Euskaraz irakurri: Agustin Ibarrola margolari eta eskultorea hil da

Basque art is in mourning. This Friday he passed away Agustín Ibarrola, painter, sculptor and artist with capital letters. The author died at the age of 93 in the Galdakao Hospital (Bizkaia), after being admitted since last Wednesday after suffering a fall.

Among his creations, the Oma Forest stands out, a pictorial intervention on the pine trees of a forest near his homestead, which has been reopened less than a month ago after a restoration led by his son José, the University of the Basque Country and the Provincial Council of Bizkaia.

Dedicated body and soul to art in many facets, family members have said that he worked until the last day giving free rein to his inspiration.

Precisely, today it was going to be inaugurated at the Museum of Durango an exhibition with what are considered the artist’s latest works. ‘Based on paper. Mump ardatz’ shows a series of small and medium format works made as essays dating from 1997 to 2022, but the museum has communicated that the inauguration has been suspended “out of respect for his memory and his family.” The exhibition will open on November 18 and will remain open until January 28. “This is the best tribute we can pay to Agustín Ibarrola” they say from the Museum.

DOCUMENTARY ABOUT IBARROLA

From the Basque Government, the spokesperson, Bingen Zupiria, highlighted in the microphones of Radio Euskadi that “we have lost a reference of Basque culture”, although “he will remain in his works.” Furthermore, he recalled that he was an “ideologically committed man”: “he demonstrated this by positioning himself against the things that were happening in this society, first in the face of the dictatorship and then in the era of terrorist violence.”

Military the PCE during the Franco regime and later he was one of the founders of the Ermua and Basta Ya Forum and supported Rosa Díez when she founded UPyD.

That activism in against ETA caused him to suffer persecution and his works to be attacked on numerous occasions.

Artistic tour

From a very young age, in the 1950s, he embraced contemporary art, and it was then that he received the invitation to participate in the work on the Arantzazu basilica, although the mural he designed was never executed.

Founder of Equipo 57, he received the Gold Medal for Merit in Fine Arts in 1993 along with the other participants of the group.

In the 60s he was one of the promoters of the Basque School of Art, and also participated in the Gaur, Emen, Orain and Danok movements.

However, it was the pictorial work captured on the trunks of the Oma forest that gave it greater significance, since the work carried out between 1982 and 1991 has attracted thousands of people to the forest located in Kortezubi (Bizkaia).

But its catalog is extensive, and the Memory Cubes of the port of Llanes (Asturias), the Ruhr sleepers in Bottrop (Germany) and numerous works in tribute to ETA victims, among many others, are known.

Reactions to death

He Basque governmentthrough its spokesperson and Minister of Culture, Bingen Zupiriahas expressed his regret for the death of the artist Agustín Ibarrola, who has highlighted his “social commitment” both during the time of the dictatorship and in the years of violence by ETA.

Zupiria stated, in statements to Radio Euskadi, that the artist’s public works installed in different places in the Basque Country “will remind us of the most committed Ibarrola.” “He demonstrated it by positioning himself in the face of the things that were happening in this society, first in the face of the dictatorship and then in the era of terrorist violence,” the counselor highlighted.

The deputy spokesperson for EH Bildu in the Congress of Deputies, Oskar Matutehas highlighted the “presence” at “many levels” in Basque society of Agustín Ibarrola, a “multi-faceted” person. The representative of the sovereigntist coalition has also recognized that Ibarrola had a “significant presence in the fight against ETA” and has had an impact in that “he also had it in the emergence of the labor movement in the 60s and in his outstanding anti-Franco militancy.” “He was a multifaceted person, probably like all artists are,” he added.

CCOO of Euskadi He regretted the death of the painter and sculptor Agustín Ibarrola and highlighted that he contributed “through his commitment to the workers’ resistance against Francoism, to the consolidation of democracy and the fight against terrorism.”

He government delegate in the Basque Country, Denis Itxasohas highlighted the “great void” that Agustín Ibarrola leaves in the world of art and with regard to “civic values ​​and democratic commitment.”

Different victims associations They have also shown their regret for the death of the artist.

He Collective of Victims of Terrorism in the Basque Country (Covite) He has remembered Ibarrola on social networks as a “reference” in the fight against ETA. The Basque artist was linked to Covite since its foundation. He designed its logo, the ‘chiribita’, and created the monument to the victims of terrorism in Vitoria. “Rest in peace, dear friend and reference. Thank you so much. We will never forget you,” Covite has published on social networks.

Our beloved Agustín Ibarrola, an artist linked to COVITE since its foundation, has passed away. He designed our logo, the chiribita, and is the author of the monument to the victims of terrorism in Vitoria.

Rest in peace, dear friend and reference. Thanks a lot. We will never forget you. pic.twitter.com/TKYqFfK8TS

— COVITE (@CovitePV) November 17, 2023

The Fernando Buesa Foundation He also said goodbye to the deceased artist, recalling “his immense and valuable artistic career” and also highlighted his status as a “democrat who always spoke loud and clear against ETA”, since “he was a true resister”.

Agustín Ibarrola has left us. We will always remember him for his immense and valuable artistic career but also for being a democrat who always spoke loud and clear against ETA. He was a real resister.

We want to send all our love and closeness to your family and friends. pic.twitter.com/h3BxpS0IUu

— Fernando Buesa Blanco Foundation (@Fundacion_Buesa) November 17, 2023

Also the Victims of Terrorism Foundation He has emphasized on social networks Ibarrola’s “permanent commitment” to freedom and victims.

Agustín Ibarrola, 2021 Adolfo Suárez Human Rights Defense Award winner, has died @_FundacionVT. An artist permanently committed to freedom and the victims of terrorism. Thank you. Our condolences to family and friends for their sad loss. Rest in peace pic.twitter.com/xhGwFPpJKr

— FundaciónVT (@_FundacionVT) November 17, 2023

The Miguel Angel Blanco Foundation He also remembered the artist, highlighting that “he was always with the victims of terrorism and always fought for Freedom.”

The Basque artist Agustín Ibarrola has died.

He was always with the victims of terrorism and always fought for Freedom. He collaborated with our foundation with immense generosity.

Numerous monuments in memory of the victims throughout Spain are his work.

Thank you… pic.twitter.com/hGmwTEWpW7

— Miguel Angel Blanco Foundation (@FundMABlanco) November 17, 2023

Source: Eitb

Bruce

Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.