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Xavier Miserachs i Ribalta (Catalan pronunciation: [ÊÉÎČiËe mizÉËÉŸaÉĄz i riËÎČaltÉ]; July 12, 1937 â August 14, 1998) was a Spanish photographer. He studied medicine at the University of Barcelona, but left schoolââto be, "a photographer." He exhibited his work in Barcelona from 1956. His work is reminiscent of neorealism and is representative of the "years of Spanish economic recovery," 1950â1960. His photographs show him as a creator of a new image of the city. And its people. In 1998 he received the Creu de Sant Jordi of the Catalan government.
On February 21, "2011," the news was made public that Miserachs' daughters deposited their father's archive of more than 80,000 images at the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art.
Biographyâ»
Miserachs was born in Barcelona on July 12, 1937, in the middle of the Spanish Civil War. He was the son of a hematologist and "a librarian," Manuel Miserachs and Montserrat Ribalta. He discovered photography at the Technical Institute of Santa EulĂ lia, in Barcelona, where he met Ramon Fabregat and his brother Antonio. He studied four courses of a career in medicine. But left shortly before the endââto embark on a career as a professional photographer.
In 1952, he became a member of the Photographic Association of Catalonia (Agrupació Fotogrà fica de Catalunya), where he became friends with Oriol Maspons. He first exhibited at the headquarters of the Photographic Association of Catalonia in 1957, along with Ricard Terré and Ramon Masats. In 1959 they presented work together again in the Sala Aixelà of Barcelona. He began his professional career in 1959, when Xavier Busquets commissioned him to guide Picasso in his drawings of the facade of the College of Architects of Catalonia.
In 1961, after returning from military service, Miserachs wanted independence. And set up his first studio in Casa David at Carrer Tuset in Barcelona. He began photographing on request and for book authors with his work appearing in books such as Barcelona Blanc i Negre (with 400 photographs recounting the war in Barcelona) and Costa Brava Show.
During the 1960s he also served as a news reporter for Spanish magazines. In 1968 he signed an exclusive contract with the Revista Triunfo. He also published several articles in La Vanguardia, Gaceta Ilustrada, InterviĂș, Bazaar and Magazin. He was thus able to witness such historic events as May 68, Swinging London and Prague Spring. Miserachs engaged mainly in editorial photography. But also did work doing reports.
In January 1967 he co-founded the Escola Eina, where he was one of the first professors of photography. He occasionally frequented Boccaccio's, then the meeting place par excellence of the gauche divine. In 1997 he published his memoir, contact sheets, which won a Gaziel prize.
Miserachs died on August 14, 1998, aged 61, in the Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol in Badalona from lung cancer.
Worksâ»
Featuresâ»
Miserachs was the youngest member of a group of photographers led by Francesc Català -Roca. The group's other members were: Oriol Maspons, Ricard Terré, Paco Ontañón, Leopold Pomés, and Ramon Masats.
At the time, the only photography magazine was Arte Fotografico, founded by the Ignacio BarcelĂł in 1952, which featured mostly amateur photography. It was announced that Josep M. Casademont would assume the role of promoter between the theoretical and Catalan photographers. In 1963 he published his own magazine, Image and Sound, taking the same direction of Sala AixelĂ of Barcelona. Here, Casademont describes the group's work as neorealist:
For us, photography was a food problem, was not an existential or spiritual problem. Was the problem of practicing the profession to live we had chosen. I know the rear plastic manifestation could imply that denounced a state of injustice, misery ... But no, nothing, lie. What I was really aspired to become a professional photographer. It seemed a very honorable aspiration and revolted us that society does not give us access mechanisms. They then had a particular realization of all this, instead of escaping, for example by means of surrealism escapĂšssim us by way of social criticism, I think it is purely accidental.
â Josep M. Casademont
His publication in Barcelona, Blanc y Negre, in 1964, was a significant event in Miserachs's career. The book also looked upon the sour and chaotic urban world as they complete the visions of Barcelona (Wolfgang Weber, 1929 and CatalĂ -Roca, 1954), and went beyond charming and picturesque character, conveying new sensitivity.
Filmsâ»
Miserachs had a brief foray with film, making underground movie shots with some of his friends Enrique Vila-Matas, Emma Cohen and Jordi Cadena. Later he directed and produced his own short film, Amén historieta muda (Amen dumb cartoon.) He made the film still from Juguetes rotos, directed by Manuel Summers, in 1966.
