Lee Miller and Jacques Léonard protagonists of the XIII edition of the Xavier Miserachs Biennale

The XIII Biennial of Photography Xavier Miserachs, one of the most established photography festivals in Catalonia, is underway in Palafrugell until October 13, 2024. With its commitment to pay tribute to iconic figures in photography and promote new talents, this event aims to bring photography closer to the general public, offering exhibitions of great historical and artistic value. This edition, with 10 exhibitions spread across various cultural spaces in Palafrugell and Llafranc, presents a careful selection of artists who explore various themes, from historical memory to everyday life.

In this edition, two renowned figures stand out in particular: Lee Miller and Jacques Léonard .

Miller, known for her contribution to photojournalism, brings a unique perspective to World War II, but is also distinguished by her special attention to women, both in war and in her general work. On the other hand, Léonard transports us to the everyday life of the sixties in Barcelona, with a human focus close to childhood and the communities he portrayed.

The exhibitions are displayed in emblematic spaces such as the Museu del Suro de Catalunya, Espai Cultural La Bòbila, the Municipal Theater of Palafrugell, the Josep Pla Foundation, the Can Mario Museum (Fundació Vila Casas), the Public Library of Palafrugell, the Bookstore Nollegiu Mediterrània and, for the first time, at the Torre de Guaita and Sant Sebastià Lighthouse Interpretation Center in Llafranc, as well as at the Meat Market in Palafrugell.

Views of transformation: Lee Miller, Jacques Léonard, Carlos Pérez Siquier and Colita

One of the main protagonists of this edition is Lee Miller , an essential figure in the history of 20th century photography. The exhibition entitled 'El Desig de Llibertat', exhibited at the Espai Cultural La Bòbila (C. Garriga, 24, Palafrugell), reviews her career, from her beginnings as a fashion model to her role as a correspondent for war Miller immortalized key moments of World War II, including the liberation of Nazi concentration camps. Her unique feminine look stands out for her treatment of war and her attention to women in conflict, offering an uncommon perspective at the time. The retrospective, which includes more than 60 images, highlights his work in fashion, surrealism and war photojournalism.

Jacques Léonard is another prominent figure in this edition. His exhibition 'Petites Lectures', at Llibreria Nollegiu Mediterrània (C. de la Tarongeta, 24-26. Palafrugell), captures the daily life of boys and girls in the sixties in Barcelona, portraying them as they play and read in the streets . With a clear documentary and humanist influence, Léonard offers an intimate and nostalgic vision of urban childhood. Known for his portrayal of the gypsy community thanks to his marriage to Rosario Amaya, this exhibition reveals a lesser-known side of the photographer, who until recently was relatively unknown outside specialist circles.

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Pioneer in color photography in Spain, Carlos Pérez Siquier presents 'La Chanca en Color' (1962-1965) at the Can Mario Museum of the Vila-Casas Foundation (Plaça de Can Mario, 7, Palafrugell). This is a series that portrays the neighborhood of Almeria with an experimental perspective. Siquier, who had previously worked in black and white, uses color to highlight the textures of the urban landscape, creating a work that is more conceptual than documentary. His ability to capture marginal spaces enshrines him as a key figure in the renewal of Spanish photography, as was Colita .

It is at the Museu del Suro de Catalunya (Placeta del Museu, s/n, Palafrugell) that we find a journey through the prolific career of the Barcelona photographer with the exhibition 'Para un Roto y para un descosido'. Known for her humor, feminism and freedom, Colita immortalized iconic moments in Barcelona's contemporary history, from the Transition to the Nova Cançó, flamenco and cinema. His photographic archive is a living testimony of the social and cultural changes in Spain.

Exhibitions that highlight local memory

In this XIII edition of the Biennale, several exhibitions that combine the recovery of local memory and allow reflection through the image on identity, memory and the relationship with the environment are also highlighted.

'Summer Album', by Francesc Roig Ventura , in the Municipal Theater Exhibition Hall (C. de Santa Margarida, 1, Palafrugell), offers a collection of photographs documenting the summers of the Roig Junyent family in Llafranc in the 40s and 50s, capturing the life of a wealthy Catalan family in a period of social and cultural change. It's a nostalgic look at a bygone era but fundamental to local history.

Also at the Municipal Theatre, Lluís Català presents 'Pala', a mural made up of 320 portraits of Palafrugell residents from different groups, profiles and origins. The project, started in 2020, seeks to strengthen the feeling of community and belonging.

The Josep Pla Foundation (C. Nou, 51, Palafrugell) hosts 'La meva Mediterrània', where Mallorcan Toni Catany explores the Mediterranean with a poetic eye. It is a project that combines images and texts by Josep Pla. Catany was known for his sensual, subtle and timeless photographs that capture the beauty and symbolism of the Mediterranean, presented as a geographical and cultural space that fascinated both artists.

© Toni Catany

At the Palafrugell Public Library (C. de Sant Martí, 18, Palafrugell), Anna Lofi 's exhibition, 'Wall-cutters and stonemasons, in danger of extinction', highlights the craft of dry stone, heritage UNESCO cultural center, while Marta Vergonyós , at Torre de Guaita de Llafranc, explores introspection and the landscape in 'Blueism: Blue inside...', in a personal and poetic journey through the image.

And finally, this year's Biennale also includes formative exhibitions. 'I'm an author' in the Patio de la Biblioteca Pública presents works by students from the ERAM Photography School in Girona, while 'De prop' shows black and white photographs by David Garcia at the Mercat de la Carn in Palafrugell, posing in value the human dimension of trade and services in Palafrugell.

Vista de l'exposició de Lee Miller a l'Espai Cultural La Bòbila.