The Universitat de València’s cultural centre La Nau hosts from October 2nd to January 20 the exhibition ‘Covers (1951-1964). Cultura, juventud y rebeldía’ (Covers 1951-1964. Culture, youth and rebelliousness). The opening takes place today at 20:00 at the new room in La Nau: Sala Academia. The organizers of the exhibition, Justo Serna and Alejandro Lillo, are paying a tribute to American culture, youth and the rebelliousness in the 50s and 60s.
Some of the objects to be found in the exhibition are magazine covers of Time and Life reflecting the First Lady Jackie Kennedy or Audrey Hepburn, sleeves of records or audio-visual materials by Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, or Diana Ross, among others, a collection of vintage record players, or three motorcycles.
These things and much more can be seen in Covers (1951-1964). Cultura, juventud y rebeldía from October 2nd –opening at 20:00– to January 20th. The exhibition is devoted to American culture, youth, and rebelliousness in the 50s and 60s. A reflection of the rock youth, the past idols, and the American way of life.
This large exhibition, organized by Justo Serna and Alejandro Lillo, is going to be host in the new La Nau’s space Sala Academia. This room is 350 m2 and it will allow to have more enterprising exhibitions since it is located in the first floor. The Vice-Principal for Culture Antonio Ariño has expressed that the exhibition is ‘graphically extraordinary and it allows us to open the new space.’
Both Lillo and Serna explain that the idea stems from ‘the vintage trend still existing today.’ They explain the polysemy of the title of the exhibition. In English, ‘covers’ has some different meanings: it means what covers a magazine, journal, etc., but also it refers to what is hidden, what is behind the appearances. This is a metaphor used to define American in the 50s and 60s. They als point out that most of the objects in the exhibition are from private collections such as those of Luis Puig, Alfaro Hofmann, and Marc Martí.
The exhibition is structured in three large sections. The first is titled ‘Iconos de rebeldía’ and it is focused on the icons shown in the cinema like Marlon Brando, James Dean, Sidney Poitier and others. There are copies of the motorcycles they used to drive, which have also become icons. These actors became the referents for the nonconformists.
The second section is about the frivolous and materialistic view the world tried to reflect. It is titled ‘La América de Kennedy’ and we will be able to watch magazine covers with people like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, Grace Kelly, etc.
‘Descarados’ is the last section of the exhibition. It focuses on the impact rock and roll caused on a traditional and self-controlled society. Record sleeves and audio-visual materials are to be found here. Rock was the safety valve for many young people to show their unrest and express their wishes and feelings.
Today’s society still looks at this society. It compares and copies its trends and fashion, that is the reason why the exhibition is interesting for everybody.
Universitat de València with the General Foundation and the Bancaja’s sponsorship organize the exhibition.
A video about the exhibition made by the organizers can be found clicking here.
Last update: 2 de october de 2012 09:02.
News release
