The figure of Federico García Lorca is intrinsically linked to water, an "aquatic murmur" that permeates his existence and creation. This is the central premise of the new exhibition at the Lorca Center, titled 'Rivers (Crossing the Lorca Archive)', which will open its doors on April 24 at the La Romanilla venue. The exhibition, curated by Francisco Ramallo, is based on research into the idea of transit in the poet's life and work, using the concept of a river as a central metaphor.
“"Water plays a very important role in this research into transit."
The exhibition is structured around three main narratives. The first addresses the "physical experience of water in Lorca", recalling that the poet was born in a humid place and crossed the ocean on his journey to the United States. The second focuses on tracing the "aquatic traces" in his texts. Finally, the third uses the symbolism of the river to transform the archive into a "more porous" space, open to participation and dialogue with new creators.
To enrich this proposal, Ramallo has invited various artists to interact with over 200 documents from the archive. Participants include Lucía Bayón, Javi Cruz, Andrés Izquierdo, Carlos Irijalba, and María Salgado. Many of them are deeply knowledgeable about Lorca's work, which has allowed for the establishment of "parallels" and to "greatly enrich this dialogue with the archive".
An example of this interaction is the poet and performer María Salgado, who will present an intervention titled Baldío dorado, exploring the contrasts between "dry, wet, humid" and the sensory experience of water. For his part, Carlos Irijalba will contribute a photograph of a Brooklyn river, in the section dedicated to Lorca's stay in New York and his "crossing of the Atlantic waters to reach America".
'Rivers (Crossing the Lorca Archive)' is articulated in six sections or "stretches" that chronologically trace the poet's life. It begins with the period before Lorca, including places like Fuente Vaqueros, Valderrubio, and Granada. Subsequent sections cover key periods of his life, with stops in Granada, Madrid, Barcelona, Cadaqués, Málaga, New York, Havana, Buenos Aires, and Montevideo, leading to the final stretch that concludes in 1936, the year of his assassination. The exhibition opens coinciding with the 90th anniversary of this tragic event, but highlights the continued relevance and impact of Lorca's work today.
