Manolo Gómez: Ya es hora - Now is the time

The exhibition "Ya es hora - Now is the time" presents 18 prints by the Andalusian Gitano contemporary artist, Manolo Gómez (Spain, 1967). The black and white abstract works are a continuation of his experimentation with non-figurative expressions, and a conscious manifestation of a personal political and identity strategy, transforming the substance of Gitano Flamenco into painterly compositions. Romani and Gitano communities understand Flamenco as an art form of resistance, with the flow of knowledge, creativity and life energy expressed in multiple genres, including dance and music, but also in visual art, theatre, literature and design. Gomez hit upon an ingenious translation of the Flamenco of the Gitanos into a pictorial language of forms, gestures and textures.
Gómez takes inspiration from two master protagonists. The first analogy to his creativity in exhibited series is Francisco de Goya’s (Spain, 1746 - France, 1828) 80th and final print of the graphic series, Los Caprichos - The Incursions. With this print, Goya turns for the first time to printmaking, as Manolo Gómez does in this exhibition, considering the power of the multiplying technique of prints in influencing the masses and disseminating social and political criticism during his era of 18th-century enlightenment.
The second master to whose art Gómez pays tribute is Helios Gómez (Spain, 1905 - Spain, 1956). Helios Gómez believed that the highest form of painterly expression is abstract art, which can simply convey emotions in the audience, but he subordinated his aspirations to the political cause in the Anti-Fascist struggle and created a large oeuvre of political graphics and printed Anti-Fascist propaganda. His powerful and courageous critic of Fascism, and his humanity and sensitivity towards the victims of Fascism (including the Romani people) made him a target of the first Spanish dictatorship. He was forced to leave Spain and continue his work from Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Vienna, Moscow and Berlin from political exile.
The exhibition assembled by Manolo Gómez and Moritz Pankok (Kai Dikhas Foundation) reflects relevant, timely and political questions for today’s audience, addressing how to fight and create artistic strategies to counter racism, (neo)fascism, and social injustice.
More information: eriac.org/eria...
Music: Paco de Amparo
Video: Júlia Utset