Spain's Lack of Visual Memory Results in Numerous Blunders in the Current Scenario - as per Paco Roca
LET'S DIVE INTO PACO ROCA'S EMOTIONAL JOURNEY!
In the heart of Madrid, Paco Roca, a Valencian cartoonist born in 1969, showcases his emotional artwork at the exhibition "Memory: A Wild Ride Through Paco Roca's Comics" from Instituto Cervantes and the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory. The show can be admired at C/ Barquillo, 4, until September 28.
Curated and designed by Roca himself alongside Dani Nebot, this breathtaking event features over 70 original pieces, stirring the senses of everyone who lays their eyes on it. The display includes four monumental murals adorned with never-before-seen drawings, 19 framed panels, 51 showcased pieces, pages, sketches, notes, scripts, and reference photographs. Allmerge to paint a vivid picture of the cartoonist's most prominent titles: Wrinkles, The House, Furrows of Chance, Return to Eden and The Abyss of Forgetfulness.
"Memory is crucial, and it's at the core of this exhibition," Paco emphasizes. "I firmly believe that comics have a significant role in creating visual memories about our nation's past. Given my concerns about falsehoods and denial of certain events, I feel it's important to document our recent history, much like what the Allies did after World War II by recording the atrocities in the extermination camps."
"In our case, we tend to lack those visual memories," the artist admits. "This prompted me to delve deep, using investigations, testimonies, and even collaboration with individuals like Rodrigo Terrasa for The Abyss of Forgetfulness. In doing so, we realized that there were often no photos of crucial events, a monumental gap in our historical understanding."
MURALS WITH AN EMOTIONAL WEIGHT
Describing the exhibition, Paco explains: "It's split into three parts, showcased in three large murals that serve as authentic emotional maps. The first mural focuses on historical memory, a topic I find closely intertwined with identity, as explored in Wrinkles and Woman, Life, Freedom. The second tackles memory and identity, while the third celebrates family history, a subject that is particularly resonant for me."
"As I venture through these emotional landscapes, you'll embark on a crazy journey that leads you through fear, phobias, preferences, family memories… and much more!" the artist proclaims. "There's also a deeper level of reading, where panels delve into themes of testimonies, historical reconstruction, death, humor, parents, and more. Lastly, you can see a family sideboard reminiscent of that cherished photo your grandmother kept by her bedside, evoking memories of intimacy."
UNCOVERING FAMILY TRUTHS
Reflecting on the process of putting together the exhibition, Paco reveals: "Revisiting my archives to select originals for this show felt like a deconstruction of my comics, helping me unveil recurring themes in my work."
"I've just finished a new album that, in a sense, concludes the family trilogy I began with The House and Return to Eden. It's about navigating the narrative of memory, reconstructing our personal histories from the present's perspective, and grappling with the emotions that arise when a relationship ends."
As a voracious history enthusiast and award-winning comic artist, Paco Roca stands as a beacon of hope for future generations to embrace their past and use it as a stepping stone to a better future.
- The exhibition "Memory: A Wild Ride Through Paco Roca's Comics" emphasizes the significant role of comics in creating visual memories about our nation's past, contributing to pop-culture and our understanding of history.
- Paco Roca delved deep to investigate crucial events, collaborating with individuals, and acknowledged that there were often no photos of such events, a gap in our historical understanding, especially in terms of fashion-and-beauty and lifestyle.
- In the exhibition, the first mural focuses on historical memory, a topic closely intertwined with identity and averagely explored in works like "Wrinkles" and "Woman, Life, Freedom," reflecting the lives and experiences of celebrities and everyday individuals from the entertainment industry.
