Elisa Capdevila has turned the walls of Barcelona’s Paral·lel into a living history lesson with her latest mural, a tribute to the former Teatro Talia. Once a cornerstone of the Sant Antoni neighborhood’s cultural identity, the Talia has long since been erased from the cityscape, but its memory is revived through this large-scale artwork. Situated near the theater’s original location, the mural was curated and produced by Street Art Barcelona as part of the ongoing ‘Sant Antoni Recuperem el Talia’ initiative. According to the organizers, the project became a testament to collective memory and community-driven art after weather-related delays.

The mural portrays a backstage moment at the close of a performance, an actress wiping away makeup as the curtain falls. Capdevila, a Barcelona native, draws a poignant connection between the end of a show and the theater’s closure. Collaboratively designed with local groups, the mural amplifies feminist themes, celebrating the overlooked contributions of women in both the performing arts and grassroots activism. The imagery speaks directly to the community’s fight to preserve the cultural relevance of the Talia while advocating for affordable housing and public spaces on its historic grounds.

Beyond the mural’s visual impact, the temporary cultural space it overlooks serves as a gathering point for play and small events—a reminder of the Paral·lel’s former vibrancy, now surrounded by the shifting tides of gentrification. Capdevila’s new work serves as an homage to the past and perhaps a rallying cry for the future.

PR Mural Talia Final ENG

The collaborating community organizations include:

– Plataforma Sant Antoni recuperem el Talia – Associació Pro Teatre Talia Olympia
– Teatre Arnau Itinerant
– Federació d’entitats de Calàbria 66

– Centre Cívic Cotxeres Borrell
– Vocalía de feminisme barri de Sant Antoni
– Fem Sant Antoni
– Taula Comunitaria Sant Antoni
– AVV Barri de Sant Antoni
– De Veí a Veí
– Escola Aldana
– Comunitat de veïns de los dos edificios (Avenida Paral·lel y C/Comte Borrell)

238

138

45