Sant Pancraç, salut i diners!

Saint Pancras returns to Santa Mònica! Don’t miss this surprise performance by Xavier Manubens as part of Sense esquerda no hi ha punt de llum.

The performance, which the artist presented during the 1990s and 2000s at various art centres, museums, and cultural and public spaces, consists of a series of appearances by Saint Pancras, which may be unexpected or announced in advance.

The format is site-specific, using the architecture of the space to surprise the audience. When an appearance is announced, parsley is prepared for spectators, who get ready to witness an event lasting between 30 and 40 seconds.

Saint Pancras always wears his original costume: sandals, a white shirt with gold studs on the collar and sleeves, a green dress with gold studs on the collar and hem, a red velvet cape, a green belt with three gold studs, a wig, a crown (fastened at the back), a thick book, and a quill. Sunglasses are essential. The posture is static and hieratic: the right-hand index finger extended with the hand folded, the other hand holding the book and quill in a vertical position, legs almost together and feet separated by only one or two fingers.

Some of Saint Pancras's appearances: 1992, Palau de la Virreina, exhibition “Arthur Cravan. Poeta i boxador”; 2005, Mahalta, International Poetry Festival of Lleida; 2005, River Ebro descent, International Festival of Music Bands of Tortosa; 2005, MACBA, exhibition “Coming Soon on this Screen: Letterist Cinema, between discrepancy and revolt"; 2017, Picasso Museum of Barcelona, exhibition “Arthur Cravan. Maintenant?”.

Led by Xavier Manubens
Photos: Xavier Mulet
Video: Maite Ninou

Xavier Manubens (Barcelona, 1956) is a visual artist, he has been creating installations, speaking in public spaces and designing exhibition spaces since 1980. The 1990s were the start of the Saint Pancras visions and video installations with Maite Ninou. He has participated in the creation of collective projects such as Zum-Zum, Aparadors d’Art and Turisme Tàctic. His projects have been included in various national and international exhibitions.