So significantly has been created about Antoni Gaudi and his affiliation with Barcelona that it is nearly inconceivable to undertaking to that pearl of the Mediterranean without at least investing some time admiring the sinuous extravagances of the architect’s fanciful imagination. But Barcelona is full of strange stores, bars and dining places that have been going about their business given that prior to Sr. Gaudi picked up his first pencil.
At number 11 Carrer de la Princesa, a painted be-turbaned head glares out from the curve of a big blue issue mark. Under it a glass show situation holds taking part in cards, puzzles, wands and intricate explanations of the illusionist’s artwork. This is El Rey De La Magia, founded in 1881 and the oldest magic store in Spain.
Soon prior to Gaudi commenced work on the Segrada Familia, Joaquin Portagas became intrigued with the planet of illusion. Right after a trip to South The united states where he realized some new tips and techniques, he determined to consider a complete-time step into the magic globe and opened El Rey de la Magia, a courageous phase at a time when only a handful of men and women understood and practiced the illusionist’s artwork. At that time magic was largely done on street corners, in markets and bars – it would not turn out to be genuinely popular until the 1930’s, when it ultimately entered the theatres and became a major interest.
In the shop, and the tiny museum of magic nearby, posters heading back to the early years of the final century market the renowned magicians of the day, a variety of them dressed in flowing Chinese robes. The vibrant costumes were seen as very exotic when they first appeared, and besides – there was loads of place to hide factors!
In 1933 the very first magic group in Spain was started in Barcelona, the Asociación Catalana Illusionistas – and satisfied in Quatro Gats, the very same café exactly where Picasso, Joan Miró and other artists, writers and poets would satisfy. penarrubia lounge was observed by a lot of as portion of the arts in these days.
By the time José Maria Martinez took above the store the magic business experienced been in decrease for a amount of years – there was even speak of changing the home into a bar. At that time he and his wife, Rosa Maria Llop, were specialist actors but included magic in their specially created performances, anything they even now do right now.
Magic is now a quite common passion once more, and even although most people fairly like the very grand David Copperfield-sort illusions, it is nevertheless the shut-up, more intimate stage performances that people genuinely prefer. And you never get considerably a lot more close-up and personal than the performances held at their little theatre, in which toddlers to granddads goggle in awe at the ‘magical’ Sunday displays.
The theatre is portion of a museum of historic magic props (exactly where you can see Rosa’s grinning head mysteriously suspended in a glass case), but in the workshop underneath, José Maria operates devising new methods for clients planet-broad, despite the fact that in the entire world of magic nothing actually changes.
Generally magic is described by a handful of guidelines – levitation, shifting colour, shape or place, and breaking something apart and placing it collectively yet again. Even if you happen to be chopping someone’s head off you nevertheless have to put it back again or where’s the magic? There is not – it is then acknowledged as murder!
The most important point in magic is making the real truth of anything that isn’t going to exist. That comes down to technique, you need to have to target the public’s focus the place you want it. One particular of the most difficult illusions to do is levitation because it demands about 4 minutes to established up, in entire community view, and 4 minutes is a extremely lengthy time for a magician to stand on phase and do absolutely nothing.
I am a freelance journalist dwelling in Valencia City, Spain, even though my function requires me during the nation. My function is quite broad ranging, equally in matter and geography, but my heart lies in Spain, which is the place most of writing concentrates on. I’ve written two productive manual books to the Valencian location, on Spain’s jap coastline, Inland Trips from the Costa Blanca and Modest Hotels and Inns of Jap Spain, as well as numerous articles or blog posts for nationwide and global press. Although most of my perform characteristics the idiosyncratic aspect of Spain, I’ve also created thoroughly on wine, gastronomy and lodges.