Póchó Guimarães Exhibition Opens at Centro Cultural de España en Bata
From September 4 to November 3, 2026, the Centro Cultural de España en Bata will present “Póchó Guimarães Malabo y las obras que hablan,” a tribute to the late Póchó Guimarães, an artist from Equatorial Guinea who passed away in Motril, Spain, last year. His artistic repertoire spanned performance, dance, music, textiles, installations, and literature, often utilizing everyday materials. Textiles played a pivotal role, featuring fabrics, ropes, and found items. Guimarães' creations were influenced by his Bubi and Fernandina roots, Catholic education, and movements like Dadaism and Bauhaus. His work is preserved in collections such as Museo Reina Sofía and the National Museum of Scotland. Curated by María Bueno and Justo Bolekia Boleká, the exhibition will also include a book addressing themes of racism, community, and resistance.
Key facts
- Póchó Guimarães was born in Equatorial Guinea and died last year in Motril, Spain.
- He lived in Equatorial Guinea, Spain, South Africa, Ukraine, and Switzerland.
- His artistic practice included performance, dance, music, textile creation, installations, and writing.
- He created tapestries in mixed technique and high warp, using fabrics, ropes, natural fibers, cardboard, cans, shells, beads, found objects, and newspaper.
- He was a grandson of Malabo II and had Bubi maternal and Fernandina paternal heritage.
- He was a student of Grau Garriga and was influenced by Dadaism and the Bauhaus.
- His work is in collections including Museo Reina Sofía, Museo Nacional de Antropología, Fundación Legado Literario Miguel Hernández, National Museum of Scotland, and Norval Foundation.
- The exhibition «Póchó Guimarães Malabo y las obras que hablan» runs from September 4 to November 3, 2026, at Centro Cultural de España en Bata, curated by María Bueno and Justo Bolekia Boleká.
- It is based on María Bueno's research En-maraña con Pótyó Guimarães and accompanied by the book Somos fantasmas con cutis tieso que no sabemos decir ni mú.
Entities
Artists
- Póchó Guimarães
- María Bueno
- Justo Bolekia Boleká
- Grau Garriga
- Malabo II
- Oscar Garcia Garcia
- Victoria Arribas Roldán
- Beatriz García Montalvo
- José Luis Martínez Meseguer
- Wiktor V/R
- Justo Aliounedine Pouye Nguema
Institutions
- Centro Cultural de España en Bata
- Museo Reina Sofía
- Museo Nacional de Antropología
- Fundación Legado Literario Miguel Hernández
- National Museum of Scotland
- Norval Foundation
- masdearte
- Museo Nacional de Antropología de Madrid
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid
- Universidad de Salamanca
- Real Academia Española
- Instituto Cultural Hispano-Lusófono de Gabón
- Bread and Puppet Theater
- COLECTIVO BN
- Plataforma de Arte Contemporáneo
Locations
- Motril
- Spain
- Guinea Ecuatorial
- Equatorial Guinea
- South Africa
- Ukraine
- Switzerland
- Bata
- Malabo
- Paseo Lumu Matindi
- Basupú del Oeste
- Bioko Island
- Madrid
- Kiev
- Granada
- Golver
- Vermont
- United States
- Gabón