Empordaguia

A very wise person once said: “A man does not age when his skin gets wrinkles but when his dreams and hopes become creased.” The energy, dreams, and projects that fill the life of Antoni Vila Casas confirm his youth even after his recent 80th birthday.

They say that the philtre of eternal youth does not exist, but one doubts after meeting Antoni Vila Casas. For most people, reaching his age means to rest; he prefers to work with the same passion as ever creating new projects. This pharmacist and art lover is an entrepreneur who has always been successful with his ventures.

Art projects
He started out building up the Prodesfarma laboratories. But his passion for art soon led him to initiate projects that brought Catalan artists to a wide public. At first he opened Volart in Barcelona where today you can enjoy interesting art exhibitions. Soon afterwards, Vila Casas restored Can Mario, an old cork factory, to show his large and eclectic sculpture collection; it is also used for temporary exhibitions. With the Palau Solterra in Torroella de Montgrí he accomplished one of his most innovative cultural projects, a photography museum. Finally, Can Framis recently opened in Barcelona, an exhibition hall for contemporary painting located in an old wool factory with over 3800 sq.metres. All this is crowned with biannual competitions for new and established artists.

Spread the culture
To get to know Vila Casas better, we spoke to two of the patrons of the Vila Casas Foundation, Joan Uriach and Antoni Sagnier. Joan Uriach is a friend since his youth and shared both his passion for pharmaceutics and for art. We met as students and immediately became close, he explains. Mutual sympathy became a fireproof friendship that will never break. Antoni is a man with poise and elegance who knows how to create a welcoming atmosphere. He now also has the quality patina of age. He is an extrovert and naturally friendly and has a truly Catalan humour. He can say everything with grace and spontaneity. We both love Catalonia and strive to do things for its people and culture. We have always coincided in the idea that there is no liberty without education and culture, which is why we have followed parallel paths. He also has a great imagination, in pharmacy as well as in art. His foundation is a model for the benefit of Catalan artists.

Catalonia love
Antoni Sagnier confirms this love for Catalonia and for Art. For Antoni, tradition and culture shape the identity of a country, he explains. That explains his passion for conserving traditions and supporting culture. His motto has always been work, effort, and saving, which is that with which Catalans identify. He is intelligent and good, and all he has done throughout his life are proof of this. His heart is large, but he knows how to set limits. One of his great qualities is generosity, and he is generous in great things and sensitive in human things and in art. His creativity has always made him strive for excellence. Sagnier also tells us about Vila Casas’ passion as a collector. He started out as a child collecting stamps, then continued with medical bottles and boxes. One day, he decided to replace all the plants in his house with sculptures. That was the beginning of his collection, which is the result of his love of art, especially Catalan art. //