Yaral Sa Doom 🪐

Dear people:

How are you? I don't know if I will be able to manage my expectations (which are high, not like me), but I have the feeling that the world is an explosion of light and colour right now and something must be done about it. Have you seen the jacarandas in Barcelona full of their beautiful purple flowers that smell like honey from heaven? Oh, my goodness. I'm feeling nervous just by thinking that the new summer-summer season is coming well loaded like an ekeko.

Tuesday 22 June at 7 p.m. we open Títol de l'exposició, Yannick Sánchez's first solo show in the context of the Art Nou festival. An exhibition that does not consist of any specific project nor is it based on any defined idea. Yannick will set up his studio in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition and will work as the calendar progresses, to show the reality of an emergent artist (having previously been a press photographer, the double of an elite tennis player and an almost famous tattoo artist) taking part in an art prize. An awkward rhythm leads Yannick to say that "we're here just to take part, full stop." Here you can see him getting ready for his world debut and book a place to witness the start of this adventure.

On the other hand, tomorrow/today Thursday 17 June is the last seminar of Otrografías, by psychoanalyst Montserrat Rodríguez Garzo, on artistic writing: chaos and emergencies of the Other, on stage. Texts by Derrida, Deleuze and Lacan will be shared to bid farewell to spring. This spring that has been a real spring (the kind I like: rainy, sunny, cloudy, cool, warm, hot and all at the same time many times). There is one place left to attend in person at the gallery and as many as you want online. You can still book here.

👉 And here are some more suggestions of the chef to cross the solstice.

👉 This wonderful edition by my dearest Esther Ferrer (whom you will hear reciting if you watch the video out loud) will be available at the Arts Libris artist's book fair, held at the Sant Antoni Market throughout the weekend. Along with other gems edited #indaroom or published by artists on this track, Friday 18 June at 7pm we will present a bookjockey to see the publications in a different way, bring them to life and generate new readings to the sound of music.

On this occasion, this kind of DJ set with books is possible thanks to the help, patience and complicity of my beloved Phillip Maisel, the artist who will present, among others, his book Two Concrete Things, a double journey through his photographic arrangements to which he applies cuts, collages and drawings. Happy that you come to see us play.

👉 As if that wasn't enough, and in view of the fact that I'm totally in love with books and paper, time is stretching like chewing gum to invite you to the presentation of Ninja Papel Editora at the gallery on Sunday 20 June at 12 noon. This independent publishing house founded by Renata Gelosi in 2016 in Buenos Aires, has moved its base camp to Barcelona and set up in the typographic printing house L'automática. Interested in processes related to words and artistic experimentation, Renata publishes poetry, documentary stories, allegories and interviews about the creative process and composition. In addition to prints from different techniques such as engraving, letterpress, risography, aquatint and banners. An audiovisual piece and an artistic action have also been prepared for the day. You can book your place here. Afterwards we can go have a vermouth for the last day of Arts Libris. Forewarned is forearmed.

🪐 Today I want to say goodbye with an album that has been recommended to me (thanks forever, Juli) and I can't stop listening to it on loop. It's the first album by Wau Wau Collectif, released in 2021, and called Yaral Sa Doom, a Wolof phrase meaning "educate the young". Education is the fundamental theme of the album (which is a blessing) and it includes songs that directly address the social problems facing contemporary Senegal, education and immigration. "Today we have to educate children with an instrument and art, when you teach them an instrument you teach them to use their spirit," says member Djiby Ly.

Cosmic avant-garde sounds make this a groundbreaking album that crosses borders and musical scenes. Inspired by West African tradition, Sufi praise songs, spiritual jazz and dub rhythms shape an album that defies genres in the international sound. Please listen to it. You're welcome.

With love,
Chiquita