Culture

The Museo del Prado is once again exhibiting 'The Triumph of Death' by Pieter Brueghel 'the Elder' after a major restoration process carried out in collaboration with Iberdrola as a Patron of the Museo del Prado Restoration Program. We talked to the people on the ground in this restoration project.

The curator Lola Durán Úcar recreates, in the exhibition La Gran Bóveda de Aldeadávila (The Great Vault of Aldeadávila), the monumental work of the sculptor Pablo Serrano, who succeeded in harmonising nature and technology. Durán feels that now more than ever - with COVID-19 taking its toll - artistic creation is needed, because art can calm this widespread despondency. And she approaches the exhibit with this enthusiasm, so that the visitor can witness the commitment of its creator to the human race, its existence and its circumstances.

Spain and the Hispanic world played a decisive role in the independence of the United States of America, but it is a very little known fact, and historically this contribution has scarcely been acknowledged. This is why Iberdrola has been supporting Unveiling Memories, a project led by the expert historian on the subject, José Manuel Guerrero Acosta. We are chatting with him about the importance of rescuing this story, shared between Hispanics and Americans.

José Manuel Broto uses colour to evoke emotions and it is a feature that can provide — to these dark times — some relief, motivation and strength. The Zaragozan painter sees these times ahead for artists, too, but points out that adversity has never held back artistic creation.

We interview Guillermo Fesser, Spanish journalist and writer, based in the United States, known for having been a former member of the legendary Gomaespuma Duo. Its book, Get to know Bernardo de Gálvez, is the only textbook in U.S. schools that makes mention of Spain's crucial help to Washington's army in achieving independence.

The Basque artist Darío Urzay is not hiding his concern over the impact of COVID-19 on the world of culture in general, and on the art world in particular. Nevertheless, he paints an aura of hope and he certainly believes in artists' capacity for survival: "Things are always going on in our heads and sometimes a sheet of paper and a pen are all we need to start something."