70th birthday of Albert Ràfols-Casamada, 1993

70th birthday of Albert Ràfols-Casamada 1993

On the occasion of the 70th birthday of Albert Ràfols-Casamada, the EINA Foundation held an event to honour him at the Pati Llimona Civic Centre in Barcelona on 2 February 1993, in which the celebration became an event starring the painter and founder of EINA.

Albert Ràfols-Casamada sitting on his work

Production and staging by Xavier Olivé.

Albert Ràfols-Casamada putting the final touches on his work

Prior to the day of the celebration, Albert Ràfols-Casamada painted a fabric, an original specially designed for the event.

Sketch of the work on cardboard

The Taller Alemany del Poble Sec, specialists in painting and reproducing large posters for cinema and theatre façades, was tasked with enlarging the artist's original painting on cardboard and painting the base of the fabric, which was later retouched by the painter. The height of the workshop's ceiling makes it possible to see the full size of the fabric with perspective.

Albert Ràfols-Casamada at the Taller Alemany

The gigantic painting welcomed attendees to the event. The fabric, acting as a flag, was hung from the balcony of the main building's first floor down to the ground, transformed into a welcome mat that invited attendees to set foot in the narrow entrance to the Pati Llimona.

Albert Ràfols-Casamada put on final touches while guests entered the venue.

Albert Ràfols retocant l'obra

The celebration began with a performance by the magician Hausson (Jesús Julve) in which he made lemons appear and disappear. The book Veure és sentir was also presented at the event, along with an engraving of the same name, published by Quaderns Crema and the EINA Foundation in collaboration with La Poligrafa, respectively. Sam Abrams, Oriol Bohigas, Josep M. Castellet, Victòria Combalia, Miquel Espinet, Antoni Marí, and Eudald Tomasa all took part in the event.

The magician Hausson performing in front of the attendees

Josep Bagà, in charge of designing the invitation, also took part in the event, along with Manel Esclusa, responsible for the photographic report, and Anna Maio, Toni Miserachs, Llorenç Torrado, and Alfons Tost.

Invitation to the eventInvitació a l'acte

The work was exhibited again on the occasion of the opening of the exhibition 30 eines, 1967-1997, held at the Santa Mònica Art Centre in 1998 to commemorate the school's thirtieth anniversary.

In 2008, on the occasion of the anniversary and the publication of the book, BTV broadcasted, as part of its own Nits temàtiques, a special that reviewed the life and career of the artist and founder of EINA following the theme of the book Veure és sentir. Albert Ràfols-Casamada himself headlined the program with his comments on audiovisual images, showing his literary, pedagogical, and artistic side. The event also included the short film Només (1994), which Jordi Cadena made from the original script by Albert Ràfols-Casamada.