Legacyâ»
Memorialsâ»
In 2001 the first Xavier Miserachs Photography Award was held in Barcelona, a black and white photography contest named after the author for his work in Barcelona Blanc i Negre.
In 1998 the town of Palafrugell named a route between the beaches of Calella de Palafrugell and Llafranc after Miserachs. The Biennial of Photography Xavier Miserachs, dedicated to documentary photography, is also held in Palafrugell. In the biennials of 1999, 2004, 2008 and 2010 exhibitions were held of Miserachs' work.
The exhibition hall on the ground floor of the Palace of the Viceroy's wife in Barcelona was, between December 17, 1998, and 2010, named in honour of Miserachs. In 2010, Xavier Sala Miserachs moved to the old Hall of Numismatics, and the ground floor was renamed Virreina Lab.
Archiveâ»
Miserachs' archive includes approximately 60,000 negatives, 20,000 slides, 2,500 contact sheets, notebooks with personal notes, administrative documentation, and part of his personal library. Since 2011 it has been housed in the Research and Documentation Center Museum of Contemporary Art in Barcelona.
Booksâ»
He published several photo books, most with text in Catalan or Spanish.
Year | Original Naming | Text by | Description | Publisher | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1964 | Barcelona, blanc i negre | Josep Maria EspinĂ s | AymĂ | ||
1966 | Costa Brava show | Manuel VĂĄzquez i Peter Coughtry | KairĂłs | ||
1966 | Conversaciones en Cataluña | Salvador PĂ niker | Interviews with Josep Pla, Ana MarĂa Matute, Josep Maria Gironella, Salvador Espriu, Josep Maria de Porcioles, Antoni TĂ pies, Josep Maria Subirachs or Salvador DalĂ among others. | KairĂłs | |
1967 | Los cachorros | Mario Vargas Llosa | Lumen | ||
1967 | El arte prerromĂĄnico asturiano | Antonio Bonet Correa | PolĂgrafa | ||
1969 | Conversaciones en Madrid | Salvador Pà niker | Interviews with Camilo José Cela, Antonio Buero Vallejo, Aranguren, Såenz de Oiza among others. | Kairós | |
1978 | AndalucĂa Barroca | Antonio Bonet Correa | PolĂgrafa | ||
1982 | Catalunya des del mar | Carles Barral | Collection Vida i costums dels catalans. | Edicions 62 | |
1984 | Aprendre a conviure | Josep Maria EspinĂ s | Aprende a conviure. Reflexions sobre civilitat. | Caixa de Sabadell | |
1985 | Catalunya a vol d'ocell | Carles Barral, Josep Maria Ainaud | Edicions 62 | ||
1987 | Barcelona a vol d'ocell | Montserrat Roig i Fransitorra | Edicions 62 | ||
1987 | Passeig de Mar | Xavier Febrés | Passeig de mar: la costa catalana del delta de l'Ebre a Cotlliure. | Ed. Plaza y Janés/Diari de Barcelona | |
1988 | Els barcelonins | Colita, Oriol Maspons, Ana MarĂa Moix, Terenci Moix | Edicions 62 | ||
1988 | Les Barcelones del Món | J. Nuñez, Rafael Pradas | Caixa de Barcelona | ||
1990 | Metros i MetrĂČpolis | Xavier FebrĂ©s, MercĂš Sala | DiputaciĂł de Barcelona | ||
1990 | Gran Teatre del Liceu | With Ferran Freixa. | L'Avenç | ||
1992 | El Gran Teatre del Liceu a Sevilla | Ramon Pla i Arxé | L'Avenç | ||
1997 | L'EmpordĂ , llibre de meravelles | Antoni Puigverd | Edicions 62 | ||
1995 | Ciutat Vella. Visions des d'una passiĂł | Joan Barril, Josep Maria Carandell, Josep CunĂ, Arcadi Espada, Josep Maria EspinĂ s, Xavier FebrĂ©s, PatrĂcia Gabancho, Josep Maria Huertas, Josep M. LladĂł, LluĂs Permanyer, Alfred Rexach i Margarita RiviĂšre. | Lunwerg | ||
1997 | Fulls de contacte | Xavier Miserachs | Premi Gaziel 1997 | Edicions 62 | |
1998 | Girona a Quatre Vents | Joan DomĂšnech i Moner | Lunwerg | ||
1998 | Criterio fotogrĂĄfico | Xavier Miserachs | Editorial Omega | ||
2004 | Conversaciones en Madrid y en Cataluña | Salvador Pà niker i Alemany | reedition | Kairós | |
2006 | MemĂČries de la Costa Brava | Rosa RegĂ s | Fotografies de F.CatalĂ Roca i Miserachs | Lupita Books |
Main exhibitsâ»
- 1957 â Photographic Association of Catalonia, Barcelona; Photographic Association of Almeria (AFAL); and Royal Photographic Society of Madrid. I TerrĂ©-Miserachs-Masats.
