Boca del Calvari museum opens the ‘Iberian Series’ exhibition by Sómnica Bernabeu, highlighting women on the occasion of International Women's Day (March 8)

Boca del Calvari Museum has been hosting the new exhibition by artist Sómnica Bernabeu, entitled ‘Iberian Series’, since yesterday, and will be open until May 22nd. The exhibition gives special prominence to women of that era and is linked to the program organised by the City Council to commemorate International Women's Day on March 8th.

At the opening, attended by Mayor Toni Pérez, members of the local council, the queens of the Patron Saint Festivals, Lura Ivars and Carmen Guillem, and the president of the Commission, Ramón Cano; the Councilor for Historical and Cultural Heritage, Ana Pellicer, explained that this exhibition “proposes a dialogue between past and present through a contemporary reinterpretation of the Iberian legacy” of the Iberian Peninsula's Levantine coast. The artist was also present and explained the origin and meaning of each of the works.

The series comprises twelve large-format works, which place the figure of the Iberian Lady at their centre as a symbol of identity, leadership, and spirituality, also incorporating the presence of the ancient Tanit, a deity linked to fertility and feminine power in the ancient Mediterranean.

Pellicer emphasised that Bernabeu's exhibition "focuses on the female figures that are part of our history; women who symbolise identity, leadership, and spirituality." She also highlighted that original pieces "that have inspired Sónmica Bernabeu in some of her works" are on display on the upper floor of the Museum. "It's a very special way to see how historical heritage and contemporary creation can meet and interact in the same space."

The artist, for her part, explained that the exhibition "stems from the intention of rescuing the Iberian woman because it is the culture from which we inherited the Levantine coast. The Iberians were here before the Romans and other cultures, and we have learned very little about them." At that point, Bernabeu highlighted the “leading role of women in that era, a role they didn't regain until the end of the 20th century.”

“I've drawn on the artistic and cultural legacy to create a connection between the present and the wisdom of our ancestors. It's about returning to the analogue, to the manual, returning to our essence,” she said. Thus, the technique used for her works is linked in a way to that past. “I've used charcoal, natural pigment, oil, and a lot of patience,” she stated.

The mayor closed the opening of the exhibition, which he described as “magnificent,” and advocated for the Museum to “serve as an epicentre for bringing us closer together as human beings.”