The Pavilion of La Guinea Española in the Exposición Iberoamericana of Seville, 1929

Dublin Core

Title

The Pavilion of La Guinea Española in the Exposición Iberoamericana of Seville, 1929

Subject

Colonial Pavilions in the Exposición Iberoamericana

Description

“Spain assumes a new commitment and a new spiritual challenge in its territories of equatorial Africa: the very Christian enterprise of converting the “helpless” and “backward” native population of Guinea. The conjunction of both colonization designs results in the articulation of an enormous project of a Spanish-African spiritual community, very close, at least in theory, to what had been projected on American lands in the past. These are the ideological and spiritual bases that make it possible for the Sevillian exhibition to structure its contents in a Trinitarian model supported by the presence of the Spanish provinces, the American republics and the Hispanic colonies in Africa, with the unavoidable complement of the presence of several pavilions. institutional and the participation of some Spanish and foreign companies” (Sánchez Gomez 1049)


The role of colonial pavilions in 19th and 20th century international expositions merits critical evaluation. These pavilions served as showcases for colonial powers to project cultural superiority, economic prowess, and political authority over their colonies. They often presented a curated image of colonial territories, highlighting indigenous crafts, natural resources, and aspects of daily life, but frequently through a lens shaped by colonial stereotypes and Eurocentric perspectives. The Guinea Pavilion exemplifies this approach, presenting Equatorial Guinea as a cultural and economic asset under Spanish governance, yet through a filtered and sometimes patronizing portrayal.

The Guinea Pavilion at the Seville exposition, spanning 2,832 square meters on a 3,400 square meter plot, stood significantly larger than its Moroccan counterpart, illustrating Spain's expansive colonial ambitions. Designed by architect José Granados de la Vega and funded by the General Directorate of Morocco and Colonies, its construction aimed to assert Spain's presence in Equatorial Guinea. According to the official guide, the pavilion's overall concept was orchestrated by agricultural engineer Emilio Gómez Flores, with artistic oversight by Vicente Zubillaga. However, scholar Luis Ángel Sánchez Gómez critiques the design as a neo-colonial portrayal of "exotic-primitive" architectures, lacking genuine ethnographic inspiration (1069).

Moreover, these pavilions were instruments of diplomatic strategy, asserting colonial claims and justifying imperial rule amidst growing international scrutiny and anti-colonial movements. They functioned as tools of soft power, influencing global perceptions of colonial administrations and reinforcing colonial hierarchies. The Guinea Pavilion, with its elaborate design and substantial size, aimed to impress visitors with Spain's commitment to modernizing and civilizing its African territories, while simultaneously perpetuating colonial narratives that justified European dominance over non-Western societies.

Creator

Alexis Hernando Cubas

Source

Carlos, Abelardo de. Libro de oro Ibero Americano: catálogo oficial y monumental de la exposición de Sevilla. [Santander]: [Aldus, s. a., de artes gráficas], 1929.

Sánchez Gómez, Luis Á. "África en Sevilla: la exhibición colonial de la Exposición Iberoamericana de 1929." Hispania (Madrid), vol. 66, no. 224, 2006, pp. 1045-1082

Postcard Colonial Pavilion of the Spanish Guinea: https://sevilla.abc.es/sevilla/sevi-pabellones-29-sevilla-exoticos-memoriales-africa-201907060812_noticia.html

Manuel, "Fotos y postales antiguas de Sevilla":
https://postalesyfotosantiguasdesevilla.blogspot.com/

Date

1929

Rights

Territorios españoles del Golfo de Guinea. / Pabellón Colonial, Exposición Iberoamericana: Public Domain Mark 1.0

Relation

Montalbán, Ramón. "La Guinea Española en la Exposición Ibero-Americana de Sevilla" Africa. Revista de Tropas Coloniales (Ceuta) 54 (junio de 1929) pp. 142-143

Rodríguez Bernal, Eduardo. Historia de la Exposición Ibero-
Americana de Sevilla de 1929, Sevilla, Servicio de Publicaciones del Ayuntamiento de Sevilla, 1994.

Exposición Iberoamericana, 1929. Territorios españoles del Golfo de Guinea. / Pabellón Colonial, Exposición Iberoamericana, Sevilla 1929. Madrid: Imprenta de Gráficas Reunidas, 1929. Online Access, Biblioteca de la Universidad de Sevilla. https://archive.org/details/HCSFCa03042/page/n1/mode/2up

Format

Physical Medium

Language

Spanish and English

Coverage

Spain