The main candidates for the mayoralty of Barcelona posed yesterday for the traditional photograph of La Vanguardia before the electoral consultations. This time it was Xavier Cervera, responsible for the photography section of the rotating team, in charge of immortalizing the mayors: mayor Ada Colau (BComú), Ernest Maragall (ERC), Jaume Collboni (PSC), Xavier Trias (TriasxBCN ), Anna Grau (Citizens), Eva Parera (Valents) and Daniel Sirera (PP).
It is, indeed, about something more than a simple snapshot, much more than a photo that is always published on election day. After so many cross-criticisms, so many attacks and swords between the candidates typical of every electoral contest, the photograph is like a reminder that the final objective of the elections is the search for consensus, for a social pact that allows overcoming differences and the ideological divisions in favor of improving the lives of all the people who make up Barcelona.
And, in this way, in a very natural way and not at all imposed, the cordiality and at times even the good vibes of the contenders prevailed throughout the event, this year on board a boat from the Port of Barcelona, from Consulate of the Sea, moored next to the World Trade Center, with the statue of Columbus in the background. And, with the candidates, an unexpected exceptional protagonist, the Hundred Guineas Cup, the America's Cup trophy, the great competition that will take place next year.
Some of the political chroniclers with the most tables in the city say that this very symbolic photograph is, in reality, the result of Barcelona's character, of the dialogical and conciliatory spirit, of the predisposition to get along with those who are different, and they also say that hard carrying out similar initiatives in other large cities is practically impossible, as there are not a few places where any attempt to put tensions aside is always orthopedic, artificial, imposed...
And Colau was always in a very good mood, laughing at the successive thanks of Sirera, who revealed himself to be the funniest of the group. Parera also had a great time, still on the fast-paced roller coaster of these two weeks. Maragall, as he is, restrained his desire to participate in the organization of the session. Collboni, for his report, very attentive to the instructions, very participative. Trias unabashedly enjoyed the sea breeze. And Grau, the most reserved, did the same with the sun. They all endured the final effort very well. They even took a few selfies with the smiling sea! The truth is that there is no more firewood or wood, no more luck to throw. The cards are already on the table. Today is the big day for the people of Barcelona.
In reality, the one who had the worst time – so to speak – on board the Consulat de Mar was Newton, the custodian of the Cup of the Hundred Guineas, the person responsible for making sure that no mishaps ever happen to him to the America's Cup trophy. The dusty white gloves attest to his zeal and dedication. The trophy arrived in town from New Zealand a few days ago. Obviously, he didn't take any chances at any point. But every time the photographer Cervera instructed Newton to take a few steps back, the custodian couldn't help but adopt a feline stance in order to be ready for any mishap. In fact, he was not at all amused that the session was on a boat. And if it sinks? Afterward, Newton relaxed, a little…
In addition, they are increasingly daring, risky and complex snapshots that also require the complicity of politicians. In 2011, on the Tívoli theater stage, Jordi Portabella, Alberto Fernández Díaz, Jordi Hereu, Trias and Ricard Gomà threw some gigantic letters into the air, the letters that make up the word Barcelona. And in 2019 Anna Saliente, Collboni, Manuel Valls, Colau, Elsa Artadi, Maragall and Josep Bou began to sip in the fountain of the Mies van der Rohe pavilion. Then, they all got wet in Barcelona. This is the spirit of photography.
And the photographer is both obliged to foresee even the last detail and ready to improvise at any moment. It's been a couple of months since Cervera knew that he would be the one to click. "The first thing I thought about was the location - he remembers - in a location of consensus, in something that did not confront the candidates". And what better place than a ship, with all the metaphors that entails. And, let's get down to business, the photographer said to himself, let everything revolve around the America's Cup. No, it is not at all easy to find a big event that all the mayors consider positive for the city. Fortunately, both the Port of Barcelona and the organization of the nautical competition supported the initiative and offered their full collaboration.
And Cervera clicked it with his camera on a folding ladder set up on the dock as the candidates greeted him from the boat, and also took off his shoes and climbed on top of the Consulate of the Sea to photograph candidates looking at them through long-sighted glasses. "Mayor or mayoress in sight...", he told them. And suddenly the gremlins and goblins appear. Long-sighted glasses are missing! where the hell is it Luckily it appeared right away, next to the rudder. "Close your eyes and open them to the count of three... One, two and...".
Because the photographer must attend to all the details very quickly. Despite being at the day of reflection, since the electoral campaign is finally over, the agenda of the mayors is still very busy. Because politicians also have families, a few loved ones that they have barely been able to see in the last two weeks and who are now demanding their attention as well.
It has been 39 years since the photographer Pedro Madueño took the first snapshot of the then candidates for president of the Generalitat: Jordi Pujol (CiU), Raimon Obiols (PSC), Heribert Barrera (ERC) and Antoni Gutiérrez Díaz (PSUC). And since then, since that 1984, election after election, consultation after consultation, this session that is always held during the day of reflection became a custom and, finally, a classic of political life in Catalonia The first time that La Vanguardia immortalized the main candidates for mayor of Barcelona was in 1991. Then, a Pasqual Maragall, already in his fifties, posed together with Josep M., Eulàlia Vintró and Enrique Lacalle.
A simple glance at La Vanguardia's newspaper archive reveals many interesting details from these four decades. We're not just talking about different ways of dressing. Through all the snapshots, we also witness the historical evolutions of the different political forces, the booms and also the declines. And, page after page too, we see the reflection of some social changes. In other times, not as many women appeared as in recent years. No way. The scenarios chosen also show us the evolution of the city. In this way, for example, in 2003, Imma Mayol, Alberto Fernández Díaz, Joan Clos, Trias and Portabella started work on the Glòries tower, of the building still under construction signed by the architect Jean Nouvel. Back then, it was just cement.
