Guernica Syndrome
Guernica Syndrome is the title of this sculpture created from the Azor, the leisure boat used by the former Spanish Head of State, Francisco Franco, and the setting for various historic events such as the “Azor conversations” held between Don Juan de Borbón and Franco himself. After the transition to democracy, Felipe González used the yacht during a controversial summer holiday, and in 1990 the Spanish government auctioned it, specifying that it be destined for scrapping. However, the buyer tried in vain to turn it into an entertainment venue.
At the end of 2011, Fernando Sánchez Castillo bought the Azor to transform it into a prism-shaped artwork. The prism is exalted in minimalism for its constructive impersonality and for its lack of sentimental or emotive references.
This intervention was designed especially for Matadero Madrid’s old cold storage as part of the Abierto x Obras (Open for Works) programme, curated by Manuela Villa.
