Barcelona is seeing renewed debate over the appropriation of Catalan cultural symbols, following the release of a controversial poster for the 'Feria de Abril de Catalunya'. The poster, which transforms Antoni Gaudí's iconic Casa Batlló into an Andalusian 'peineta' or hair comb, has sparked widespread criticism regarding the use of Catalan heritage.
The poster's unveiling comes amid other recent incidents that have fuelled discussions about Catalan identity. These include a Spanish National Police stand in the heart of Barcelona during Sant Jordi's Day, and the awarding of the Creu de Sant Jordi honour to individuals perceived as anti-Catalan, according to local reports.
Officials said the police stand on Rambla de Catalunya during Sant Jordi's Day was approved by the PSC city council and supported by the Spanish government delegate, who stated, "The police are also culture." Media outlets, including SER and El Periódico, celebrated the police's presence, with SER posting in Catalan, "Books, roses, dragons and... the National Police debuting with their own stand."
Critics argue that such actions, including the police presence, represent an "occupation" and a deliberate provocation. Young people protested the police stand with Catalan independence flags and chants of "Out with the occupation forces." Observers suggest that if such provocations continue next year, the response from the public may be stronger.
Gaudí's Image Used for 'Feria de Abril'
The 'Feria de Abril de Catalunya' poster, which features Casa Batlló as a 'peineta', is sponsored by the centenary of Antoni Gaudí's death. Critics claim that institutional forces are using this anniversary to decontextualise Gaudí's work and strip it of its original meanings, distracting from the architect's documented anti-Spanish sentiments with the colourful mosaics of his designs.
This is not the first time Catalan artistic heritage has been used in this way. The previous Feria de Abril poster reportedly used Joan Miró's style to depict a 'sevillana' dancer. Even the intrinsically anti-Catalan People's Party (PP) has used 'trencadís' mosaic iconography for events in Barcelona, which critics compare to displaying Pep Guardiola's pro-Catalan slogans at Real Madrid's Bernabéu stadium.
While transforming Gaudí's work into a 'peineta' could be seen as artistic expression, the focus of criticism is on those who fund and commission such designs. Critics argue that these actions exploit the fact that Gaudí is a century removed from public memory, adding to a "century of forgetfulness" and preventing him from defending his legacy. This is particularly contentious given the Feria's role as a major event celebrating Spanish identity in Catalonia.
Casa Batlló's .es Domain Sparks Further Outcry
Further controversy arose from the fact that the poster's presentation took place inside Casa Batlló itself, and that the official website for the landmark is casabatllo.es. The '.es' domain is Spain's official internet domain, which, according to its Ministry of Digital Affairs, "identifies with our [Spanish] culture and language worldwide."
This detail has been highlighted by those who recall Gaudí's arrest in 1924 for refusing to speak Spanish to police while attempting to attend a mass for those who died in 1714. Critics point out that other significant Catalan landmarks, such as La Pedrera and Sagrada Família, also use '.com' or '.org' domains rather than '.cat', the domain for Catalan culture and language.
Critics suggest that these accumulated actions create a situation where Catalan symbols are bombarded from many angles, making it difficult for the community to control how its heritage is treated. They also note the lack of reciprocity, pointing out that the website for the Federation of Andalusian Cultural Entities in Catalonia does not offer a Catalan language version, despite receiving significant sponsorship and deference from Catalan institutions.
This perceived "Hispanisation" extends beyond posters. Critics cite the systematic awarding of cinema prizes to Spanish-language films by television channels tasked with promoting Catalan, and the progressive Castilianisation of universities named after Catalan figures like Pompeu Fabra or Abbot Oliba. Many believe that addressing these issues requires Catalans to stop undermining their own national and linguistic identity.
