The writer and philosopher from Figueres, Josep Subirós, winner of the Josep Pla award in 1996 for the novel Cita a Tombuctú, was remembered for his work, which according to critics at the time, stood out for its "hybridity of registers" and "excess of encyclopedism". Writer Adrià Pujol argued that the Catalan intellectual system was not ready for books like Subirós's, which broke down disciplinary barriers, a trend now more accepted. Pujol noted that, unlike French authors such as Claude Lévi-Strauss or Michel Leiris, Subirós did not leave a significant mark in Catalonia due to not aligning with any established movement, remaining in a "corner" as a narrator.
Currently, Subirós's books are difficult to acquire outside of libraries. Art historian Enric Tubert is convinced that "it is only fair to recover them". This conviction was the driving force behind organizing, last Saturday at the Figueres library, a tribute conference that included the participation of his family, the Councillor for Culture of the City Council, Mariona Seguranyes, and generation colleagues. The event coincided with the tenth anniversary of his death and highlighted his legacy as a narrator, exhibition curator, cultural manager, and philosopher, emphasizing the importance of his texts.
Playwright and theatre director Carlota Subirós, the author's daughter, stressed writing's capacity to "sustain ideas and experiences over time". She recalled how travel, especially to Africa, was a central passion in her father's life, reflected in his books and curatorial work. She described his writing as "unique" and "a jolt", and highlighted his "endeavour to explain reality" and his "ability to look another in the eye with confidence", an essential value in "reactionary" times when identities can become barriers. She emphasized that his legacy imparts a "sense of interconnection and constant questioning" about the world.
Councillor for Culture, Mariona Seguranyes, recalled a quote from Subirós: "Identity is never a closed inheritance, but an open project". She also remembered his words from the opening speech of the Figueres Fairs in 1996, where he judged people "by what they do, what they say, what they fight for, and what they love", not by their origin. This open perspective marked his career, from his "very humble family" in Figueres to his contributions to institutions like MACBA or CCCB as coordinator of Culture for the Barcelona City Council and advisor to Pasqual Maragall.
Producer Jordi Balló defined cultural management as "a creative gesture" and highlighted how Subirós worked at a time when "a cultural, political, and public space project was yet to be defined". He mentioned that Subirós suffered "misunderstanding" but also practiced "benefactor friendship", turning trust into a common good. His daughter added that he "believed that if he could think of the path, he could make it".
During the event, philosopher Jaume Casals conversed with Subirós's son, Pau Subirós, about his philosophical dimension. His partner, philosopher Lali Bosch, shared daily memories and read a letter stating that "your native Figueres and Africa [...] were two of the most significant pillars and pluralities of your singularity". Bosch recalled how Subirós, through the CCCB, "introduced us to contemporary Africa" and found similarities between it and the Figueres of his childhood.
Enric Tubert concluded that the conference allowed for "understanding the character, his worldview, his commitment to ideas, many of which today have extraordinary relevance". Despite Pep Subirós's rich legacy, many attendees lamented how quickly oblivion spreads.
