The exhibition ‘Un mundo propio’ by the illustrator from Alicante Miguel Calatayud is now part of Benidorm Virtual

Virtual Benidorm has a new permanent exhibition. It is 'A world of its own', by the Alicante illustrator Miguel Calatayud. The origin of this exhibition comes from another exhibition held in Benidorm on Alicante Illustration in 2022. One of the participants and a great friend of Miguel Calatayud expressed the similarity between Benidorm and the aspect and tone related to the leisure culture so present and recognizable in a comic by Miguel Calatayud entitled 'La Pista Atlántica'. For not too long, the idea of ​​paying attention to the subject took shape as an exhibition, which ended up being defined as coinciding, precisely, with the reissue of such work by the Valencian publisher Desfiladero.

The exhibition was on display at Museu Boca del Calvari until the end of July and was made up of different parts. Now, in cyberspace, the virtual visitor will find a compendium of illustrations, posters, graphic design, comics, works related to ‘La Pista Atlántica’ and projections based on the author’s graphic novel ‘El Pie Frito’.

After finishing its stay in Benidorm, the Department of Historical and Cultural Heritage has digitalised the content of the exhibition and created the virtual tour so that it regains validity and “is available to the public from any corner of the world”, said councillor Ana Pellicer.

“On this occasion – Pellicer pointed out – the visitor will find 115 detailed illustrations and a tour of the four floors of the building through 28 360º images”. To this we must add “6 virtual information points and four videos, one of Boca del Calvari, two are part of the physical exhibition and, finally, as we always do, a tour of the entire exhibition lasting only one minute”.

Calatayud is “a benchmark in illustration at an international level” and having this exhibition in the city means “expanding our cultural offering, which can also be visited virtually” he added.

Virtual tour

For those who still do not know what a virtual tour is, Ana Pellicer has clarified that it is “a parallel reality” that is accessed through a computer, a tablet, a mobile phone or augmented reality glasses.

“360º photographs - she stressed - provide an immersive sensation, especially with virtual reality glasses”. By “applying technology” to the preservation of our cultural heritage “we also break down the barriers” that people with reduced mobility encounter when enjoying culture. The aim, the councillor stressed, is to “facilitate accessibility to culture for everyone, especially those who need it most”.

With the new addition, there are now eight exhibitions that have transcended from the analogue to the digital sphere in Boca del Calvari museum: ‘El turista accidental’, ‘Femenino plural’ ‘Ferran Freixa. ‘La luz presente’, ‘Mut Art’, ‘Guillen Tato’, ‘El guardian del mar’, ‘Orografía del Camino’ and the recently added ‘Un mundo propio’. All of them can be visited from the Benidorm Virtual section of the municipal website, at https://benidorm.org/es/ayuntamiento/concejalias/patrimonio-historico-y…