Podcast Summary: Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto | Cuando Vijande trajo a Warhol a una España vibrante

Podcast: Hoy por Hoy (SER Podcast)
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Àngels Barceló
Guests/Participants: Sebastián Galán, Armando Montesinos, Rodrigo Navia Osorio Vijande, Martín Moniche, Teresa Nieto

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode revisits the historic moment when Andy Warhol visited Spain in 1983 for an iconic exhibition at the Fernando Vijande gallery. Through firsthand accounts, expert commentary, and reflective narration, the program explores the cultural shift in Spain during the early 80s, the influence of Fernando Vijande as a visionary gallerist, and the lasting legacy of Warhol's visit. The episode delves into themes of creativity, freedom, the internationalization of Spanish culture, and the importance of art in the country's transition era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Scene: Warhol’s 1983 Visit (01:33–02:27)

• Setting the Stage: Warhol arrived in Madrid in February 1983 to close an exhibition titled "Pistolas, cuchillos y cruces," a show marked by motifs of violence and religion.
• Social Impact: The event drew crowds and media attention unprecedented for an art exhibit at the time.
• Atmosphere: The episode highlights the widespread excitement, describing the scene as “un cadáver exquisito, rodeado de bufones, frío y distante.”
  • Fernando Vijande/Narrator (01:38): “Un cadáver exquisito, rodeado de bufones, frío y distante.”
• Firsthand Account:
  • Armando Montesinos (02:27): “No puso ni una sola pega a ninguna cosa... y todo lo hizo con dedicación y entusiasmo... Nunca se ha vuelto a producir un recibimiento tan masivo y tan deseado.”

2. Fernando Vijande: The Visionary Bridge (03:39–05:24)

• Who Was Vijande?
  • Vijande met Warhol in the early 60s and later cemented a friendship in the 70s, leading to the Madrid exhibition.
  • He was a cosmopolitan, charismatic figure, fluent in several languages, and fearless in connecting Spain with international trends.
  • Rodrigo Navia Osorio Vijande (04:22): “Esta falta de miedo y de prejuicios y lanzarse al mundo... traía referentes del resto del mundo a nosotros, pero también quería mostrar todas estas cosas maravillosas que ocurrían en España.”
• Vijande’s Impact:
  • Instrumental in bringing global figures like Warhol to Spain.
  • Opened the doors for Spanish contemporary artists to the global market.

3. A New, Vibrant Spain (06:19–07:37)

• Cultural Revolution:
  • Early 1980s Spain is depicted as bursting with color, creativity, and international ambition.
  • Martín Moniche (06:43): “La España de 1983 es ya una España todo color... donde realmente revoluciona es culturalmente... Brotaba, sin embargo, de la sociedad civil sin ninguna ley, trabajos, condicionamiento...”
• The Movida Madrileña:
  • The blend of aristocracy, bourgeoisie, and youth subcultures fueled an artistic explosion.
  • Warhol’s visit is emblematic of Spain’s metamorphosis and open-door attitude to the world.

4. The Exhibition at Galería Vijande (07:48–09:07)

• Opening Memories:
  • Teresa Nieto (08:01): “Empiezas a bajar la rampa y era todo un espacio inmenso... estaban los cuadros muy grandes, además del chechonismo de famosos, pero también muchos dibujitos de Carlos Berlanga, de Miguel Ordóñez, de Alaska, toda la movida allí estaba.”
• Media Circus:
  • Thousands attended; “todo el mundo rodeando a Warhol.”
  • Festivities and social gatherings surrounded Warhol’s visit (e.g., the March and Chueca parties).
• Personal Anecdote:
  • Teresa Nieto describes spending a day with a reserved Warhol:
    “Era bastante callado, porque no decía esta boca es mía, pero no dejas de estar ahí, al lado del mito.” (08:32)

5. The Exhibition’s Impact and Legacy (09:24–10:53)

• Widespread Attention:
  • Warhol greeted large press crowds, signed photos, catalogues, even bus passes.
  • The idea to sell tickets at 100 pesetas each made entrance to the gallery a valued experience.
  • Around 10,000–12,000 attendees in two months.
• Market Response:
  • Only one Warhol painting was sold (for 7 million pesetas):
    Armando Montesinos (10:29): “Se vendió un solo cuadro... a una persona que trabajaba en cine, era fotógrafo, iluminador... lo vendió multiplicado su valor...”
  • Despite modest sales, the event’s symbolic capital was immense.

