Fifty not-out: Madrid exhibition traces decades of democratic transitions in Portugal and Spain

The Montemadrid Foundation and the Commission for the Commemoration of Fifty Years of Spain in Freedom are presenting an exhibition at Casa Encendida in the Spanish capital which examines half a century of democratic transition in Portugal and Spain

Both countries experienced changed almost simultaneously. Portugal's transition began in 1974 with the 25 April Revolution and Spain's the following year with the death of Franco. The process that followed his demise led to the adoption of the multi-party system and the 1978 Constitution.

Most of the works on display belong to the Montemadrid Foundation. Some were also donated by the Portuguese government.

"Casa Encendida and the Montemadrid Foundation have a collection in which many of the works are unknown to the majority of the public. We thought it was an excellent opportunity to offer a contemporary reading that reflects on the present, making these pieces available to the public, who don't normally have the opportunity to see them," says Pablo Berastegui, director of Casa Encendida.

Based on the collective historical memory of Spain, Portugal and Europe, the exhibition 'Inquietude: Freedom and Democracy' invites a dialogue that contextualises the social, political and cultural aspects of the period from the 1970s to the present day, a time of transition and confrontation between Iberian dictatorships and contemporary democratic regimes.

Paulo Mendes is one of the exhibition's curators: "The aim is to make people reflect on the fascist regimes in Portugal and Spain - how certain fascist parties are once again gaining seats in the Spanish and Portuguese parliaments and how democratic values must be defended. That's why we have the voices of Salazar in this exhibition, evocations of Franco and a first room that reflects on dictatorships and royal dynasties."

The exhibition brings together important works by artists such as Manolo Millares, Antonio Saura, Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies and Maria Helena Vieira da Silva, which dialogue with pieces by Paula Rego, Cristina García Rodero and collectives such as Equipo Crónica and Equipo Realidad.

Imbued with memory, political criticism and social commitment, these creations trace a visual narrative that links dissent, resistance and freedom to the current challenges facing the two Iberian democracies.

"We have works dating from the 1970s or earlier, to contextualise this connection that the artists have with society. The selection was made with this objective in mind: to leave open this proposal to question and provoke reflections on what it means to be a society under construction," adds co-curator Sandra Vieira Jurgens.

Inquietude: Freedom and Democracy is on at Casa Encendida in Madrid until 8 March 2026.