Efemérides: La Mercè

La Mercè is Barcelona's annual festival, celebrated in late September in honor of the city's patron saint, La Mare de Déu de la Mercè (Our Lady of Mercy). The festival features a variety of events, including parades, concerts, fireworks, and traditional Catalan activities like castells (human towers) and correfocs (fire runs).
ONE OF THE FESTIVAL'S HIGHLIGHTS IS THE ANUAL DESIGN OF THE POSTER


Fons CRAI Biblioteca pavelló de la república — 'Pregons' 1979-1981







1956 — ARMAND DOMÈNECH

La Mare de Déu de la Mercè

During the Franco regime and starting in 1951, when the post-Civil War festivities were resumed, the posters to announce the festa major were designed through a public contest.
However, it was from 1978, during the democratic Transition, that they began to be commissioned from artists related to the city, including Antoni Tàpies, Nazario, Pere Portabella, Sean Scully, Peret, Catalina Estrada, Antoni Miralda, Jaume Plensa, among others.

1981 — EDUARD ARRANZ-BRAVO

1982 — FRANCESC TODÓ

1983 — FRANCESC ARTIGAU

1984 — MIQUEL VILÀ

1985 — ROBERT LLIMÓS ORIOL

"In 1985, my vision of Barcelona was that of a Mediterranean city open to the sea, inclusive, multicultural, and multiethnic. In this context, I chose dance as the highest expression of celebration.
After living a few years in New York, cultural diversity was an idea I had deeply integrated. That’s why I used the resource of painting the bodies of the characters dancing at the Moll de la Fusta, in front of the sea, in different colors. In the background, I painted well-known elements like Montjuïc, the Columbus sculpture, the Drassanes, and the dome of the Church of La Mercè.
Although at that time the nudity of the characters generated controversy among a part of public opinion, my intention was not – by any means – to provoke any scandal, but rather to emphasize the people, all equal and free from constraints."
Robert Llimós Oriol


Sofia and Clara in La Casa dels Entremesos documenting the posters


1987 — MARISCAL

1994 — ANNA MIQUEL

1989 — XAVIER SERRA DE RIVERA

1999 — NAZARIO

«Cuando me encargaron el cartel me dijeron que el alcalde Joan Clos había sugerido que este hiciera hincapié en la multiculturidad de la ciudad. Yo me limité a retratar unos cuantos gegants que danzaban frente a mi ventana como hacen en todas las fiestas. ¡Claro que estaba el ‘rey moro’! Una cúpula de fondo (que está al principio de la calle Ferran), una luna sobre la que está aposentado Ocaña –ese personaje mítico de Barcelona–, y una tipografía que recuerda las letras árabes, fueron motivo suficiente para que el cardenal Carles se indignara y considerara el cartel poco "católico". El escándalo estaba servido: el cartel recibió el apoyo de autoridades, pregoneras (aquel año lo había sido Maruja Torres) y ciudadanos en general, que en pocos días agotaron la tirada del cartel que se regalaba a la Virreina.»
Nazario
"When I was commissioned for the poster, I was told that Mayor Joan Clos had suggested that it emphasize the multiculturalism of the city. I simply portrayed a few giants dancing in front of my window, as they do at all the festivals. Of course, there was the 'Moorish king'! A dome in the background (which is at the beginning of Ferran Street), a moon on which Ocaña – that mythical character from Barcelona – is seated, and a typography that resembles Arabic letters were enough for Cardinal Carles to be outraged and consider the poster not very 'Catholic.' The scandal was set: the poster received support from authorities, announcers (that year it had been Maruja Torres), and citizens in general, who in just a few days exhausted the print run of the poster that was given away at La Virreina."
Nazario


2001 — ANTONI MIRALDA

2002 — ANTONI TÀPIES

2003 — ENRIC SAUTÉ

2004 — PEREJAUME

2005 — AMERICA SÁNCHEZ

2006 — VICENTE ROJO
Growing up in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona allows you to experience popular culture firsthand, as many events take place in its streets. That’s why Clara, our comms manager, has had a connection with the Casa dels Entremesos since she was little. Thanks to that long-standing relationship, we were able to visit the space where they meticulously dedicate themselves to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of Barcelona.

2008 — PERET
A big thank you to the Federació d’Entitats de Cultura Popular i Tradicional de Barcelona Vella, to La Casa dels Entremesos and to Dani, Montse, and Agnès for opening their doors to us.

2012 — JAUME PLENSA

2013 — JOAN FONTCUBERTA

2015 — SEAN SCULLY
2016 — MIGUEL GALLARDO
2017 — MARISCAL
2018 — SÒNIA PULIDO
2019 — MARIA CORTE
2020 — RESKATE STUDIO
2021 — MALIKA FAVRE
2022 — DAVID DE LAS HERAS
2023 — CHAMO SAN
BONA FESTA MAJOR!