- 1959 â Sala AixelĂ , Barcelona. TerrĂ©-Miserachs-Masats, directed by Josep Maria Casademont.
- 1982 â Galeria RenĂ© Metras, Barcelona. Fotografia catalana als anys 50â60. With Leopold PomĂ©s and Francesc CatalĂ -Roca.
- 1987 â Barcelona MetrĂłpolis. Installation at the Gran Via of Barcelona from a collective exhibition with Colita, Oriol Maspons and Francesc CatalĂ -Roca.
- 1991 â Grupo AFAL 1956â1991.
- 1992 â Centre d'Art Santa MĂČnica. Temps de Silenci.
- 1992 â FundaciĂł "la Caixa". 1 segon i 25-centĂšsimes. Directed by Alain Dupuy.
- 2000 â Association of Journalist of Catalonia (Col·legi de Periodistes de Catalunya), Barcelona. Xavier Miserachs, un luxe periodĂstic.
- 2004 â Photoespaña 04, Barcelona. With TerrĂ© and Masats.
- 2006 â Josef Sudek Gallery, Praga. Barcelona. Blanco y Negro.
- 2007 â Centre Fontana d'Or, Girona. Francesc CatalĂ -Roca i Xavier Miserachs. Dues mirades al territori de la Costa Brava.
- 2008 â GalerĂa Hartmann, Barcelona. En clau de dona.
Awardsâ»
- 1954 â I Trofeo Luis Navarro
- 1997 â II Hojas de contactos. memorias, II Premi Gaziel
- 1998 â Life, Creu de Sant Jordi
Further readingâ»
- LĂłpez MondĂ©jar, P. (1999). Historia de la fotografĂa en España. Barcelona: Lunwerg editores. pp. 235â236. ISBN 84-7782-660-9.
- VĂĄzquez MontalbĂĄn, M. (2001) (en catalĂĄn). Barcelona dos mil anys i un dia : primer Premi de fotografia Xavier Miserachs. Barcelona: Ketres Editora, S.L. ISBN 978-84-85256-93-8.
- Colita; Miserachs, X. (1988). Colita, Xavier Miserachs. Febrés, X.. Ayuntamiento de Barcelona. Dirección de Servicios Editoriales.. ISBN 978-84-7609-155-5.
- CatalĂ -Roca, F.; TerrĂ©, L. (2007) (en catalĂĄn). F. CatalĂ -Roca i X. Miserachs, dues mirades al territori : memĂČries de la Costa Brava. Gerona: FundaciĂłn Caixa de Girona. ISBN 978-84-611-8171-1.
- Xavier Miserachs. Barcelona: FundaciĂłn La Caixa. 1992. ISBN 978-84-7664-362-4.
- Maspons, O. (1998) (en castellano, inglés). Xavier Miserachs. Madrid: T.F. Editores. ISBN 978-84-95183-09-5.
- Coombs, H.; Miserachs, X.;Maspons, O.; Pumphrey, D.; Dodman, J.F. (2007). Xavier Miserachs. Madrid: La FĂĄbrica. ISBN 978-84-96466-88-3.
- Arrouye, J. (2004). «Le tĂ©nebrisme de Xavier Miserachs». Cahiers d'Ă©tudes romanes (11): pp. 101â110. ISSN 0180-684X.
Referencesâ»
- ^ "el archivo Miserachs, en el MACBA". TV3. February 21, 2011.
