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Lectures in the past
Spreading the word since 2010
Since Alvaro Leonardo discovered in 2009 the hidden history of the first Spanish architect in China, Abelardo Lafuente García-rojo (Madrid 1871-Shanghai 1931), he has personally been in charge of making it known to this day for more than a decade. It all began with the first presentation in the Spanish Pavilion at the Shanghai Universal Expo 2010. Due to its relevance to the history of the city, he organized the first foreign-themed cultural exhibition in the Shanghai Bund commemorating his figure in 2011, 2012 he created his entry on the English and Spanish Wikipedia, and in subsequent years he organized lectures every year in both countries to publicize his figure. One more lecture happened in 2015 in Hong Kong to present his works in southern China.
Dr. Leonardo-Perez published his Ph.D. dissertation in 2019 in the Spanish language (Universidad de Alcalá de Henares-Madrid) on his figure, history, and projected and built works, thus making known the only tangible historical-cultural link between Spain and China.
Lectures
2010
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente”. 25 September.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish & Chinese.
Shanghai 2010 World Fair - Cervantes' Week (China)
2010
Royal Asiatic Society of China (Shanghai Chapter)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente”. 23 October.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: English.
2011
Cervantes Institute of Beijing (China)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente architect”. 18 May.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish & Chinese.
2012
Miguel de Cervantes Library of Shanghai (China)
Title: “An imprint of Spain in China: Abelardo Lafuente”. 14 February.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish & Chinese.
2013
Anken-SH Green Rooftop Space. Shanghai (China)
Title: “A. Lafuente: a Spanish entrepreneur in Asia”. 5 June.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: English & Spanish.
2015
Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
Title: “A. Lafuente: an imprint of Spain in China”. 19 March.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: English.
2018
Foreign Studies University
of Beijing (China)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente, the first Spanish architect in China”. 6 September.
As part of the International symposium "IV Centenario de la muerte de Diego de Pantoja: Reflexiones sobre las relaciones históricas entre China y el mundo hispánico"
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish & Chinese.
2021
Colegio de Arquitectos de Castellón (CTAC)- Spain
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente, an Spanish architect in China”. 23 September. Available online.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish.
2021
Miguel de Cervantes Library of Shanghai (China)
Title: “The dream of an architect: Abelardo Lafuente”. 21 October.
Online Lecture.
Languages: Spanish.
2023
Confucius Institute
from Coimbra University (Portugal)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente, the architect who showed China the Arab style of southern Europe". 24 November. Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Portuguese.
2023
Tongji University (CAUP Building) Shanghai (China)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente, the Spanish architect who loved China and Shanghai's charm”. 07 November. Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: English.
2023
Miguel de Cervantes Library of Shanghai (China)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente, the architect of the Spanish's Shanghai”. 03 November. Online and presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish and Chinese.
2023
Alfonso X el Sabio (UAX) University (Spain)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente, a trace of architectural exchange between Spain and China”. 09 October. Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish.
2022
Ateneo Escurialense at San Lorenzo del Escorial (Spain)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente (1871-1931), the Madrid architect who triumphed in Shanghai”. 22 October. Available online.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish.
2022
Ateneo de Madrid (Spain)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente (1871-1931), first Spanish architect in China”. 10 May.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish.
2021
University of Granada. Faculty of Philosophy. (Spain)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente: the architect of Spanish Shanghai”. 24 November.
Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: Spanish.
2024
Santo Tomas University (College of Architecture) Manila (Philippines)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente, the Spanish architect 'born in Manila' who triumphed in China and the US". 24 January. Offline presential Lecture organized by Instituto Cervantes de Manila.
Languages: English.
2024
Polytechnic University of Hong Kong (Hung Hom Campus)
Title: “Abelardo Lafuente, the architect of the Spanish Shanghai". 02 February. Offline presential Lecture.
Languages: English.
Exhibitions in the past
Since Alvaro Leonardo discovered in 2009 the unknown story of the first Spanish architect in China, Abelardo Lafuente García-rojo (Madrid 1871-Shanghai 1931), he has been every day since then in charge of publicizing his figure for more than a decade. It all began with the first presentation in the Spanish Pavilion at the Shanghai Universal Expo 2010. Due to its relevance to the history of the city, he organized in 2011 the first foreign-themed cultural exhibition in the Shanghai Bund commemorating his passed away at the city 80 years before. After this one, he has been invited several times to curate other exhibits in Spain and China over the years.
Exhibits
2011
Shanghai (CHN)
"An Imprint of Spain in China"
Exhibit opened on December at Bund No. 22 with the collaboration of the Consulate of Spain in Shanghai and the Miguel de Cervantes Library of the Cervantes Institute of China. Conducted in Spanish, Chinese and English. Duration 4 weeks.
Reference web HERE
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2015
Madrid (ESP)
"EXPORT, Spanish architecture abroad"
Exhibit opened on February (for several months) at Museo de la Fundación ICO and Abelardo Lafuente works were part of the exhibit´s section ¨500 años exportando arquitectura". Conducted in Spanish. Duration 5 months.
2021
Shanghai (CHN)
"The Spanish architecture of Shanghai and the works of Abelardo Lafuente"
Exhibit opened on September at Shaanxi Nan Road Metro Station with the collaboration of the Consulate of Spain in Shanghai and the Miguel de Cervantes Library of the Cervantes Institute of China. Conducted in Spanish, Chinese and English. Duration 4 weeks.
2023
Shanghai (CHN)
"Abelardo Lafuente life and works" at SPAIN Pavilion in the 6th CIIE 2023 Fair (China International Import Expo)
Exhibit opened on November 5th, 2023 at Hongqiao Convention Center. Easy to reach by Metro Line 2 last stop "East Xujing" (exit 6) and located at Central NECC Plaza with the collaboration of the ICEX Architecture and Fairs department, Miguel de Cervantes Library of the Cervantes Institute of China and the Consulate of Spain in Shanghai. Conducted in Spanish and Chinese. Duration 1 week.
Reference web: HERE
