Mendoza has recognized cultural spaces throughout its geography. They are venues that offer unmissable annual agendas. However, there is one that stands out for being considered a distinctive cultural space, where contemporary art dialogues with history, architecture and mountain landscapes. More than a gallery, it is a portal to reflection, aesthetic experience and sensory enjoyment in every corner. It is, without a doubt, one of the jewels of Bodegas Salentein and the Uco Valley.
Since its opening in 2006, Killka Gallery has been a cultural landmark in the region, housing and marketing art works by prominent local, national, and international artists. It also host a private collection that includes contemporary Argentine and Dutch art from the 19th and 20th centuries. Its prestige was internationally recognized in 2008, when it won the Gold Award in the Art and Culture category of the Best of Wine Tourism Awards from the Great Wine Capitals Global Network.
Killka also has its Art Shop, an exclusive store where you can buy small-format works of art and signature jewellery by local artists and designers.
Exhibitions that inspire and connect
In general, Killka Space offers three or four exhibitions annually, which usually explore creative and conceptual themes. A recent example is “Multiple Realities” by Angie Villé, a multimodal experience that incorporated 3D printing and augmented reality curated by Laura Valdivieso and coordinated by Sofía Jacky.
The architecture of Salentein Winery itself—inspired by ancestral techniques and Andean aesthetics— provides the perfect frame to the exhibitions, offering a complete sensory experience. In this sense, another notable proposal was the exhibition “Portales: trasconejada travesía imaginaria”, in which the artists Marcela Furlani, Valeria Señorans, Héctor Ramazzi and Raquel Fluixá reinterpreted concepts such as portals and time, expanding the exhibition space in interaction with the architecture of the venue.
Killka’s function as a space for cultural dialogue was evident in the exhibition “Roots” with Movart (November 2019), where unpublished works from Salentein’s private collection were exhibited, addressing its history and Dutch-Argentine origin. The proposal included works by artists such as Cristina Santander, Henk Van Vessem and Max Hoeffner, complemented by music and wine tastings within the framework of the landscape of the Uco Valley.
Killka also leaves its seeds in the educational field of Mendoza, since it opens its doors to middle school students to make educational visits and explore the wine circuit, the artistic currents and the architecture of the winery, strengthening the cultural dimension of its territory.
A complete experience in Mendoza’s Uco Valley
Beyond art, Killka is part of a large cultural complex that includes a restaurant with panoramic views of the Andes Mountains, an auditorium, a wine shop and the Chapel of Gratitude. Next to the gallery, the visitor can walk through gardens, enjoy tastings and admire the architecture. The Salentein Inn complements the offer with boutique accommodation, fireplaces, gardens and activities such as trekking or horseback riding among vineyards, providing a comprehensive hospitality experience.
Texts and Photo Credits: EMETUR (Tourism Board of Mendoza)