Within the framework of Heliophilia, a project by Lola Lasurt with the Archive of Unstable Landscapes (Daniel Barbé Farré) and the choreographer Mireia de Querol for Manifesta 15.
With the participation of Manuela Raurich, Elena Lalucat and Sergi Rodríguez (dance), Arnau Millà (music), Sara Espinosa and Mònica Calor (costumes), Javi Fernández (graphic design and printing), Rafael de Querol (body activation) and Javier Morera (assistant). In collaboration with the Dance and Living Arts Creation Center el Graner, the Taula del Llobregat, the Radical School of Arts and Science Laviral and Annelies Broekman.
Heliophilia takes us to the place where Els Amics del Sol (The Friends of the Sun) used to meet up in order to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. On their excursions to beaches along the Barcelona coast, they immersed themselves in nature, exposing their bodies to the sun.
Els Amics del Sol was a pioneering nature group established in the summer of 1915 at what was Can Tunis Beach (now the container quay of Barcelona Port). Most of the amics were members of the sporting and hiking sections of the cultural association Ateneu Enciclopèdic Popular (People’s Encyclopaedic Athenaeum).
On their beach excursions they would perform gymnastics and dance exercises inspired by the work of Isadora and Raymond Duncan. Then, after lunch, they would gather in a circle to hold discussions and learn together about topics that concerned them. In 1934 they self-published the book Heliofilia (Heliophilia).
This booklet has been produced in the spirit of the programmes printed out by Els Amics del Sol before each excursion.
