Antoine Chao stages Guernica bombing show blending family history with fascist violence archives
Antoine Chao, musician and brother of Manu Chao, has created a performance piece about the 1937 bombing of Guernica. The show intertwines the story of his parents, who were anti-Franco refugees, with archival material on the massacre, which has become an emblematic example of fascist violence. Chao, a former radio journalist, perpetuates his family's legacy of fighting dictatorships through this work.
Key facts
- Antoine Chao is a musician and former radio journalist.
- He is the brother of Manu Chao.
- The performance is titled 'Au départ, il y a Guernica'.
- It focuses on the 1937 bombing of Guernica.
- The show blends his parents' story as anti-Franco refugees with archival material.
- The bombing is described as an emblematic example of fascist violence.
- The work continues his family's tradition of opposing dictatorships.
- The article was published by Le Monde on July 12, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Antoine Chao
- Manu Chao
Institutions
- Le Monde
Locations
- Guernica
- Spain