Nostalgic Exhibition of the EGB Generation Opens Its Doors in Madrid

The nostalgic exhibition prepared by Jorge Díaz and Javier Ikaz, founders of Spain's famous 'Yo fui a EGB' (I went to EGB) platform, meets art lovers in Madrid. This special exhibition, which is part of the series of free cultural events organized within the scope of Veranos de Villa, will host its visitors at the Conde Duque center until 30 August. The exhibition aims to revive the childhood memories of the EGB (General Basic Education) generation who received their education in Spain from the 1970s to the 1990s. Visitors have the opportunity to closely examine the iconic items, play culture, and lifestyle of that era. Curator Díaz emphasizes that the biggest transformation experienced from those days to the present is the arrival of the internet, drawing attention to how technology has changed our lives.

One of the most striking sections of the exhibition is the living room design, which recreates the typical home environment of those years in all its details. Visitors take a journey into the past by seeing the characteristic plaster fabric armchairs, record players, Ducados cigarette packs on the coffee table, and famous liquor cabinets of the time. In addition to this, a kitchen recreation exhibiting the historic Duralex plates, La Casera bottles, and traditional cooking pots considered almost unbreakable, which also left their mark on that era, draws great interest. At the event, visitors can also learn about the fashion of the period through a corner displaying clothes from those years. All these detailed stage designs give the audience a unique and realistic feeling as if they are living inside that nostalgic atmosphere.

The golden age of television and the print press is another important topic that takes its place in the exhibition. In the exhibition, the studio of the legendary '1, 2, 3' contest program, which broke rating records during the period when television broadcasting had only two channels and became the single topic of the whole country the next day, has been reconstructed exactly. In this special area, that historic and unforgettable set where host Mayra Gómez Kemp asked questions to the contestants is presented to visitors with great care. In addition, the Quirós Newsstand, where children bought newspapers, candy, Mortadelo and Filemón comics, and collectible small toys with their pocket money on Sundays, is exhibited flawlessly. Areas such as the neighborhood square reflecting the social life of the period, the local bar, and the traditional greengrocer's shop where shopping was done before modern markets became widespread are also showcased.

One of the most valuable and emotional pieces of the exhibition is Espinete, the legendary pink hedgehog puppet of Spanish television history. According to the explanations of Curator Díaz, the original puppet of Espinete was unfortunately lost due to an asbestos problem experienced in the TVE (Spanish Television) warehouses, and this situation once again revealed the lack of a television museum in Spain. However, the organizing team managed to bring this iconic character together with visitors at Conde Duque thanks to a replica made exactly the same by the same designers for another program. Besides Espinete, Bruja Avería (Breakdown Witch), who was children's nightmare but still very beloved, and various toy showcases from that era also hold an important place in the exhibition. Such special objects carry important parts of Spanish popular culture to the present day, building a bridge between the past and the future.

The 'Yo fui a EGB' project was launched fifteen years ago as a simple Facebook page aiming for people to share their experiences and memories of those years. Noticing the strong interaction and nostalgia demand created by this page, Díaz and Ikaz started to meticulously accumulate and preserve thousands of objects over time. Today, many people who want to empty their homes support the project by donating books, magazines, and toys to this unique collection. The exhibition not only immerses the elders who lived in the past in memories but also establishes a warm intergenerational bond by physically showing today's children the childhood of their parents. While shedding light on Spain's recent history, this impressive cultural event offers its visitors the opportunity to confront their own past and feel the pure happiness of the old days.