The Scenic Space of Olula del Río is hosting this Thursday (19:30) the exhibition ’50 portraits of women for the history of Olula’, curated by César Lorente and Yolanda Rubio. The event, which will also host the presentation of a book on the subject, is organised by the ‘Francisca Cuellar’ Women’s Association, with the collaboration of the Town Council of the municipality and funding from the Provincial Council.
“The talent of each woman is a treasure that we cannot afford to lose and the book that we are presenting is an example of this. With the publication of the book and the exhibition – which will be on display throughout Christmas in the town’s Casa de la Cultura – we want to remember, pay tribute to and make visible the talent of the women who often, without knowing it, have marked and continue to mark the path we travel today. By overcoming obstacles, eliminating barriers or breaking stereotypes, thanks to them, the women of today and those of tomorrow will enjoy more rights and freedom”, explain the curators of the exhibition.
In short, they aim to bring to the forefront and give prominence to those women whose work, vision, wisdom, strength and courage have made Olula what it is today, and all of this from their small plot of land in a rural village. Not all of them are here because, due to format limitations, a random number had to be chosen. Even so, all the women of the village are also reflected in these 50 portraits, as the message of the exhibition is that without women, of all ages and walks of life, the world would be a much worse place. This is why the fiftieth portrait is a mirror through which every woman who looks at herself in Olula will be part of this exhibition and of the history of Olula.
This is a project born from the Francisca Cuellar Women’s Association, whose board is made up of Davinia Simón Muñoz, Yolanda Rubio Ortiz, Mari Carmen Sáez González, Mari Carmen Reche Cotes, Mari Carmen Fernández Jiménez and Paqui Lucas Sánchez.
The group invites those who let themselves be carried away by the lives of these women to enjoy them as much as they have done throughout the creation process. “It has been very beautiful and exciting to see how many of the women who appear have been related in one way or another to each other. Grandmothers and granddaughters, pupils and teachers or simply neighbours, life companions who have served as inspiration and support for each other. We would especially like to thank the protagonists and their families who have collaborated by opening up a little bit of their lives and hearts to us, and all the people who in one way or another have lent us a hand while we were putting together this exhibition”, explain Lorente and Rubio. “Sometimes you have to go through difficult paths to reach wonderful destinations. We hope with all our hearts that the path these women have travelled, and continue to travel, will lead the reader to great destinations and serve as an example, reference or help to anyone who needs it”, they conclude.