6. Warhol and Spain: A Mutual Discovery (11:02–15:01)

• Documentary Insights:
  • Sebastián Galán (director, 11:49): “Sin querer o queriendo, Vihande se iba a comer a Andy Warhol en toda esta historia... era necesario rescatar su nombre y todas las cosas que hizo, reivindicarlo.”
• Recognition of Warhol:
  • Warhol was not widely known in Spain at the time—only a small cultural avant-garde was familiar with him.
  • Sebastián Galán (12:57): “Warhol lo conocían 15, vamos a decir 15, o sea, una mini mini mini minoría.”
• Warhol’s Perceptions:
  • He arrived with stereotypical ideas about Spain (guns, knives, crosses), but was surprised by its vibrant, evolving society.
  • Parallels drawn between the effervescent “Factory” years in New York and the Spanish transition.

7. Evaluating Success and the Cultural Ripple (15:01–16:35)

• Lasting Influence:
  • The exhibition—though not a commercial success—became entrenched as a “hito” (milestone) in Spain’s transition-era cultural timeline.
  • Sebastián Galán (15:01): “Muchas veces tenemos que pensar que... aunque tú solo vendas un cuadro... la historia está llena de pequeñas gotitas que van transformando las cosas...”
• Memory Beyond Politics:
  • Artistic memory is essential in understanding modern Spain; the transition is not just political, but also cultural.
  • The late 70s/early 80s artistic scene was ground zero for broader social change.

8. Alaska: The Thread Through History (17:38–18:58)

• Narrative Linchpin:
  • The artist Alaska—herself iconic in the Movida—serves as the documentary’s guide.
    • Was present at Vijande’s galería from her teens, witnessed Warhol’s arrival, and even was immortalized by Warhol in a piece titled "Mujer desconocida."
    • Sebastián Galán (17:42): “Tenía la autoridad para poderse sentar con cada uno de los entrevistados y servirnos de hilo conductor... el bagaje cultural que tiene... Ha sido una delicia escucharla…”

9. Aftermath and Documentary Availability (18:58–19:59)

• Warhol’s Departure and Legacy:
  • Warhol never returned to Spain; he died three years later.
• The Documentary:
  • Premiered October 31, shown in 40 cinemas; scheduled for further screenings in Barcelona and Madrid, with upcoming streaming platform negotiations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Vijande’s Magnetism:
  Fernando Vijande (05:24): “Se los traía porque estaban encantadas con él, se enamoraban casi de él y querían colaborar con él.”
• On Spain’s Internationalization:
  Martín Moniche (06:43): “Una expresión que posicionó a España como uno de los países donde todo el mundo quería estar... Un país con pasaporte internacional que demostró una vez más ser potencia cultural de primera magnitud.”
• On Warhol’s Understated Fame:
  Sebastián Galán (12:57): “A Warhol lo conocían 15, vamos a decir 15, o sea, una mini mini mini minoría.”
• On Memory and Art:
  Sebastián Galán (16:35): “La transición y el arte están... el arte hizo muchísimo por el cambio.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:26] Spain’s contemporary art scene and Warhol’s arrival.
• [02:27] Armando Montesinos on Warhol’s personality and the magnitude of the event.
• [03:39] Vijande’s relationship with Warhol and his role as a connector.
• [06:43] Martín Moniche describes the cultural moment in early 80s Spain.
• [08:01] Teresa Nieto’s vivid memory of entering the gallery.
• [08:32] Teresa recounts personal experiences during Warhol’s visit.
• [09:24] Armando Montesinos on Warhol’s interaction with the crowd and the unique method of selling tickets.
• [10:29] Only one painting was sold—Armando Montesinos reveals the story.
• [11:49] Sebastián Galán on the importance of reclaiming Vijande’s legacy.
• [12:57] On Warhol’s limited celebrity in Spain at the time.
• [15:01] The exhibition as a historical milestone, regardless of commercial success.
• [16:35] The necessity of remembering cultural— not just political— history.
• [17:42] Alaska as the ideal narrative thread for the documentary.
• [19:00] Warhol never returned; the documentary’s current availability.

Tone & Language

The episode is reflective and celebratory, blending nostalgia with critical perspective. The language is lively, personal, and sometimes poetic, especially when recounting the electric atmosphere of early 80s Spain and the colorful personalities involved. The tone underscores the idea that art and cultural exchange are at the heart of societal transformation.

Conclusion

This episode is a rich oral history of a cultural turning point: Warhol’s visit acted as both a mirror and a catalyst for Spain’s newfound creative freedom. Fernando Vijande emerges as a central, previously overlooked figure whose efforts connected Spanish artists and audiences to the world stage. The documentary “Warhol Vijande” and this podcast episode together offer a layered view of how memory, art, and cultural exchange fuel societal evolution—inviting listeners to remember, celebrate, and continue bridging worlds through creative work.