SANTANDER.- Get ready to dive deep into the fascinating world of Maruja Mallo, one of the 20th century's most groundbreaking Spanish artists. A new podcast episode, "How Does Maruja Mallo Construct Her Mask?", from "The Botín Foundation’s Questions" is offering an intimate look at this key figure of the Generation of '27, coinciding with a major exhibition at Centro Botín and the Museo Reina Sofía.

Mallo famously declared in 1954, "I am working on overcoming my work, which is overcoming myself." This statement perfectly encapsulates her artistic philosophy and her view of life as a constant journey of transformation. The podcast explores how she lived an existence entirely dedicated to creation, the role of solitude in her process, and how she used aesthetics and performativity to forge a modern, free, and professional identity.

Recorded at Centro Botín, the episode is a collaboration with Noemí Oliva's "Locura Compartida" podcast, known for its focus on mental health, art, and culture. Oliva guides an emotional and artistic journey through Mallo's life and work, joined by Bárbara Rodríguez Muñoz, Director of Exhibitions and the Collection at Centro Botín; clinical psychologist Olga Albaladejo; and art historian Ana Belén Feijoó. Together, they offer fresh perspectives on Mallo's enduring legacy.

The conversation springs from the exhibition, Maruja Mallo: Mask and Compass. Paintings and Drawings from 1924 to 1982, co-produced by the Botín Foundation and the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía.

A Life of Art, Masks, and Freedom

The podcast highlights how Maruja Mallo meticulously crafted her public image, intertwining it with her art to become one of her era's most unique artists. Ana Belén Feijoó emphasizes that Mallo's identity construction was an artistic act in itself, consciously shaping her narrative from the very beginning. Olga Albaladejo adds that Mallo created a "dynamic character" with a "firm backbone" rooted in authenticity. Her ability to blend art and life has even drawn comparisons to Frida Kahlo, given her strong personal image and transgressive spirit.

Bárbara Rodríguez Muñoz describes Mallo as a "very free woman" whose work explored "the materiality of the body and the earth, connection with nature, and the integration of diversity." Her iconography, Rodríguez Muñoz notes, drew from a vast array of influences, from classical mythology to Afro-Brazilian Candomblé and even the space race.

The Power of Masks

Masks are central to Mallo's art, not just as visual elements but as powerful symbols of transformation, protection, and liberation. Ana Belén Feijoó points to notebooks like América Aborigen, where Mallo reflected on popular American culture and its influence on her themes of masks, disguise, and metamorphosis. For Mallo, masks were portals to different states of being, connecting with the mystical and enabling personal and creative evolution.

Rodríguez Muñoz further delves into Mallo's performativity, citing an iconic image of the artist on Chilean beaches, emerging "like a sea goddess, all covered in seaweed," with even her eyelashes meticulously enhanced. This blend of the natural and performative shows how Mallo used self-presentation as a vehicle for expression and identity experimentation. Her ambiguous female busts also reflect her desire to blur rigid gender boundaries, offering a complex view of identity.

Solitude, Purpose, and Popular Culture

The podcast also reveals how solitude fueled Mallo's creativity and self-discovery. Olga Albaladejo emphasizes Mallo's embrace of isolation as a space for deep self-connection, showcasing her emotional courage. Mallo saw art as a vital refuge, a means to find serenity and peace.

Another key discussion point is Mallo's reverence for popular culture, which she considered an endless source of collective creativity, particularly in her "Verbenas" (Festivities) series. Rodríguez Muñoz explains that for Mallo, popular culture transcended clichés, representing "the vital and creative force of the people." In these works, women are depicted not as passive, but "strong, athletic, running," a deeply transgressive portrayal for the time that celebrated female agency and freedom.

Ultimately, the episode champions Maruja Mallo as a timeless artist whose work continues to resonate with contemporary issues of identity, creativity, freedom, and emotional well-being.

You can listen to this insightful podcast now on Spotify, Ivoox, Podimo, Youtube Music, Apple Podcast, and the Botín Foundation's website.