As the 20th century progressed, the publication of erotic novels increased tenfold, as there was no longer such shame and censorship on these kinds of books. Which is why in 1980, Leopoldo Azancot was able to publish his book The Forbidden Loves, without having to use any kind of pseudonym to protect himself – indeed his narrative was proud, and outspoken, making no apologies for its racy content.

This novel differs from the rest, because the protagonist is a man, and not a woman – even though it happens to be a woman who ends up being mostly responsible for the actions of the young man. It is about a boy who, as he is escaping the police, utterly terrified, he finds refuge in the house of a prostitute, who welcomes him in with open arms. From that first day, it becomes a relationship of love, solidarity, and passion which draws in the reader immediately.

From the moment that the young boy steps foot in the prostitute’s house, the tale of passion begins. It makes for gripping reading – there is of course a lot of sex, but also love, life stories and lessons. The protagonist had never believed that such pleasures could exist, and as he is totally seduced by his lover, he lets himself be taken by the turbulent waters of sex mixed with love.

The novel’s author, Leopoldo Azancot, is Spanish, and was born in Seville in 1935. The novel is one of many he published throughout his life. He not only wrote erotic novels, but many others which have been publicly acclaimed – which explains why he didn’t hesitate to sign off the book with his true name, and with pride.

d.b

Reading this book as a couple is one of life’s pleasures. If you rent apartments in Seville you can explore the native city of the author – the streets which inspired him, and the passion in the air.

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Translated by: Poppy
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At just 31 years, Aberdeen, Scotland-born Ruth Ewan is fast becoming known as one of the key faces of the contemporary European art world. The young artist has devoted herself to the investigation of cultural activism, and the analysis of ideas which circulate the world which are not necessarily the ones which are used for official communication; as well as songs, myths, and how different important moments in history can affect the present, in different ways, and then how to use these effects in order to be able to give them new meaning and interpretation.

The art works Ewan creates, in the shape of drawings, and installations, are amongst the most varied around, as she is in constant contact with the worlds of both art and music; painting, historians, activists, student, and much more besides.

Her pieces have been described by critics as conceptual works which have the intention of referring to social development, and which, for the most part, also take the histories and pasts of different societies as a key reference point. She refers to both more recent changes and others further back in the past – Ewan explains that her opinion is that history is not something which has passed, and is finished with, but something which is still totally connected to the present, and is full of ideas for the future.

Ewans is bringing these thoughts to the Andalucia Center of Contemporary Art (CAAC), at the Monasterio de la Cartuja de Sevilla, for a presentation of her work called The Ephemeral Past, taking place between the 30th of June and 16th of October. Especially interesting, as it is the first time in Spain for the artist who has previously shown in Tate Britain and the ICA in London.

More information: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/caac/programa/ewan11/frame.htm

Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporáneo: Américo Vespucio, 2, Sevilla, España

MiLK

If you feel like discovering the work of promising and exciting Scottish artist Ruth Ewan, you could rent one of the apartments in Seville and discover the beautiful city too.

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Translated by: Poppy
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On June 22  the XII Edition of The Nights in the Gardens of the Alcázar of Seville began where, once again and until September, it displays a full program of classical , ancient and the lesser known ancient Andalusian music  in different locations outside of this monumental palace in the heart of the Andalusian capital.

The Real Alcázar is located next to the Cathedral, the Giralda and the Archives of the Indies of the ancient Roman Híspalis. The building that has survived until today is the result of a consistent architectural transformation that began in the eighth century with the first Arab kingdoms, ending, almost at the beginning of XX Century.

Of all these buildings from different eras The Royal Alcazar is noted for its beauty and is the palace chosen by the Spanish monarchy in their visits to the city of Seville.

We specially mention, above all, its magnificent courtyards with fountains and gardens inspired by Al-Andalus and specially these gardens (Hall of the Grotesque, The English Garden, The Garden of the Poets, The Garden of the Bedchamber gazebo, The Garden of the Marquis de Vega-Inclán and The Cross Garden), where outdoor concerts are held.

