Instituto Cervantes in London is collaborating with the V&A East Storehouse to celebrate Spain’s National Day by organizing a cultural programme centered around the carved wooden ceiling from the Torrijos Palace.
The programme includes a day of talks, workshops, pop-up performances, and a classical music concert.
V&A East Storehouse aims to activate the ceiling as a point of connection between past and present, and between diverse communities—especially the Spanish and Latin American populations of East London.
The Torrijos ceiling is one of five large-scale objects being unveiled to the public. Through the lens of the “Torrijos ceiling,” we seek to explore the multicultural stories embedded in this exceptional 15th-century Spanish ceiling, now part of the V&A collection, and the dynamic cultural exchanges that shaped it.
"We Drink from Happiness" by Fran Gómez de Villaboa
Fran Gómez de Villaboa’s photography explores resistance, fashion, and queer expression through striking visual narratives. Echoing the intricacy and hybridity of the Torrijos ceiling, his work transforms historic textures into living, contemporary resonances. Fran has invited close collaborators to weave together new cultural crossings celebrating the power of art and community to shape belonging, resilience, and creativity today.
