Lorca sculpture to tour Madrid on 90th anniversary of poet's execution

A sculpture of the renowned poet Federico García Lorca, created by Fernando Sánchez Castillo, is set to journey through Madrid next Monday. This cultural action, titled 'Saca Nocturna,' is part of the 'Cultura Orgullosa' program commemorating the 90th anniversary of the poet's execution.

Funded by the Ministry of Equality and developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, the initiative will traverse various significant locations in the Spanish capital on the night of August 17-18. This date marks nine decades since the assassination of the playwright, a staunch defender of the Republic, by Nationalist forces at the outset of the Spanish Civil War.

For several hours, the sculpture, which belongs to the 'La Perla Peregrina' exhibition at the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, will be transported by artists through sites intrinsically linked to Lorca's life and literary works, including the area around the Prado Museum. The performance, directed by La Juan Gallery, draws its name from the "saca," a historical practice during the Civil War and dictatorship where individuals were forcibly removed from their homes at night and murdered.

"This action changes the meaning, with Lorca symbolically returning to the city 90 years after his assassination," the Ministry of Equality stated in a release. The 'Cultura Orgullosa 2026' program aims to highlight LGTBI+ artistic creations and promote diversity in gender, sexuality, and family, featuring a wide range of artistic formats extending until May 2027.