La Movida Madrilena (the Madrid Movement). The Apotheosis of the City
La Movida Madrilena (the Madrid Movement). The Apotheosis of the City

Summary/Abstract: At the end of the 1970’s, and in the 1980’s, Spanish avant-garde art flourished. Such photographers as Ouka Lele, Pablo Perez-Minguez, Alberto Garcia Alix, painters Guillermo Perez Villalta, El Hortelano, Costus, Mariscal and Ceesepe were connected with the Madrid Movement. Almadovar, a movie director, popularized the movement’s legend. City authorities supported and financed many artistic projects. City clubs and other institutions organized many exhibitions, and theatre modern theatrical performances. In 1983, the Arco Art Fair attracted many visitors. Artists used to say that they didn’t want to show their art abroad, because they considered Madrid as their Mecca. Mariscal and Ceesepe, comic artists, enjoyed unprecedented popularity. ‘La Luna Madrid’, a monthly magazine, published the manifesto of the Madrid Movement Group. Critics and art reviewers considered the trend as the part of the postmodernist art. Many artists lived and worked in such districts as Malasana and Chueca, north of Gran Via. They established such clubs as Rock-Ola, La Bobia, El Sol, Via Lactea, and many other small cafes, located near Plaza dos de mayo. They used to exhibite their work in such galleries as Moriarty and Vijande. They used to meet at Perez-Minguez, Costus and Palma’s studios. In 1984, de la Villa Cultural Center organized a big exhibition entitled ‘Madrid, Madrid, Madrid’, which was inspired by Tierno Galvan, Madrid’s mayor. Ivan Zuleta, a movie director, documented artistic life in Madrid in such films as ‘The Aquarium’ (1975, ‘Leo es pardo’ (1976), and ‘Arrebato’ (1980). Also, Pedro Almadovar showed Madrid in such movies as ‘Pepi, Luci, Bom y otras chicas del menton’ (1980), ‘Laberinto de pasiones’ (1982), ‘Matador’ (1986), and ‘La ley del deseo’ (1987).

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