Privately owned and financed, the Museo de Artes Visuales (Lastarria 307, tel. 02/6649397, www.mavi.cl [1]) is open 10:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. daily except Monday. Admission costs US$1.50 for adults except on Sunday, when it’s free; it’s US$0.50 for children 8–12.
With a permanent collection of 650 pieces by 250 contemporary Chilean artists, among them Roberto Matta and Alfredo Jaar, the museum opened in early 2001. About 140 of these pieces, ranging from engravings to paintings, photographs, and sculptures, are on display at any one time.
Architect Cristián Undurraga’s design incorporates 1,400 square meters of display space. Flawless lighting accentuates each piece’s individual qualities in its half dozen spacious rooms, which feature high ceilings and polished wooden floors. The English translations are better than at some Chilean museums, but a reliance on cognates makes some of them a bit vague.
Links:
[1] http://www.mavi.cl