What Nightmares! What Dreams?

On the Sunday after the Anarchist Bookfair, I decided
to visit the Spanish Civil War exhibition called
"Dreams + Nightmares" at the London Imperial War
Museum (on until the 28th of April, 2002). This
exhibition contains works by Picasso, Miro and others,
photographs by the likes of Robert Capa and David Seymour,
artefacts from the war, International Brigade memorabilia,
Republican (including CNT-FAI) and Nationalist posters and
letters from the likes of George Orwell and Julian Bell. An
impressive collection.

Sadly the hopes generated by the title failed to
materialise. While the exhibition does contain some
interesting pieces, the dreams that initially inspired
the resistance to Franco (anarchism) were nowhere to be
seen. They may quote the famous words of Durruti
on there being a "new world in our hearts" but
information on what that new world could be is sadly
lacking. One reference to workers aiming for a society
based on "common ownership" does not do the anarchist
dream justice. Nor is the extensive social revolution
in Republican Spain mentioned, never mind shown by
pictures of the collectives or the testimony of those
who created, ran and lived in them. As for the militias,
they are mentioned and a few pictures are provided but
their libertarian spirit and organisation is sadly
ignored.

All in all, the only "dream" presented is that of the
International volunteers (particularly the intellectuals a
and artists) who came to fight fascism and for democracy.
The dream of the Spanish workers and peasants in the CNT,
the dream they tried to create in their unions,
collectives, militias and schools, the dream of
freedom, equality and solidarity is nowhere to be seen.
The positive goal of libertarian socialism is replaced by
the negativity of anti-fascism and the defence of
oppression and inequality (in the shape of liberal
capitalism).

This does not mean that the CNT is ignored. Of course
not, it is mentioned (usually in passing) and there are
anarchist quotes, posters and artefacts (including a
fund-raising bandanna with Durruti on it). Rather, the
overwhelming thrust of the exhibition is those famous
names who fought fascism or were murdered by it.
Sadly, it is the murder of people like Lorca by the
fascists that ensured that the working class victims
were not forgotten. Be that as it may, it appears
that one murdered poet has more significance than
the millions of working class people actually trying
to change society into one where life becomes an
expression of poetry, not poverty.

The nightmare of fascism and war are, however,
well expressed. The contrast between the supporters
of Franco and those on the Republican side is
obvious -- the class nature of the war is there for
all to see. While Franco is seen with society's elite,
the poverty of the working class is hammered home.
Sadly, the resistance to that poverty is not given
the focus it deserves and so the visitor will have
no idea of the dreams that actually shaped so much of
Spanish working class life.

As such, the exhibition fails to meet the promise of its title.

for more on the Spanish Civil War and Revolution from
an anarchist perspective visit:

 http://struggle.ws/spaindx.html

 http://www.infoshop.org/faq/secI8.html