The Languages of Memory: Memory and Image with Mar Caldas and Maurice Fitzpatrick. Exploring Visual Culture and Collective Memory

Centred on the image as a site of reflection and meaning, the seminar “The Languages of Memory: Memory and Image”, led by visual artist and lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts Mar Caldas, together with BBC filmmaker Maurice Fitzpatrick, explored how a broad spectrum of creative practices can shape, reconstruct, and transmit both personal and collective memory. The event took place on Thursday, October 30, in the Salón de Graos of the Faculty of Philology and Translation, and was organized and moderated by Professor Teresa Caneda (University of Vigo), with the support of the Instituto de Investigación Lingua (iLingua) and the Department of English, French and German.

In her introduction, Professor Teresa Caneda emphasized that “this seminar marks the beginning of a series devoted to examining the visual and narrative codes through which we express and reconstruct the events that shape our memory.” This idea framed the discussion that followed, as participants engaged deeply with the interconnections between image and memory, reinforcing the seminar’s aim to foster interdisciplinary dialogue between artistic creation and humanistic research.

During the meeting, Mar Caldas shared her experience using visual art as a means of preserving and transmitting family memory. Maurice Fitzpatrick, for his part, discussed the capacity of documentary film to reconstruct historical and collective memory, illustrating how his works interweave personal narratives with broader social contexts. The interventions of both speakers complemented each other, offering a plural and reflective perspective on how images, across different media, articulate stories of the past and contribute to the construction of a people’s memory.

The success of the initiative, reflected in the large attendance and participatory discussion, highlighted the academic and cultural significance of the seminar. By combining perspectives from visual arts and cinema with critical reflection from the university sphere, “The Languages of Memory: Memory and Image” demonstrated the impact of visual storytelling in shaping collective memory and underscored the value of interdisciplinary initiatives that invite society to rethink its own history through images.