The El Diluvio Universal

The El Diluvio Universal is such a wonderful little space owned by Elisa Munso, she runs her workshop as a professional illustrator from this space as well as the building across the road. This facility doubles up as an exhibition space while she is not working in the space, her work surrounds a number of issues, along with a number of other illustrators that work alongside her in the studio, currently looking at feminism and equality of the sexes. This is achieved in her work by a striking use of usually very little colour and relatable yet stylised figures to deliver a written message in the form of a sign or some other means of delivering their equality message. When arriving in Barcelona and visiting friends nearby in Gracia, I saw a poster with her illustration style on one of the local notice boards and instantly recognised the style, working in Waterstones in Canterbury I had come into contact with her incredible work in the form of a collection of influential women books where she told the story of a selection of different women including Amelia Earhart as well as Agatha Christie. Not thinking anything of it, I continued to meet with my friends and later found that they were good friends with Munso and that’s when we were told about her gallery space that would be opened up later that week for the ‘HOP HOP’ event my friends had created.

Entering the space, if im honest, I was fairly nervous as I had admired this ladies work from affar for quite some time and now I was about to meet her. The Gallery had a couple of people in it looking at the range of fantastic work on display, these included screen prints of varying kinds and a collection of Fanzines created by local people. One particular work I was attracted to was a screen print of a group of 70’s looking women holding a banner that reads ‘No Future’. This work was presented in a large black frame and really caught my eye. The work was stark and blunt, delivering an almost incriminating feeling on the viewer as if it was myself that denied these young women their future. I think this was the intended purpose as it shows a sort of peaceful protest that hits home with a direct meaning that leaves nothing to the imagination, apart from hinting toward a cascade of social context that leaves the viewer feeling responsible.

At this point Elisa joined us from the back garden area, where she was enjoying a drink with some friwnds, greeting us warmly I went on to show my support and admiration to which she felt really happy and thankful for my kind words. After a short conversation about her work we took our exit, a farewell and we were back out into the bustling streets of Gracia, feeling welcomed and inspired.