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The works of Miguel Etxebarria reflect the customs, characters, and colors of Euskal Herria in a European Basque atmosphere, but also as part of the Argentine and diaspora geography.  The exhibit “Basques from there.  Basques from here,” can be visited in San Nicolas and in Buenos Aires.  In San Nicolas, as part of the Semana Nacional Vasca: and in Buenos Aires during the last days of November at the Hall of Honor of the Legislature. 

Buenos Aires, Argentina.   He was born in France, in Les Landes, north to the Basque Country, in the heart of a Basque family originally from the small town of Baranbio, Araba and he keeps living in Seignosse, France a few kilometers north to Baiona.  As the artist told EuskalKultura.com,  he is “the descendant of Basque immigrants that had to flee Euskadi during the Civil War."  "When we arrived in France, we were considered Spanish and were prohibited to speak the language.”

This didn’t make Etxebarria forget his roots: just the opposite, his admiration for the culture and Basque uniqueness is reflected in a special way in his work.  Inspired by impressionism, the Basque-French artists paints with oil on canvas on themes of Euskal Herria: the coast, the mountains, the sea, farmhouses, typical Basque festivals, myths, daily life….Basques and descendants of Basques are spread all over the world and Etxebarria also paints about the Basque presence outside of the Basque Country, like in Argentina.  In fact some of his paintings include mate, tango and gauchos as part of his “Basques in Patagonia,” series.

The Exhibit in Argentina

“Basque from there.  Basque from here,” will be presented by the artist himself in two Argentine cities.  The exhibit will be inaugurated in San Nicolas on November 6^th at 7pm as part of the Semana Nacional Vasca festivities.  The exhibit will be open through November 12^th from 10am-10pm at the Concejo Deliberante and the Art School #501.  In the City of Buenos Aires, the exhibit will be open to the public from November 27-December 1, in the Hall of Honor of the Legislature, Peru Street 130.

This isn’t the first time that this Basque painter has crossed the Atlantic with his paintings.  Ten years ago, in 2007, he visited Buenos Aires invited by the Euskal Argentina Group, and presented the painting called “Joaldunak” to the Iparraldeko Euskal Etxea.

Some of the artist’s other works can be seen on his Facebook page.