Antonio Pons Cirac (English)
PONS CIRAC was born in Maella (Zaragoza) on June 11th 1921. At a young age,
when he was not yet two years old, his parents moved to Barcelona. He spent
his youth alternating his studies with his love of drawing.
At the age of nineteen he began to work in a workshop dedicated to
glass carving. He soon excelled in his creative work, so that it was not long
before he was given more demanding commissions which he solved with uncommon
genius. Within six months he was already first mate. The following year he set
up on his own, so that he was free to create true filigrams in glass
carving.
In 1953 he presented his first works made up of vases at
the First International Exhibition in Madrid, where he stood out for his
originality and was awarded a medal and a diploma of honour.
In
1956 his works were selected to be presented at the Selective Exhibition in
Milan, where he was the only Spanish cut glass artist.
In December
of the same year he presented his first private exhibition at the Sala de Arte
"La Pinacoteca" in Barcelona, this exhibition was the beginning of a success
that would last throughout his career.
In 1957 one of his great
works (a vase with the image of H.H. Pius XII) was acquired by the parish of
Sant Medí and given personally by the artist to H.H. The work was exhibited in
the Vatican Treasury in Rome.
In 1.059 his second exhibition is
held at the Sala de Arte "Los Certales" in Barcelona, repeating the great
success of the first one with the critics and the public.
In the
same year his works presided over the First Exhibition of Glass and Crystal in
the Sala de Bellas Artes in Madrid, where he was awarded a diploma.
In
1960 his third exhibition was held at the Sala de Arte "Los Certales" in
Madrid. In this exhibition he was honoured with the presence of different
personalities, among them the Permanent Secretary of Fine Arts José Francés,
who said the following words:
"The art and spirit of Pons Cirac is understood before his work and
Spain finds itself before the maximum revelation of a great
artist".
In 1963 he was awarded the Official Cross of the French National Merit in
France and was presented with it at an official ceremony at the French
Institute in Barcelona.
In the same year, in view of his merits, he
was appointed Commander of the Benicassim Order.
In 1967 the film
director Juan Francisco de Lasa made a documentary entitled "Las manos de Pons
Cirac" (Pons Cirac's hands). In which we can see how the artist's work is
carried out. Due to the great success of the documentary, a tribute was
offered to him in Terraza Martini.
From that moment on, different
sequences of the documentary were projected by news programmes of the time
such as NODO and the first TVE. This documentary, the original 16 mm. It is on
deposit at the Filmoteca de la Generalitat de Cataluña.
In the same
year he held his fourth exhibition, but this time he ventured to New York. In
the Sala de Arte D'Arcy Galleries, attended by the Consul General of Spain,
Mr. Manuel Alabart. Because of this exhibition he had the proposal to stay and
work in New York, but the roots were too strong and he did not agree to the
proposal. Some of the most important works are exhibited in the Kennedy Museum
and the Eisenhower Museum at the Center d'Abilene (Kansas).
In 1969 he presented vases and for the first time his latest creation on flat
surfaces under the name of glass paintings. This exhibition was held at the
Sala de Arte "La Pinacoteca" in Barcelona.
It was a great success
with critics and the public. The critics awarded him the prize for the best
exhibition of Plastic Arts in Barcelona for his great work and his spirit of
sacrifice. At last, after an honourable struggle, perseverance and the desire
for perfection, the seal of a great success is visible.
In the same
year these works were presented at the Sala de Arte de la Excma. Diputación de
Zaragoza. The critics were unanimous and the public attendance was
excellent.
Due to his great success on his return to Barcelona, the
city of his sleepless nights and the watchtower of his great work, Terraza
Martini offered him a cocktail party as a tribute, attended by authorities and
personalities from the world of criticism, science and the arts.
In
1969 NO-DO projected on a national scale all the part of his short-film in
colour. Few celluloid masters are enough to get an idea of the fullness to
which the artist has reached, but it is just recognition of the great spirit
of sacrifice and perseverance. (NO-DO newsreel no. 1456 A)
In 1970 Pons Cirac was requested by various European cities: France, Italy, Belgium, etc. to exhibit his work. But his obsession was to return and prepare an exhibition dedicated to the schools of Barcelona and the province, and he was given the Sala de Arte I.F.A.C. and he gave himself fully to the preparation of the exhibition.
