{"id":15235,"date":"2026-11-01T10:34:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-01T09:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/?page_id=15235"},"modified":"2026-11-05T15:48:27","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T14:48:27","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our story"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<header class=\"history-hero\">\n <div>\n  <p class=\"history-label\">Our story \/ The collector<\/p>\n  <h1>Jes\u00fas Arrimadas<br><em>Saavedra.<\/em><\/h1>\n  <p class=\"history-deck\">A life devoted to traditional African art.<\/p>\n  <p class=\"history-intro\">Collecting objects, studying their forms and sharing what he learned. The collection of Jes\u00fas Arrimadas Saavedra bears witness to decades of dedication: objects, photographs, texts and conversations.<\/p>\n  <nav class=\"history-jumps\" aria-label=\"Explore this story\"><a href=\"#el-origen\">The beginnings \u2193<\/a><a href=\"#exposiciones\">Exhibitions \u2193<\/a><a href=\"#la-voz\">His voice \u2193<\/a><\/nav>\n <\/div>\n <figure class=\"history-hero-photo\"><img width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-explicacion-granada.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Jes\u00fas Arrimadas Saavedra giving an explanation at the exhibition in Granada.\" loading=\"eager\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width:700px) 88vw, (max-width:1440px) 43vw, 600px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-explicacion-granada.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-explicacion-granada-640x853.webp 640w\" \/><figcaption>Jes\u00fas Arrimadas sharing his collection. Biblioteca de Andaluc\u00eda, 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/header>\n<section class=\"history-section history-split\" id=\"el-origen\" aria-labelledby=\"history-origin-title\">\n <div><p class=\"history-label\">01 \/ The beginnings<\/p><h2 id=\"history-origin-title\">Eight years in<br><em>C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire.<\/em><\/h2><\/div>\n <div class=\"history-text\"><p>The story of the collection begins in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, where Jes\u00fas lived for eight years. According to his family, this is where he began collecting traditional African art.<\/p><p>He later continued to expand the collection through acquisitions in France and elsewhere, alongside sustained work on classification and documentation.<\/p><p class=\"history-small\">These biographical details come from family testimony. The exact dates of his residence in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire have not been confirmed.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"history-section\" aria-labelledby=\"history-archive-title\">\n <div class=\"history-split\"><div><p class=\"history-label\">02 \/ The archive and the eye<\/p><h2 id=\"history-archive-title\">A collection built<br><em>over decades.<\/em><\/h2><\/div><div class=\"history-text\"><p>The collection comprises thousands of catalogue entries from different cultures and object types. Alongside the objects, Jes\u00fas gathered photographs, descriptions and references that now form an archive inseparable from the collection.<\/p><p>His catalogue follows three paths: Royal art, Art of life and Ritual art. This classification appears both in his writings and in the Almu\u00f1\u00e9car exhibition documented in 2015.<\/p><p>The historical texts are preserved as part of his work and his perspective on the objects.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n <nav class=\"history-paths\" aria-label=\"The collection\u2019s original classification\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/arte-real\/\"><span class=\"history-path-number\">01<\/span><span>Royal art<\/span><span class=\"history-path-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/arte-vital\/\"><span class=\"history-path-number\">02<\/span><span>Art of life<\/span><span class=\"history-path-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/arte-ritual\/\"><span class=\"history-path-number\">03<\/span><span>Ritual art<\/span><span class=\"history-path-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span><\/a><\/nav>\n <div class=\"history-diptych\"><figure class=\"\"><img width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/esculturas-archivo-familiar-2015.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Sculptures displayed at an exhibition of the collection.\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width:700px) 88vw, 33vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/esculturas-archivo-familiar-2015.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/esculturas-archivo-familiar-2015-640x853.webp 640w\" \/><figcaption>Objects from the collection on display. Family archive, 2015.<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class=\"\"><img width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-visita-coleccion-2015.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Jes\u00fas Arrimadas discussing objects in display cases.\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width:700px) 88vw, 58vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-visita-coleccion-2015.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-visita-coleccion-2015-640x480.webp 640w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-visita-coleccion-2015-1280x960.webp 1280w\" \/><figcaption>Jes\u00fas Arrimadas during a visit to the collection. Family archive, 2015.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n <blockquote class=\"history-quote\"><p>\u201cArt in Africa cannot be understood without also studying the traditions, social context and beliefs of its peoples.\u201d<\/p><cite>Jes\u00fas Arrimadas Saavedra \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/presentacion-de-la-coleccion\/\">written introduction to the catalogue<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"history-section history-public\" id=\"exposiciones\" aria-labelledby=\"history-public-title\">\n <div><p class=\"history-label\">03 \/ Sharing the collection<\/p><h2 id=\"history-public-title\">Exhibitions and<br><em>cultural activities.