Art as a teaching aid in a Basque secondary school
July 03, 2020
The Basque-language secondary school Xalbador, in Kanbo, has inaugurated a series of murals created by the painter iF, member and Secretary of Itzal aktiboa.
Taking as his point of deaprture the values of the school and, more generally, of Seaska and the Federation of Ikastola (immersive schools in the Basque language), iF painted a series of gigantic murals in the entrance to the school.
Respect, diversity, solidarity, mutual aid, togetherness are the subjects of the series, based on the educational work carried out in the institution around the theme of tolerance.
A giant portrait of the bertsulari (Basque versifier-singer) Xalbador, who gave his name to the school, introduces the cycle. Drawing inspiration from key moments in Basque art and history, iF makes reference Picasso's Guernica, Oteiza's sculptures for the Arantzazu basilica, and the bands of colour characteristic of the youthful work of painter Jose Luis Zumeta, who died earlier this year. Other allusions relate to Van Gogh, the Futurists, comic strips and video games. It is hoped that the project will continue to expand during the 2020-2021 school year with more interaction – if the coronavirus situation permits – between the artist and the students.
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