The Pontevedra Museum pays tribute to Castelao and gives its name to the Sixth Building
The Museum of Pontevedra will "repair a historical injustice" and will name the Sexto Edificio as Edificio Castelao. This building is regarded as the "most important and biggest one" of those that make up the Museum of Pontevedra. This has been announced today by the vice president, César Mosquera, who pointed out that the author from Rianxo was one of the Museum's founders, a member of its Foundation, and the person with the largest number of works in the Museum of Pontevedra, being the latest addition the Nós album. "We have definitely given Castelao the relevance he deserves in this Museum," he said.
The Museum's Advisory Council, as the vice president explained, took the initiative and, at the same meeting – on November 4 – when they started to talk about the purchase of the Nós collection, suggested to change the name. The decision was taken unanimously ("it was not by acclamation because that concept does not exist," Mosquera said) after the general controversy that the issue had raised since the building work was completed and was inaugurated in 2013.
At that time, several proposals were made to give it a name associated with the Museum itself, its history, or the important works it houses, but there were "disagreements and they did not reach a decision, so it was named with a number, the Sexto Edificio, (Sixth Building)" Mosquera explained.
"We are convinced that the decision taken by the Advisory Board and the importance that the Museum will have after purchasing the Nós collection will repair a historical injustice with Castelao", Mosquera highlighted. He pointed out that years ago the work by the artist from Rianxo was not well received, " instead, it was almost ignored". "The situation has gradually changed and at this moment we are in the finale stage of a very important historical rreparation for the Museum, for its history and its image", he stated.
After several administrative procedures carried out by the Deputación de Pontevedra, the building will be officially designated as Edificio Castelao. Although it is not formally necessary, it will approved in the Plenary Session of the Deputación de Pontevedra to provide it "the importance and the relevance it deserves". Moreover, some kind of commemorative event is expected to be held, depending on the restrictions due to the pandemic.
About 2.000 original pieces
"Today a very significant part of his artistic and intellectual production is exhibited and kept in this Museum, which holds more than 2,000 works or pieces which used to belong to this artist and academic, one of the main pillars on which our people's identity is based", he added.
Castelao actively collaborated in the creation of the Museum of Pontevedra, even writing notes or making drawings about the architectural alterations of the Edificio Castro Monteagudo, the first building of the Museum of Pontevedra. The artist from Rianxo also started his own collection in the Museum, when, in 1931, as a member of the founding Board of Trustees of the Museum of Pontevedra, he loaned eleven of his works, and expressed his desire to keep its most outstanding works in the hands of the Deputación de Pontevedra. Thus, his works would be subsequently purchased in 1964 to his widow, Virxinia Pereira, who also donated a large number of original works that she owned.
From then on and until now, new donations, loans and purchases have increased the importance of the collection, "thanks to the proactive attitude of the previous directors of the Museum, Filgueira Valverde and Carlos Valle", Rey explained. He added that "fortunately, this reached a peak with the recent purchase of the Nós album, allowing the Museum of Pontevedra to gather the most symbolic and representative works by the author".
The current director emphasized that the institution houses most Castelao's work as part of the permanent collection of the Sexto Edificio, where he is the only artist with a space of his own. In the Castelao exhibition room, in fact, all of author's sides are shown; he was caricaturist, cartoonist, painter, engraver, illustrator, set designer, novelist, ethnographer, playwright, essayist and politician, "allowing the Museum of Pontevedra to become the benchmark for the knowledge, study and dissemination of his work".
