I was born a foreigner

"I was born a foreigner, I lived as a foreigner and I will die even more foreigner" writes the French-Lebanese author Amin Maalouf (The Journey of Baldassare).

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Spanish Retirada, these words inspire the title of the program of exhibitions of contemporary art, organized by the Abattoirs Museum from Frac Occitanie Toulouse, in the Occitan Region of France.

Are we born a foreigner or do we become one? For whom are we foreigners? If many departures are dictated by the course of history, when we travel, whether for life or for an hour, we can all feel what it is to be "a stranger among men" (Albert Camus).

At the beginning of 1939, five hundred thousand Spanish refugees crossed the Pyrenees to flee General Franco's regime after three years of Spanish Civil War.

Occitania is deeply marked by the Spanish Exile. Several refugee camps were installed on its territory, either on the beaches of Roussillon or in the Occitane countryside. Many refugees, including artists, established themselves permanently and formed communities; many of them even joined the Resistance during World War II.

Inspired by the Picasso And The Exile exhibit, the program I Was Born A Foreigner, a history of the Spanish art during the Resistance, composed of more than 60 artists of 29 different nationalities returns to this moment in History (site of the Abattoirs from March 15 through August 25, 2019) and in the light of current events, questions life and artistic creation in exile.

Photo: L'espoir exhibition, part of the program I was born a foreigner organized by Abattoirs, Musée - Frac Occitanie Toulouse at the Musée Urbain Cabrol © Libia Posada; photo Sylvie Leonard

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