Freedom through creativity
Reflections on the Irish cultural influence in Spain.
The involvement of Irish volunteers on both sides of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) had an unintended impact, sparking a wave of compositions where traditional Irish music, art and writing served as a medium for conveying revolutionary idealist thought.
This cross-pollination of ideas permeated cultural expressions and this travelled both directions, with the likes of writer Liam O’Flaherty and poets such as Patrick Kavanagh reflecting the experiences of the war by incorporating themes of struggle and solidarity into their work.
But it is in the footprints of the Irish cultural influence on Spanish soil that Spanish born local artist and writer Raquel Montero Calero is most interest in. So much so that she uses the legacy as the base of her latest work ‘Corseted Art (When Creativity Bursts)’.
Incorporating contemporary dance, physical theatre and flamenco, Corseted Art is directed by James O’Donnell (Love Me Do), with the collaboration of concertina maestro Brenda Castles and violinist Rafal Szydlowski.
It was performed at Virginia’s revamped Ramor Arts Centre last Saturday, October 12, and features Raquel herself alongside traditional Spanish dancer Rebeca Sanchez from Belturbet and Araceli Molina.
Considered subversive and a tool to challenge those in power, Raquel, who is from Córdoba in Andalusia reflects on how artistic expression was oppressed during the Spanish Civil War. Her own uncle was among those captured and detained in a concentration camp.
Developed at Longford’s Shawbrook creative centre, she explains that her inspiration followed a conversation with [sculptor] Tom Meskell who spoke of the International Brigades and the oppression artists suffered during the Spanish Civil War when the pair were working on his 1916 commemoration piece ‘Lights in the Darkness’.
She recognises there were Irish who fought on both sides of the conflict. Franco’s Spanish Foreign Legion had an Irish Brigade, with troops led by Monaghan’s Eoin O’Duffy backing the fascist cause.
Racquel finds it particularly interesting working on a project about her native country, and an imprint on history she’s not sure many know about today.
“We are very similar,” she muses, before adding: “Even though there are big differences between Irish culture and Spanish culture. It is a combination of the two cultures. I wasn’t aware of this until I had a conversation with Tom Meskell. He mentioned the International Brigades, and from there I started getting curious about my own history.”
The exploration of cultural cross-pollination is poignant given the debates raging in modern society.
“[The Irish] landed everywhere in Spain, not just one small location,” says Racquel.
“They were spread all around the country. They fought for both sides, for the right-wing, for those opposing them. Their influence can be found in music, in dance as well. In the North of Spain you will find a lot of music influenced by a Celtic sound, in Galicia, the Basque region, Asturias, Cantabria. It is really fascinating, and it’s beautiful too.”