This exhibition, organized by the Sociedad Estatal de Conmemoraciones Culturales - an agency of the Ministry of Culture-, the Consejería de Cultura de la Junta de Andalucía, and the Residencia de Estudiantes, explores a cross section of the production in literature and the arts in 1927 -1928. The exhibition shows the rich variety of the cultural environment that surrounded the Generation of 27 or, as its protagonists called, "the young literature." Giménez Caballero's poster "The universe of Spanish Contemporary literature" (1927) depicted so well the rich nuances of this cultural movement that serves as a general map of the exhibition.

 

Having in mind the dissenting voices that appeared during Primo de Rivera's dictatorship, and using as a guide the LA GACETA LITERARIA and its special issues published in those two years, the new aesthetic trends in art and literature can be reduced to a polarity between two tendencies, one presided by the intellect, and the other by instinct. On one hand, different versions of formalist purity merge and, on the other, all those formalist models are called into question on behalf of vitalism (surrealism, neofuturism, or social commitment.)

 

Around this axis, the writers of 98 and 14 (LOS MAYORES), the activities of the Revista de Occidente, the Residencia de Estudiantes and its five hundred active supporters (LOS QUINIENTOS) are also presented.

 

Once inside the CARTEL DE LA NUEVA LITERATURA, the starting point are LAS REVISTAS, the periodicals published throughout the country, from Santander (Carmen) to Tenerife (La Rosa de los Vientos); from Sitges (L'Amic de les Arts) to Huelva (Papel de Aleluyas); poetry books and manuscripts, from verses by Villalón and Josefina de la Torre (LOS POETAS) to prose by Moreno Villa and Juan Chabás (LOS PROSISTAS). The activities to commemorate the 300th anniversary of GÓNGORA's death were crucial for the self-definition of the "young poetry" group. The book XX sonnets. Góngora. Traduits en français par Z. Milner et accompagnés d´illustrations de Ismael González de la Serna (1928), a homage to Góngora, and its close and unique relationship with Vingt poèmes de Góngora, painted by Pablo Picasso in Paris (1948,) are exhibited in order to present a less well known aspect of the tribute paid to Góngora.

 

In the world of images and sounds, lyrical paintings (ARTES PLÁSTICAS), and texts and posters of García Lorca and Ignacio Sánchez Mejías, among others (TEATRO), intermingle with scores and sound recordings of Falla and Ernesto Halffter (MÚSICA), scale models of rationalist buildings (ARQUITECTURA), and essays and film scenes (CINE).

Although that movement is not a legend, but just an episode in history, it has all the right ingredients to be remembered as a powerful, exemplary legend.

 

OPENING HOURS:
Monday-Saturday from 11am to 3pm, and from 5pm to 8pm. Sundays and holidays from 11am to 3pm
The exhibition is closed on 24, 25, 31 December, and 1 January.