Description
Juan Hidalgo and Zaj
Book Summary
This essay provides a rigorous and well-documented analysis of the figure of Juan Hidalgo, a multidisciplinary artist and co-founder of the Zaj group, one of the most radical movements in Spanish art in the second half of the 20th century. The reader will find research that unravels the aesthetic, conceptual, and contextual keys of his work, exploring the relationship between music, performance, and experimental poetry. An essential work for understanding the artistic avant-garde in Spain and the legacy of one of its most unique creators.
What is it about?
The book examines in depth the trajectory of Juan Hidalgo and his central role in the Zaj group, a collective that revolutionized the Spanish artistic scene from the 1960s onwards. Through an art-historical approach, the author analyzes Hidalgo's proposals, which challenged musical, theatrical, and literary conventions by integrating elements of phonetic poetry, avant-garde theater, and action art. The work contextualizes these creations within the framework of conceptual art and sound experimentation, offering a critical view of his influence on later generations and his position in international contemporary art.
Main Topics
- Analysis of Juan Hidalgo's work as a key figure in action art and performance in Spain.
- Study of the Zaj group and its contribution to experimental music and visual poetry.
- Relationship between avant-garde artistic creation and the sociopolitical context of the Franco dictatorship.
- Exploration of interdisciplinarity: music, theater, poetry, and visual arts within a single practice.
- Critical review of the historiography of contemporary Spanish art and its forgotten or marginalized figures.
Who is it recommended for?
It is aimed at students and researchers of Art History, Musicology, and Cultural Studies interested in the artistic avant-gardes of the 20th century. It will also be of great interest to artists, curators, and contemporary art enthusiasts who wish to delve into an experimental and little-publicized movement of the Spanish scene. Readers with a curiosity for performance, experimental poetry, and contemporary music will find here a documented and accessible guide.
What this book offers
- Up-to-date academic research that fills a bibliographic void regarding Juan Hidalgo and the Zaj group.
- Keys to interpreting complex works from a rigorous historical and aesthetic perspective.
- Contextualization of one of the most transgressive artistic proposals in 20th-century Spain.
- Tools for understanding the evolution of action art and experimental music in the Hispanic sphere.
Technical Specifications
- Author: Pérez Manzanares, Julio (1983-)
- Publisher: Huerga y Fierro Editores
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: LITERARY ESSAYS
- Collection: ESSAY
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: September 2018
- Number of pages: 304
- Weight: 310 g
Editorial Assessment
This essay is presented as a solid contribution to the study of experimental art in Spain. Its academic approach, without losing clarity of exposition, allows both the specialist and the educated reader to access a fundamental but often relegated figure. The work stands out for its ability to connect Hidalgo's artistic practice with international avant-garde currents, offering a reading that enriches the understanding of contemporary art and its recent history.