Sijena Lawyer Sues MNAC Director Over Rosalía Concert Comments

Quick Summary

Jorge Español, the legal representative for the Sijena museum, has commenced legal proceedings against Pepe Serra, the director of the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC). The action is centered on alleged defamation resulting from public statements made by Serra regarding a dispute over a Rosalía concert.

As a prerequisite to filing a formal lawsuit, Español has submitted a request for a conciliation act to the Barcelona Court of First Instance. The lawyer is demanding 90,000 euros in compensation for reputational damage. Furthermore, Español has issued a public invitation for Serra to step down from his position at the museum.

Legal Proceedings Initiated

The legal dispute began when Jorge Español took steps to suspend a scheduled concert by the artist Rosalía. The lawyer argued that the vibrations generated by the event could potentially cause harm to the historic mural paintings housed at the venue. This action was described by Español as a "responsible" attempt to preserve the artwork.

Following this attempt, Pepe Serra made statements to journalists that prompted the current legal action. Español contends that these statements were injurious and published with the intent to damage his reputation. Consequently, the lawyer approached the judicial system to address what he perceives as a personal attack.

The procedural step taken involves a request for an acto de conciliación (conciliation act). This is a standard legal mechanism in the jurisdiction intended to resolve disputes before proceeding to a full trial. The request was filed specifically at the Barcelona Court of First Instance.

Disputed Statements

The core of the legal complaint revolves around two specific allegations made by Jorge Español regarding Pepe Serra's public comments. First, Español claims that Serra mocked him during his interactions with the press. The mockery is alleged to have targeted the lawyer's efforts to halt the Rosalía concert based on the risk of vibration damage to the murals.

Second, and perhaps more significantly, Español asserts that Serra falsely attributed a specific technical statement to him. The lawyer explicitly denies ever stating that the mural transfer operation would require sawing the paintings into 70 pieces. This detail is central to the defense against the alleged defamation.

To clarify the record, Español emphasized that the proposal to divide the murals originated from technical staff associated with the Gobierno de Aragón (Government of Aragón). By shifting the attribution of the "70 pieces" claim to government technicians, the lawyer aims to disprove the validity of Serra's reported comments.

Demands and Consequences

Jorge Español is seeking specific remedies through his legal action. The primary demand is financial compensation. He has requested 90,000 euros as damages for the alleged injurious statements made by the MNAC director.

Beyond the financial claim, the lawyer has called for Pepe Serra to resign from his leadership role at the museum. This demand was issued publicly, adding a layer of professional pressure to the legal proceedings.

The conflict highlights the tension between the preservation of cultural heritage and the hosting of large-scale cultural events. As the legal process moves forward, the focus remains on the veracity of the statements made by both parties and the potential impact on the reputations involved.