The Catalan Artists’ Involvement in the Pro-independence Movement

Abstract

This article examines the involvement of artists in the pro-independence movement in Catalonia. First, to provide context, the author discusses the history of Catalonia, focusing on the conflicts with the Spanish state and on the five instances throughout history when the region proclaimed independence. The article shows how stories from the Catalonia past are present in people’s everyday lives and influence their sentiments. The author also tries to find an answer to the question of how artists became involved in the pro-independence movement by taking a closer look at both the art and political engagement of the artists representing different generations and genres during the period in question.