Lola - Behind the Graphite Pencil.

‘La Singla spit fire from her mouth and extinguished it with her feet.’ Quote from oceanographer Jacques Cousteau.

Lola is a feminine name of Spanish origins meaning ‘sorrows’. This artwork is loosely inspired by Antonia La Singla, a flamenco dancer from Spain who rose to international stardom in the 1960’s. A few days after her birth Antonia lost her hearing after a bout of meningitis.

She learned how to dance by following the rhythm of a flamenco guitarist clapping at a tavern in Spain. As her popularity grew so did the flamenco troupe she performed with, sharing the stage with percussionists and legendary flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía who kept the pace of the music by following the vibrating sounds created by her thundering footwork.

At 12, Singla could be found performing in taverns in Barcelona. Watching Singla, you are captivated by the beauty of her movements and the sheer power of her performance. Singla was ahead of her time and the first women to wear trousers on stage. You can see her dancing here in the documentary La Singla directed by Paloma Zapata.

This art piece focuses in on Singla’s soulful eyes and flamenco hands marked with deep ancestral lines that tell stories of her lineage and life experiences. Hands once held by her mother’s hands who lead her to the tavern where she learned how to dance, moving audiences across Spain.

Lola is printed on Hahnemuhle bamboo art paper in sizes A4 & A3.

Lola.

Antonita Singla, Flamenco Dancer, Dancer, Sustainable Editorial Photoshoot, Art Direction, Creativity,Dance, Slow Art, Storytelling, Artist, Creative Direction, Creative Writing, Paloma Zapata