ABOUT IDENTITY IN THE NEW FIGURATION. THE PALM TREE AND THE SWIMMING POOL: TWO ICONS FROM THE SPANISH DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION

Abstract

The New Figuration is a movement evolved in the 1970s in Madrid. It was one of the most important artistic trends of the decade, which ended up being crucial in the following Spanish artistic generations. Several youngsters, fed up with the dark times of Franco’s Spanish dictatorship, showed interest in the painting techniques other countries could offer. With Informalism outmoded, a different approach had arrived and the international context forced a new time. The modern world and pop culture swamped these young artists’ minds, who mostly came from Andalusia. Iconography was one of its key identity highlights and it put them closer to the tropical and exotic California world, which fascinated them.