Tribute to Sofia Gandarias

GERNIKA

This exhibition-tribute to the painter Sofia Gandarias is displayed in the exhibition hall of the Culture House of Gernika.

I always wanted to paint this triptych, but I didn’t feel capable until… two years ago I decided it was time.

The 1960s. What I saw as a child in Gernika was a town built by ‘Devastated Regions’, somewhat Mussolini-like. The victors had given us a new town. It is the victors of the wars who write history, they left us our tree…

Gernika is my cry against what should not have happened, against what should not have happened… On 26 April 1937, the Condor Legion dropped heavy incendiary bombs on Gernika, the sacred city of the Basques and symbol of their freedoms (and blood rained down from the sky, in the centre of the picture) and machine-gunned the civilians fleeing the burning city with the greatest viciousness imaginable (……). (……)

Sofía Gandarias

(Bruselas, April 1999)