It’s clear that narrative is a fitting genre for fantastic literature and science fiction, but what about poetry? Monster, robot, legend, myth is a poetry recital that will bring Festival 42 to a close, aiming to trace a path through some of the most fantastic and genuine poetic voices in Catalan literature, from the monsters of Josep Lluís Aguiló to Raquel Santanera’s cyborgs, including a re-interpretation of classical myths by Guim Valls and the poetisation of western folk songs by Lucia Pietrelli. The recital, under the direction of Sebastià Portell and organised with the collaboration of the Association of Catalan Language Writers, will feature live performances by Marina Vidal, Àlex Santaló, Ricard Efa and Laia Baldevey, and music performed by Pentina’t Lula and Serie Zeta.
 

Taking part:

Josep Lluís Aguiló is a poet and businessman. He has published collections of poetry such as Cants d’arjau, La biblioteca secreta, L’estació de les ombres and the award-winning Monstres, as well as Banderes dins la mar, winner of the Jocs Florals de Barcelona prize.

Laia Baldevey is an illustrator who lives and works in a little village near Barcelona. She combines her work as a conceptual artist with her passion for reinventing the visual imaginary of Catalan folklore, working on this for various publications and also as an ongoing personal project.

Ricard Efa is the alias of Sabadell-born writer and cartoonist Ricard Fernández, who has been nominated for an Eisner award and is well known in the French market. He is the author of works such as Realitat virtual, Monet or Les màquines del caos.

Pentina’t Lula and Serie Zeta are two music groups that will descend on Festival 42 from their respective galaxies, converging in a unique and unrepeatable space on a journey that is as retrofuturist as it is punk, based on experimentation with equipment and unforeseen errors, to the soundtracks composed on theremins.

Lucia Pietrelli writes both prose and poetry in Catalan, Spanish and Italian, and also works as a translator. She has published various collections of award-winning poems such as Fúria, Violacions, Esquelet, V and La terra i altres llocs; and the novels Nissaga, Qui ens defensarà, Cadenes and Lítica.

Àlex Santaló is an illustrator from Barcelona who studied at the Joso comic school. He has spent over 20 years dedicated to drawing, illustration, animation and design.

Raquel Santanera coordinates poetry events in Osona and at L’Horiginal in Barcelona. She has published the poetry collections Teologia poètica d’un sol ús, De robots i màquines and Reina de rates, and her work has been featured in a new book of Martian tales entitled Els coets venien com llagostes.

Guim Valls has published Quincalla del segle, La mà dins la roda and Pitó, has participated in numerous recitals, and is a member of the poetry improvisation group Nicomedes Mendes.

Marina Vidal is an illustrator and comic book artist from Sabadell who has two obsessions: books and her cat. As an illustrator she has specialised in creating covers for fantasy books, but whenever she gets the chance, she draws cartoons that end up becoming fanzines.

Moderated by:

Sebastià Portell is the author of the novels Ariel i els cossos and El dia que va morir David Bowie as well as the stories of Maracaibo, together with plays, an essay and a biography. He has also edited Amors sense casa, the first anthology of LGBTQ poetry in Catalan. He is secretary of the AELC.

*Event held in collaboration with the AELC and CEDRO