What Runs Below the Surface 

Screening of the film by Pedro G. Romero documenting Barcelona’s flamenco culture from the perspective of the Nou Barris neighbourhood and its recent urban history, as part of the exhibition Unknown City Beneath the Mist: New Images from Barcelona’s Peripheries. The session will feature the participation of Pedro G. Romero, Lorena Padilla and Grupo de Indagación Flamenca en Nou Barris, formed by Sasha Binia, Emma Ribera and Carmela Tió Sesé. 

In this project, Pedro G. Romero explores the new flamenco scene in Barcelona, paying special attention to the Desvarío festival, held in Nou Barris. The city has played a key role in the history of flamenco in Spain, and this project builds upon that historical base in order to trace a new cartography. It combines footage of contemporary flamenco artists with visits to places that are emblematic of flamenco culture in Nou Barris, such as the old Santa Cruz psychiatric hospital, the current headquarters of the district and the festival, as well as some popular clubs and schools. The project also explores the connection between flamenco and Barcelona’s social and neighbourhood movements. 

Lorena Padilla is a lawyer and member of Sociedad Flamenca El Dorado. 
Grupo de Indagación Flamenca en Nou Barris is made up of Sasha Binia, Emma Ribera and Carmela Tió Sesé. Its formation came about through Pedro G. Romero’s research for Lo que va por debajo.

participant

Pedro G. Romero

Aracena, 1964

An artist since the mid-1980s, he also works as a curator, writer, performer and theatre operator. He has been involved with flamenco since the late 1990s as a playwright and artistic director for Israel Galván and with artists such as José Jiménez Bobote, Niño de Elche, Rocío Márquez, Tomás de Perrate and Inés Bacán. He has collaborated with Teresa Lanceta on various occasions. He directed the film Nueve Sevillas together with Gonzalo García Pelayo, and has had a retrospective at MNCARS titled Máquinas de trovar (Versifying Machines, 2021–22).

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