- The Basque cultural institution will present at the Casa Ducontenia de San Juan de Luz from 12 September to 10 October 2021 the new multimedia travelling exhibition that aims to make known the treasures of our oral memory. It's called "Eleketa, oroimenak," and it's based on the memory pickup program of the same name that started in 2007. In San Juan de Luz, Ibon Gaztañazpi will approach the program to assess the testimonies collected both in the town and in the surrounding villages.
In 2007, the Basque Cultural Institute started a great project: the compilation of the oral memory of the inhabitants of Iparralde. This program, currently known as Eleketa, is carried out under the direction of the Department of the Atlantic Pyrenees, collecting about thirty testimonies a year.
EKE wants to make known the wealth of the Eleketa fund. The multimedia exhibition "Eleketa, oral memories" has been created with the aim of bringing together in each territory the testimonies so that they return to the earth and that people enjoy.
From September 12 to October 10, 2021, at the Casa Ducontenia, 78 witnesses of the territory of San Juan de Luz (Ahetze, Arbona, Azkaine, Biriatu, Donibane Lohizune, Getaria, Hendaia, Sara, Senpere, Urruña, Ziburu) tell us about their experiences and their visual memories through their. It should be noted that the video fragments will be presented in the exhibition with their original transcription and translation (in Basque or French). Thus, both Euskaldunes and Castilian speakers will be able to enjoy the testimonies collected year after year.
In addition, all of them will be complemented by images and zombie objects left by witnesses to the territory.
Like private individuals and researchers, local radio and television stations have also been and are collecting the memory of Euskal Herria. Maite Barnetch (1941-1986) made much of the reports that the public television broadcast under the slogan "Euskal Herria esta eta gero" until 1971-1986. Some of them will be seen in San Juan de Luz, all rolled in the territory.
The Basque cultural institution has also given the opportunity for creators to participate in the exhibition. The films Lur Olaizola (Donostia, 1988) and Oskar Alegria (Iruñea, 1973) have been invited to explore the topic of oral memory. Each will offer the visitor his personal thoughts and readings through the papers presented (the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa has collaborated with the Lur Olaizola project).
The exhibition "Eleta, oroimenak" should travel in other territories of Ipar Euskal Herria during the coming months, always adapting to the local context, valuing the testimonies collected here and there. From 6 November to 4 December 2021, for example, it will be displayed at Donibane Garazi.
The list of witnesses and its details can be found on the website of Euskal Kultur Erakundea.