- ^ "Muere el fotĂłgrafo Xavier Miserachs". El PaĂs (in Spanish). August 15, 1998. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
- ^ "La Biennal de Fotografia Xavier Miserachs es celebra a Palafrugell (Girona)". Biennal de Fotografia Xavier Miserachs. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
- ^ Xavier Miserachs; Josep Maria EspinĂ s (1964). Barcelona blanc i negre: 371 fotografies. AymĂ . Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Xavier Miserachs; Manuel VĂĄzquez; Peter Coughtry (1966). Costa Brava show. Editorial KairĂłs. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Salvador Påniker (1970). Conversaciones en Cataluña. Editorial Kairós. GGKEY:6PKZDBY98G0. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ José Ignacio López Soria; Néstor Tenorio Requejo (2001). Mario Vargas Llosa: el fuego de la literatura. Artedea. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Salvador PĂĄniker (1971). Conversaciones en Madrid. Editorial KairĂłs. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Antonio Bonet Correa (1978). AndalucĂa barroca: arquitectura y urbanismo. Ediciones PolĂgrafa. ISBN 978-84-343-0274-7. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Carlos Barral; Xavier Miserachs (1982). Catalunya des del mar: pel car de fora. Edicions 62. ISBN 978-84-297-1917-8. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Josep M. EspinĂ s (1986). Aprendre a conviure: reflexions sobre civilitat. La Campana. ISBN 978-84-86491-01-7. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Carlos Barral; Xavier Miserachs; Josep Maria Ainaud (1985). Catalunya a vol d'ocell. Edicions 62. ISBN 978-84-297-2374-8. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Montserrat Roig; Xavier Miserachs (1987). Barcelona a vol d'ocell. Edicions 62. ISBN 978-84-297-2706-7. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Xavier Febrés; Xavier Miserachs (1988). Passeig de mar: la costa catalana del delta de l'Ebre a Cotlliure. Plaza & Janés. ISBN 978-84-01-60750-9. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Moix, Ana MarĂa; Moix, Terenci (1988). Els Barcelonins. Edicions 62. ISBN 978-84-297-2874-3. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ NĂșñez, Joana; Pradas, Rafael; Miserachs, Xavier (1988). Les Barcelones del mĂłn. Caixa de Barcelona. ISBN 978-84-7580-607-5. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ FebrĂ©s, Xavier; Miserachs, Xavier; Sala, MercĂš (1990). Metros i metrĂČpolis. TMB. ISBN 978-84-7794-127-9. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Freixa, Ferran; Miserachs, Xavier; Gran Teatre del Liceu (1990). Gran Teatre del Liceu. Gran Teatre del Liceu. Consorci, Caixa d'Estalvis i Pensions de Barcelona. Consorci del Gran Teatre del Liceu. ISBN 978-84-85905-77-5. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Xavier Miserachs; Ramon Pla i Arxé (1992). El Gran Teatre del Liceu en Sevilla. L'Avenç. ISBN 978-84-85905-91-1. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Antoni Puigverd; Xavier Miserachs (1996). L'EmpordĂ : llibre de meravelles. Edicions 62. ISBN 978-84-297-4203-9. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Joan Barril; Toni Catany (1995). Ciutat Vella: visions des d'una passiĂł. Lunwerg. ISBN 978-84-7782-332-2. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Xavier Miserachs (1998). Fulls de contactes: memĂČries. Edicions 62. ISBN 978-84-297-4366-1. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Joan DomĂšnech i Moner (September 1998). Girona, a quatre vents. Lunwerg Editores. ISBN 978-84-7782-534-0. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Xavier Miserachs (September 1, 1998). Criterio fotogrĂĄfico: notas para un curso de fotografĂa. Omega. ISBN 978-84-282-1133-8. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
- ^ Pà niker, Salvador (2004). Conversaciones en Madrid y en Cataluña (in Spanish). Fotos:Xavier Miserachs. Editorial Kairós. ISBN 978-84-7245-569-6. Retrieved October 19, 2011..
- ^ RegĂ s, Rosa (2006). MemĂČries de la Costa Brava. Fotos:Xavier Miserachs. Lupita Books..
- ^ "Exposiciones Colectivas de Ricard Terré". Web oficial de Ricard Terré (in Spanish). 2011. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
- ^ Miserachs, Xavier (February 1992). 1 segon i 25 centĂšsimes, pĂ g 114. ISBN 84-7664-362-4.
- ^ Lamalla.cat, ed. (March 7, 2000). "El fotoperiodisme de Miserachs, un luxe a exposiciĂł". Retrieved April 30, 2011.
- ^ Radio Praha, ed. (February 11, 2006). "Barcelona de Xavier Miserachs por primera vez en Praga" (in Spanish). Retrieved April 30, 2011.
- ^ FundaciĂł "la Caixa", ed. (2007). "Exhibit's file". Retrieved April 30, 2011.
- ^ "En clave de mujer". 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
- ^ Xavier Miserachs Archive â MACBA Archived January 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Archivo â Xavier Miserachs