinen is a visual artist whose focus is in drawing, video, collaborative practises, site specifity and art & ecology. She has graduated from painting department at the Lahti Arts Institute and studied printmaking, video and photography at the Akademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Rotterdam and Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. Her passion and experience in international collaboration and public art have brought her to work in Hug Culture.

Susana Nevado
Sari Torvinen

Sari Torvinen: COLLABORATOR

Visual artist

Sari Torvinen is a visual artist whose focus is in drawing, video, collaborative practises, site specifity and art & ecology. She has graduated from painting department at the Lahti Arts Institute and studied printmaking, video and photography at the Akademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Rotterdam and Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam. Her passion and experience in international collaboration and public art have brought her to work in Hug Culture.