Page 11 - YGARTUA: Magnum Opus - volume two

do you want your children to learn from
What are your impressions of that first
summer in Gorliz? How old were you?
I had my own donkey at four and half
years of age in the Basque Country, he
was the same age as me and he was born
on the family farm – they said it was mine
and his name was Mayo. The traditions, children, I want them to learn that there
the family farmhouse, Amezaga, my
Aunts and Uncles, my Grandparents are
without doubt the best memories of my
childhood. The annual visit to the Basque
Country has converted into a family
tradition for me. Before with my parents
and now with my wife and children and
now my grandchildren. It was important
for my Father to impregnate the Basque
pride and teach us the importance of his
pueblo Gorliz, and now I consider it my
duty to pass on this pride and enduring
resilience to the next generation. My
Basque roots and my love for this country
are stronger than ever and this is the
reason why I return every year.
I guess it was quite important for you, The Beatles: They proved that one can
since you keep coming back every summer
with your wife and your children. What
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this experience?
The Basques fought so hard to preserve
their race and culture that one cannot
go to the Basque Country without
feeling this pride and admiration of
their resilience and determination. My
is a place in everybody’s heart that they
have to return to and I want them to
have that same sensation of belonging, a
connection to our ancestors.
Can’t help to mention the Beatles, since
I learned you went to the Liverpool Art
College with John Lennon. How did it feel
to be part of that creativity, of a generation
that was making something completely
new? Did it influence your art?
In the 60’s Liverpool was the melting pot
for talent, everybody was close to somebody
that ended up famous, but by the mid-60’s
people were leaving and Liverpool started
to lose its popularity.
become famous, even if they came from
Liverpool, made you believe everything