“CUIXART A TRES BANDES I…”
(Cuixart: A three-fold tribute)
Modest Cuixart Tàpies (Barcelona, 1925 – Palamós, 2007) arrived in Palafrugell in 1971, which signified a leap forward in the cultural life of a town with which he forged a profound emotional and professional connection.
The Biennal de Fotografia Xavier Miserachs is taking part in the activities scheduled by the City Government as part of the hundredth anniversary of the painter’s birth through this exhibition which aims to pay homage to the artist, the man, and the friend. This three-fold tribute compiles images of three self-taught photographers who knew and appreciated Cuixart: Josep Capellà (Torroella de Montgrí, 1950), Lluís Maimí (Palafrugell, 1945) and Francesc Dalmau (Palafrugell, 1953).
The love for photography, the affection they felt for the painter, and the admiration for his work unite three personal viewpoints, crafted from a professional, amateur, or first-hand gaze, that owe to distinct interests. The black and white portraits by Capellà and Maimí offer a more personal and approachable vision of Cuixart, while Dalmau’s snapshots boast great historical value by reflecting, above all, Cuixart’s extensive social work.
All the images come together to create a mosaic that showcases diverse aspects of the painter’s life in Palafrugell that are complementary and essential to understanding the dimension and scope of an artist with whom the photographers shared both experiences and expertise.
JOSEP CAPELLÀ BRUGUERA
(Torroella de Montgrí, 1950)
Josep Capellà’s calm and reflective nature inspires a type of measured, artisanal and technically impeccable work that distils a special personal and artistic sensibility.
«I like working leisurely. I wait for the perfect moment to activate the shutter release, I develop the negatives myself, and then I give the photo the time it needs to show what it is hiding behind what’s immediately evident. For me, portraits should be in black and white, bare, without artifice or ornamentation. I think that this is the best way for the subject’s personality to come through. I strive to find this in a natural, relaxed position, but it isn’t always easy to achieve.»
Josep Capellà and Modest Cuixart first came into contact in the early 1990s, when the photographer was collaborating on a Sunday column that Pol Girbal wrote in El Correu Catalán. «A professional yet friendly relationship emerged between the two of us that allowed me to discover a sensitive, generous individual. Cuixart was an intriguing artist with an extensive career that has not been done justice, either here or abroad, due to distinct circumstances.»
A completely manual Zeiss Ikon camera that his father gave him when he was young, his interest in learning the trade and his curiosity to discover everything that was happening in the field of photography, here and abroad, allowed Josep to enjoy a successful professional career as evidenced by his numerous publications and exhibitions.
LLUÍS MAIMÍ CASANOVAS
(Palafrugell, 1945)
Lluís Maimí developed a precocious interest in photography as a young boy in the studio of Pere Palahí, before completing his training, while still young, through a correspondence course in photography in 1961. Later, Lluís and his camera formed an inseparable pair that has resulted in numerous awards, publications and individual and collective exhibitions.
His work as a photographer spans an endless sea, but it is in his street scenes and portraits where he stands out in particular. Those that he made of the painter Modest Cuixart in the 1970s are a testament to that.
«I took my first photo of him in August 1973, and it was published in the Revista de Palafrugell. Later, he asked me for the rights to publish the image, and he told me that it would feature prominently in an exhibition in São Paulo. Curiously, in 1976, this photo graced the cover of a monographic issue about the painter in the magazine Guadalimar. That same year he invited me to do a series of pictures in his house. I took a photo of him in his studio, seeking a certain intimacy and sense of mutual understanding his would highlight that signature strength and presence. I also took advantage of the opportunity to photograph some of the most evocative spaces of the building, because in some way they allowed me to have a glimpse of the settings that formed the backdrop of his daily life.»
The two artists never drifted apart, though due to Lluís’s nomination as the head of administrative matters at the town hall, their relationship remained focused above all on official matters.
FRANCESC DALMAU FÀBREGA
(Palafrugell, 1953)
Francesc Dalmau’s first direct contact with Modest Cuixart was in 1983 at the reception that the artist held in his house during the Spring Festival which the photographer attended as a photojournalist. At first, their relationship was purely cordial, but their ongoing interactions and both men’s outgoing and sociable nature led it to evolve toward a true friendship that lasted until the painter’s death. «Just like almost everyone in this world, he had his dark side, but he was a true gentleman and a good person, an extraordinarily cultured man, which he never boasted about. He was very approachable and naturally knew how to converse on the same level as the person he was speaking with.»
Although Francesc was always reticent to photograph Cuixart while he was working, «out of respect, in order to not interfere with or bother him, because I considered it meddling», he finally agreed to do a session with Cuixart in his studio «with the sole aim of bearing witness, because my interest in photography is purely documentary, not artistic.»
Profoundly rooted in Palafrugell, his boundless and generous engagement with the town’s local people shows an extraordinary dedication to the memory and culture of our people, while his work as a photographer has made him a key visual chronicler of the town’s social and cultural life.
Curated by
Biennal de Fotografia Xavier Miserachs
Produced by
Palafrugell Town Hall
Exhibition design by
Biennal de Fotografia Xavier Miserachs
Graphic design
Carles Reig
Photo prints by
Rebel·lab Photo
Framing
Arte Pisano & Pellet Punto
Linguistic advice and translations by
Núria Sàbat, Daniel Parsons and Aina Pubill