<\/em><\/h2><p>The objects have also been displayed in exhibitions and featured in educational activities. These three public sources trace that history.<\/p><figure class=\"\"><img width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/coleccion-biblioteca-andalucia-2018.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Jes\u00fas Arrimadas beside masks and figures displayed at the Biblioteca de Andaluc\u00eda.\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width:700px) 88vw, 40vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/coleccion-biblioteca-andalucia-2018.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/coleccion-biblioteca-andalucia-2018-640x480.webp 640w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/coleccion-biblioteca-andalucia-2018-1280x960.webp 1280w\" \/><figcaption>The collection in the exhibition \u201cLa aventura africana de los Quti\u201d. Biblioteca de Andaluc\u00eda, Granada, 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n <ol class=\"history-timeline\">\n  <li><time class=\"history-year\" datetime=\"2015\">2015<\/time><div><h3>Almu\u00f1\u00e9car<\/h3><p>The Casa de la Cultura hosted an exhibition of his collection in collaboration with the municipal culture department. It was organised around Royal art, Art of life and Ritual art. The opening was preceded by his lecture \u201cEl arte en las sociedades animistas del \u00c1frica tradicional\u201d.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/europatropical.net\/2015\/03\/07\/exposicion-de-arte-tradicional-africano-en-la-casa-de-la-cultura-de-almunecar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Municipal note published by Europa Tropical \u2197<\/a><\/div><\/li>\n  <li><time class=\"history-year\" datetime=\"2018\">2018<\/time><div><h3>Granada<\/h3><p>From 17 to 30 May, \u201cLa aventura africana de los Quti\u201d at the Biblioteca de Andaluc\u00eda brought together documents from the Fondo Kati and a selection of objects from the collection of Jes\u00fas Arrimadas Saavedra.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/educacioncienciaycultura.org\/sites\/default\/files\/archivos\/documentos\/memoria2018_0.pdf#page=12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Activity report of the Centro UNESCO de Andaluc\u00eda \u00b7 PDF, p. 12 \u2197<\/a><\/div><\/li>\n  <li><time class=\"history-year\" datetime=\"2023\">2023<\/time><div><h3>Mazarr\u00f3n<\/h3><p>In the catalogue \u201cDuende africano\u201d, published by the Universidad Popular de Mazarr\u00f3n, curator Encarna Zamora Navarro thanks Jes\u00fas Arrimadas for his advice and guidance in developing the curatorial work.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upmazarron.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Cat%C3%A1logo-Web.pdf#page=13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Catalogue \u201cDuende africano\u201d \u00b7 PDF, p. 13 \u2197<\/a><\/div><\/li>\n <\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"history-section history-voice\" id=\"la-voz\" aria-labelledby=\"history-voice-title\">\n <div><p class=\"history-label\">04 \/ The collector\u2019s voice<\/p><h2 id=\"history-voice-title\">The collection,<br><em>in his own words.<\/em><\/h2><p>His voice is part of the archive. In the Cultura Granada film, he recalls his relationship with Africa, introduces the three paths and discusses the work of documenting the collection.<\/p><figure class=\"history-lecture\"><img width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-intervencion-publica.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Jes\u00fas Arrimadas seated at a microphone during a public talk.\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width:1050px) 88vw, 36vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-intervencion-publica.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-intervencion-publica-640x360.webp 640w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-intervencion-publica-1280x720.webp 1280w\" \/><figcaption>A public talk by Jes\u00fas Arrimadas. Family archive; date and location awaiting confirmation.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n <div class=\"history-voice-media\">\n  <figure><video class=\"history-video\" id=\"history-video\" controls playsinline preload=\"none\" width=\"854\" height=\"480\" poster=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legado\/jesus-arrimadas-cultura-granada.jpg\" aria-label=\"Cultura Granada: De \u00c1frica a Almu\u00f1\u00e9car. Jes\u00fas Arrimadas\"><source src=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legado\/jesus-arrimadas-cultura-granada.mp4\" type=\"video\/mp4\">Your browser cannot play this video. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legado\/jesus-arrimadas-cultura-granada.mp4\">Open the full recording<\/a><\/video><figcaption class=\"history-video-caption\">\u00abCultura Granada: From Africa to Almu\u00f1\u00e9car. Jes\u00fas Arrimadas\u00bb \u00b7 10 min 22 s.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legado\/jesus-arrimadas-cultura-granada.mp4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Open the full recording \u2197<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n  <p class=\"history-video-description\">Three moments from his account:<\/p>\n  <ul class=\"history-watch\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legado\/jesus-arrimadas-cultura-granada.mp4#t=37,88\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><time>00:37<\/time> His first encounter with Africa \u2197<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legado\/jesus-arrimadas-cultura-granada.mp4#t=285,311\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><time>04:45<\/time> Royal art, Art of life and Ritual art \u2197<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legado\/jesus-arrimadas-cultura-granada.mp4#t=383,409\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><time>06:23<\/time> Collecting and documenting objects \u2197<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n  <details><summary>Further reading: the three paths<\/summary><p>In the excerpt from 04:45 to 05:10, he presents Royal art as the world of power, Art of life as the world of the living, and Ritual art as the world of spirits.