• Restaurants & Tapas
• Bars & Clubs
• Schools
• Shopping
• Tourism
• Accommodation
• Sports
• Health & Beauty

All Neighborhoods/Metros M - Alonso Martínez M - Anton Martín M - Argüelles M - Atocha M - Banco de España M - Bilbao M - Callao M - Chueca M - Colón M - Concha Espina M - Cuatro Caminos M - Cuzco M - Estrecho M - Goya M - Gran Vía M - Iglesia M - La Latina M - Lavapiés M - Lista M - Manuel Becerra M - Moncloa M - Noviciado M - Nuevos Ministerios M - Nuñez de Balboa M - O'Donnell M - Opera M - Plaza España M - Príncipe de Vergara M - Retiro M - Rubén Darío M - San Bernardo M - Santiago Bernabeu M - Santo Domingo M - Serrano M - Sevilla M - Sol M - Tetuán M - Tirso de Molina M - Tribunal M - Velázquez M - Ventura Rodríguez N - Austrias N - Chueca N - Huertas/Lavapies N - Malasaña/Conde Duque N - Rastro/Puerta de Toledo N - Salamanca O'Donnell ODonnell All Types American Argentine Auteur Chef Brazilian Cajun Chinese Cuban French Fusion Gourmet Delicatessen Hamburger Joints Indian International Italian Japanese Kosher Lebanese Mediterranean Mexican Moroccan Pastries Peruvian Russian Seasonal Market Senegalese Spanish Specialty Thai Vegetarian

search

Spanish History in Art - Dos de Mayo

Why do We Riot? Exhibit on Dos de Mayo

If you were here on the 2nd of May last year (2007), you’ll remember the riots in the barrio of Malasaña: hooded activists lobbing stones and lighting fires, police in combat...

Goya

Exhibit: España 1808-1814. La Nación en Armas
Location: Teatro Fernán Gómez
Hours: Tues-Sat 10-21:00, Sun and holidays 10 to 19:00
Entance: Free

If you were here on the 2^nd of May last year (2007), you’ll remember the riots in the barrio of Malasaña: hooded activists lobbing stones and lighting fires, police in combat gear wielding batons, innocent bystanders being assaulted by either or both groups. In short, deeply romanticized chaos.

For those of you who missed out, no worries, the riots will happen again this year I guarantee – it’s sort of the Super Bowl of local politics. Although the fighting is annual in Plaza Dos de Mayo, few can explain the motivation.

The site in question commemorates the uprising that marked the beginning of the end for the occupying French forces (1808), but beyond that it gets a little blurry. In 2007, we were fighting because… the French are still here? No. We’ve been occupied by another oppressive force? No. Heightened emotions and blood-alcohol levels led us to think throwing rocks at police officers is somehow a political stance? Maybe.

In the run up to this year’s riots, if you’re hoping to zero in on the history behind this deeply emotive event, we have just the exhibit for you: España 1808-1814. La Nación en Armas.

As part of the 200^th anniversary of the expulsion of French forces, this year-long series of exhibits details the events, characters, and perspectives. The exhibit includes arms, uniforms, manuscripts and paintings grouped in sections.

De aliados a invasores (From the Allied to the Invadors) deals with the management of the political crisis that led to the revolt; "Una guerra también entre españoles" (Also a War between the Spaniards) discusses conflict between those loyal to the French forces; "En el camino de la victoria" (On the Road to Victory) shows the final period of conflict, and "La mujer en guerra" (Women in the War) presents the contribution of women in the conflict.

In all honesty, the exhibit may not explain the inevitable events of May 2, 2008, but at least you’ll have better handle on the source of all the confusion.