Date of Award
Spring 5-4-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Art & Art History
First Advisor
Joachim Pissarro
Second Advisor
Lynda Klich
Academic Program Adviser
Antonella Pelizzari
Abstract
In 1988, Eduardo Chillida dedicated his sculpture, Gure Aitaren Etxea, to the victims of the 1937 Spanish Civil War aerial attack on the city of Gernika. This thesis maintains that beyond memorial, the sculpture can be understood as a sacred site and examines the sources of the sculpture’s spiritual dimension, paying particular attention to the work’s underlying Basque influences. Gernika’s cultural significance, the intricacies of the Basque language, and the history of Basque Nationalist ideology are addressed. The paper concludes, however, that while Chillida found great stimulus within his own culture, the sculpture’s ability to serve as refuge, sanctuary, and destination, transcends its specific Basque connotations.
Recommended Citation
Scalia, Katherine J.E., "Into the Basque Country: The Spiritual Underpinnings of Eduardo Chillida's Gure Aitaren Etxea" (2021). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/hc_sas_etds/711