<\/p><p>His <a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/presentacion-de-la-coleccion\/\">written introduction to the catalogue<\/a> develops this perspective and is preserved in full.<\/p><\/details>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"history-section history-legacy\" aria-labelledby=\"history-legacy-title\">\n <div><p class=\"history-label\">05 \/ Family continuity<\/p><h2 id=\"history-legacy-title\">Preserving the objects.<br><em>Preserving their history.<\/em><\/h2><p>Today, his son manages the preservation and documentation of the collection. The original photographs, texts and references maintain the link between each object and its accompanying archive.<\/p><p>The collection remains open to enquiries and is entering a new chapter, with works gradually being selected for acquisition.<\/p><nav class=\"history-legacy-links\" aria-label=\"Continue exploring\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/coleccion\/\">Explore the collection \u2197<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/obras-disponibles\/\">Works available \u2197<\/a><\/nav><aside class=\"history-book\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/el-libro\/\"><img width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/legado\/cubierta-etnografia.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"Cover of Etnograf\u00eda art\u00edstica negroafricana. Segunda parte, by Jes\u00fas Arrimadas Saavedra\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"auto, 100px\" decoding=\"async\" \/><\/a><div><p class=\"history-label\">His written work<\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/el-libro\/\">Etnograf\u00eda art\u00edstica negroafricana.<br>Part two \u2197<\/a><\/p><p class=\"history-small\">Jes\u00fas Arrimadas Saavedra<\/p><\/div><\/aside><\/div>\n <figure class=\"\"><img width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-compartiendo-coleccion-2018.webp\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Jes\u00fas Arrimadas explaining an object to a group of visitors.\" loading=\"lazy\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width:700px) 88vw, 43vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-compartiendo-coleccion-2018.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-compartiendo-coleccion-2018-640x480.webp 640w, https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/historia-jesus-20261101\/jesus-arrimadas-compartiendo-coleccion-2018-1280x960.webp 1280w\" \/><figcaption>Conversations around the objects. Biblioteca de Andaluc\u00eda, Granada, 2018.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/section>\n<section class=\"history-section history-sources\" aria-labelledby=\"history-sources-title\">\n <div><p class=\"history-label\">Documentary sources<\/p><h2 id=\"history-sources-title\">The sources<br><em>behind this story.<\/em><\/h2><p class=\"history-small\">The family has confirmed his eight-year residence in C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire, the beginnings of the collection there, its later expansion and its continuation within the family.<\/p><p class=\"history-source-scope\">The linked publications document public activities; they do not certify the authenticity or provenance of individual objects. The photographs belong to the family archive.<\/p><\/div>\n <ol><li><p class=\"history-source-meta\">City Council of Almu\u00f1\u00e9car \/ Europa Tropical \u00b7 2015<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/europatropical.net\/2015\/03\/07\/exposicion-de-arte-tradicional-africano-en-la-casa-de-la-cultura-de-almunecar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Exhibition of traditional African art at the Casa de la Cultura de Almu\u00f1\u00e9car \u2197<\/a><\/li><li><p class=\"history-source-meta\">Centro UNESCO de Andaluc\u00eda \u00b7 2018<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/educacioncienciaycultura.org\/sites\/default\/files\/archivos\/documentos\/memoria2018_0.pdf#page=12\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Activity report, p. 12 \u00b7 PDF<\/a><\/li><li><p class=\"history-source-meta\">El Independiente de Granada \/ Nova Ciencia \u00b7 17 May 2018<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.elindependientedegranada.es\/cultura\/biblioteca-andalucia-acoge-muestra-sobre-fondos-kati-550-aniversario-salida-andalus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The exhibition on the Fondo Kati manuscript collection at the Biblioteca de Andaluc\u00eda<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/novaciencia.es\/los-fondos-kati-regresan-a-andalucia-550-anos-despues-de-su-salida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Fondo Kati manuscript collection returns to Andalusia \u2197<\/a><\/li><li><p class=\"history-source-meta\">Universidad Popular de Mazarr\u00f3n \u00b7 2023<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.upmazarron.es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Cat%C3%A1logo-Web.pdf#page=13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Duende africano, credits and acknowledgements, pp. 3 and 13 \u00b7 PDF<\/a><\/li><li><p class=\"history-source-meta\">Cultura Granada \u00b7 Audiovisual archive<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MMdX3IpKrW8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">From Africa to Almu\u00f1\u00e9car. Jes\u00fas Arrimadas \u00b7 Video source \u2197<\/a><\/li><\/ol>\n<\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our story \/ The collector Jes\u00fas ArrimadasSaavedra. A life devoted to traditional African art. Collecting objects, studying their forms and sharing what he learned. The collection of Jes\u00fas Arrimadas Saavedra bears witness to decades of dedication: objects, photographs, texts and conversations. The beginnings \u2193Exhibitions \u2193His voice \u2193 Jes\u00fas Arrimadas sharing his collection. Biblioteca de Andaluc\u00eda, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-15235","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15235","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15235"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21300,"href":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/15235\/revisions\/21300"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.artedeafrica.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}