Exhibition «Catalan mythology»

The central exhibition of Festival 42 brings together around fifteen emblematic figures from Catalan folklore, presented through an approach that connects tradition and fantasy literature. Characters such as Joan de l’Os engage in dialogue with the modern figure of the superhero, while legends such as that of the Serpent evoke popular imaginary worlds recognisable to new generations. Legendary swords, creatures and ancestral tales thus reveal unexpected links with universal myths, from the Arthurian cycle to references from contemporary popular culture.

The exhibition is built around the illustrations of Laia Baldevey, curator of the display and a specialist in the graphic representation of mythology, author of works dedicated to the mythology of the Països Catalans and Montserrat mountain. The exhibition is completed by pieces from the Catalan festive bestiary lent by popular-culture organisations, reinforcing the bridge between living tradition and artistic creation.

The display begins a travelling tour of different Barcelona libraries between 2026 and 2027, bringing this narrative heritage closer to new audiences and reclaiming Catalan mythology as an inexhaustible source of stories yet to be told.

 Biblioteca Joan Miró (From 14 January to 20 March 2026), Biblioteca Barceloneta – La Fraternitat (From 24 March to 29 April 2026), Biblioteca El Carmel – Juan Marsé (From 2 May to 10 July 2026), Biblioteca Guinardó – Mercè Rodoreda (From 15 July to 11 September 2026), Biblioteca Montserrat Abelló (From 15 September to 13 November 2026), Biblioteca Collserola – Josep Miracle (From 13 November 2026 to 7 January 2027), Biblioteca Poblenou-Manuel Arranz (From 13 January to 26 February 2027).