There are no major symphony concerts. These evening gatherings are usually enlivened by musicians and quartets grouped as chamber ensembles of both classical music (Classicism, Romanticism and Nationalism) and old (medieval, Three Cultures, Renaissance and Baroque) giving  special priority to the Andalusian music. Others styles are also welcomed such as Flamenco rhythms, Jazz, Blues and Folk.

The program is renewed daily, and visitors in Seville spend a few days in town, where may attend every night a different representation. The month of July 2011 opened with the performance of one of the greatest “singers” of today’s flamenco scene, Jose Soto “Sordera”, accompanied on guitar by Salvador Gutiérrez. Day 2 is reserved for Sarmacanda Andalusian music group, whose members come from Morocco (Fez and Casablanca) and Spain (Badajoz). The over turn to classical music arrives on Monday the 4th, Tuesday the 5th and Wednesday the  6th with the concerts of the quartet Sono Reale chamber from Italy, the Spanish mezzo-soprano Amaya Dominguez and the cellists duo formed by the Belgian and English musicians Dirk Sasha and Vanhuyse Crisan.

Access is through the Jardines de Murillo throughthe door in the corner of the Avenida Menendez Pelayo on San Fernando Street, where the ticket booths open a few hours before the performance. You can also purchase tickets by electronic means.

The evening concerts of the Real Alcazar of Seville is one more incentive not only to visit Seville but also to see this beautiful area from another perspective.

Candela Vizcaíno

The best option to get to enjoy and attend these summer concerts is to rent apartments in Seville With this option you will be free to enter and exit the event both night and day.

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Translated by: Marc
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It’s often easy to fall into the temptation of thinking that there’s only one world. In reality it’s not just a thought but more of a rejection to reflect on the subject, maybe not just due to intellectual laziness but because of a preservation instinct towards the destructive power of abyss. Zarathustra reminded us that there isn’t a place in the universe where one doesn’t confront, if they open their eyes, the contemplation of the abyss. Maybe that’s why the best part of us prefers to maintain them shut most of the time, because a lot of courage would be needed to look straight at an abyss, a lot of courage would be needed to say yes to pleasure – that richer, deeper, more terrible and monstrous than suffering, it wants profound eternity of all things – knowing that with that we’re saying yes to all pain and suffering. Vertigo is a mix of fear of one self to fall and be destroyed and the unconscious desire that it happens, the desire and the attraction that the abyss exercises. Despite that “courage even kills vertigo next to the abyss, and in what place would a man be if he wasn’t by the abyss! The simple act of looking – isn’t it looking at the abyss?

That’s why we usually renounce thinking about that and we pretend that we live in a unique world but, actually, there are so many worlds and realities which are incommunicable (the experience is, essentially, incommunicable, which doesn’t stop the continuous reception of sensations that allow encounters and turn us into artists of the senses) as there are live beings in the cosmos. Thus it’s rigorously impossible to withdraw from the world. Maybe that’s why expression, for people that down the centuries have decided to stand out of the common rhythm of of things, hasn’t been withdrawing from the world but withdrawing from the century. Even so, today, in the middle of modern cities completely alienated from what’s going on in the inside of the enclosed convents, where people choose to go into them one day and not leave them for the rest of their lives. That was the case of Sister Teresita – whose real name was Valeria – who went into the convent of Buenafuente del Sistal (province of Guadalajara) at the age of 19, on April 16th 1927 – curiously the same day that the current Pope Benedict XVI was born – and whose interview is one of the main moments of the book which has just come out in Spain What is a girl like you doing in a place like this? whose author Jesús García tries to gives us a closer look to the reasons that these women have to go into this kind of monstrous and delicate life.

The 17 enclosed convents in Sevilla, eight of which can be visited, occupy a prominent place in the enormous historical and artistic historical patrimony of the city. Being the case, as an example, the magnificent monastery of the Poor Clare of Saint Mary of Jesus, founded by Don Álvaro of Portugal in 1502. (http://www.artesacro.org/conocersevilla/templos/conventos/santamariajesus/index.html)

Paul Oilzum

It’s not just its undoubted historical and artistic value – where the Baroque altarpiece and the carvings of Luisa ‘la Roldana’ and Juan de Mena shine – which makes us shudder. As you will be able to see for yourself when you rent apartments in Seville

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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