In the month of November it is inaugurated, and every day countless pupils pass through it. The artist gives an explanation of the work and his technique, then the documentary "The hands of Pons Cirac" is shown, and the visit ends with a discussion with the students. The exhibition lasts two and a half months and at the end of the exhibition prizes are awarded for the best essays on the exhibition.
The effort has been immense but is rewarded by the large number of visitors. The critics are sensational. Among the many personalities who visited the exhibition, we must mention H.R.H. Prince Juan Carlos, the Civil Governor of the province, the General of the General Staff, the President of the Provincial Council, etc. We must also mention the two magnificent concerts given in his honour by the eminent pianist Josefina Gómez Toldrá.
Due to his great success, he was awarded a commemorative plaque by the Cultural Delegation of Barcelona for his artistic labours.
On May 30th of the same year he is received in a special audience by H.R.H. the Prince of Spain, Juan Carlos, at the Palacete Albéniz to present him with a vase with the image of His Royal Highnesses, and is warmly congratulated.
In 1975 his studio-museum was inaugurated, considered to be the only one of its kind in glass carving.
In 1978 he held an exhibition in homage to Catalonia at the Palau Meca in Barcelona. At this exhibition he was awarded the Belgian-Hispanic Cross of Merit. During the exhibition (three days a week) the aforementioned documentary is shown, followed by a colloquium on the exhibition. The critics are favourable to the exhibited work.
In 1980 he exhibits for the first time in his artistic life at the Sala Cezanne in Barcelona, three-dimensional Gouasch paintings.
In 1981 the Centro Aragonés in Barcelona paid tribute to him in the Sala Magna, where he presented an exhibition of his works. A large number of people attended the event, followed by a dinner. At this event he was awarded a silver plaque. The artist presented a work with allegorical motifs of Aragon.
In the same year, on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Banco de Bilbao in Barcelona, he was given its grandiose hall to exhibit his complete work (vases and paintings). This exhibition is presented with coloured lighting which enhances the beauty of the works on display.
The artist is introduced by Mr. Fernando Ruiz de Villalobos (art critic) who explains the magnitude of the works and gives a short summary of the artist's life. Due to the great success of the public, the exhibition had to be extended, with more than 35,000 people visiting the exhibition, according to the Bank of Bilbao itself.
In 1983, his hometown Maella (Zaragoza) held an emotional tribute to the artist, with a massive attendance and the participation of connoisseurs of his work from Barcelona, Madrid, Zaragoza and Valencia, as well as neighbouring towns. In this tribute, one of the streets was dedicated to the distinguished artist. The Clavé Choirs join in, performing in his honour. The event was attended by a representative of the Generalitat and the Barcelona City Council, of the Diputación General de Aragón and also by the Delegate of Culture of Aragón, who warmly congratulated the people of Maella for having been born in a town that was the birthplace of great artists such as Pablo Gargallo, Pons Cirac, Hermenegildo Estevan, José Peris, etc.
The artist presented the Town Hall with a work entitled "Fortaleza Maellana".
In the same year, Radio España in Barcelona commissioned a work from the world-famous artist Placido Domingo as a prize. The work had allegorical motifs of the Canaletas Fountain, the Rambla de las Flores and Radio España. The singer was full of praise for the magnificent work and warmly congratulated the distinguished artist.
In the same year, the Casa de España in Paris and the Diputación General de Aragón organised a cultural conference in Paris and one of the invited artists was Pons Cirac, and one of his works was exhibited, as well as the screening of the documentary "Las manos de Pons Cirac" (Pons Cirac's hands), which was a great success.
In 1990 the Generalitat de Catalunya awarded him the prestigious Creu de Sant Jordí.
In 1993 all the entities of Sants, the district of Barcelona where he has always resided, pay homage to him and unveil a plaque on the façade of the museum-studio on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his artistic career.
In 1996 he exhibited some works in the Muestra Comarcal de Artistas de Caspe - Zaragoza.
In 1997 he exhibited a work at the International Exhibition of Plastic Arts in Barcelona. He was awarded a Diploma of Honour.
On 14th April 1998, the prestigious artist ANTONIO PONS CIRAC died in Barcelona at the age of 76, leaving behind a unique body of work.
We are grateful for the collaboration of the artist's daughter who has provided us with this information, which you will be able to extend by visiting the artist's website.
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