Entangled in stories

Archive & Public Culture research fellow José Manuel de Prada-Samper and his storytelling partner Helena Cuesta recently brought life and legend to the Annex of the Iziko South African National Gallery during an enchanted evening of storytelling.

The listeners become storytellers too

Captivated listeners

The Spanish-born storytellers were hosted on the night of 22 August by the newly launched Annex Residency Programme and its first resident artist, Emilio Moreno, who also hails from Spain. The Programme, initiated by APC research fellow and curator Clare Butcher, is focused on forming unlikely connections between places, practices and people through artistic practice.

Emilio Moreno introduces the evening

José and Helena produce the essential fire

De Prada-Samper (Salamanca, Spain) studied at the University of Barcelona, Columbia University (NY), and the University of Alcalá de Henares with a thesis about the lion stories of the /Xam San. He is currently working in South Africa as a post-doctoral research fellow at the Centre for Curating the Archive at the University of Cape Town's Hiddingh campus.

Helena Cuesta (Valladolid, Spain) studied History of Art and Medieval History at the university in her home town because, in her own words, 'I like to see things from different points of view and also, because I like to look into the past to better understand the present and contribute to build a better future.' 

José and Helena tell the same story in two languages