“La Canalla” /”The Scoundrel”, in an affectionate sense, is a painting by Olga Guarch Andreu created with expressive brushstrokes, strong features, and an intense, alert gaze. This combination of strength and melancholy reflects the lived experiences of vibrant Barcelona, the city that also shaped the life and art of José Pérez Ocaña (1947–1983).
The use of real metro tickets adds a symbolic layer: everyday objects worn by countless journeys and stories of those who inhabit the city. These fragments, interwoven with textures and color accents, evoke motion, energy, and urban life. The included texts and symbols act as statements of rebellion and reflection on identity, freedom, and resistance.
The painting pays tribute to Ocaña, the Andalusian artist and activist who became an essential figure on Barcelona’s Las Ramblas. Through his naïve aesthetic, transgressive performances, and commitment to LGTBIQ+ rights, Ocaña turned art into an act of visibility and defiance during a repressive era.
“La Canalla” /”The Scoundrel” invites viewers to reflect on their own place in shared history, symbolized by each ticket within the collage — a living memory celebrating diversity, rebellion, and the beauty of difference.
