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Anita Gispert: The Photographer of Caldes
Exhibition + Documentary + XR Public Space Route
Commisioned by THERMALIA History Museum, Ajuntament de Caldes de Montbui, Diputació de Barcelona
Curated by Mar Gimeno Lumbiarres
Exhibition + Documentary + XR Public Space Route
Commissioned by
THERMALIA History Museum
Ajuntament de Caldes de Montbui
Diputació de Barcelona
Curated by
Mar Gimeno Lumbiarres
Anita Gispert Vila holds the distinction of being Catalonia’s first registered woman documentary photographer, capturing the spirit and transformation of early 20th-century society.
From 1911 to 1930, she worked as the official photographer of Caldes de Montbui, a renowned thermal spa town in Catalonia. While portraiture was the norm of the era, Anita looked beyond, documenting festivities, everyday life, construction projects, and even crime scenes with remarkable vision.
Her artistry earned her recognition among the cultural elite and several photography awards. She also experimented with innovative techniques such as multiple exposures and hand-colouring, placing her at the forefront of photographic practice.
Yet despite her achievements, history nearly forgot her. Signing her work simply as “A. Gispert” meant that her identity as a woman often went unnoticed, and her contributions faded into obscurity — until now.
Exhibition
Anita Gispert: The Photographer of Caldes
12 October 2024 – 1 September 2025
THERMALIA History Museum, Caldes de Montbui, Spain
The exhibition celebrates the pioneering legacy of Anita Gispert, whose photography offers a vivid portrait of society at the dawn of the 20th century and in the years leading up to the Spanish Civil War. Her work not only captures a transformative era but also highlights the importance of recognising women’s often-overlooked contributions to history.
More than a showcase of her artistry, the exhibition invites visitors to reflect on their own family stories and appreciate the lasting cultural value of visual archives.
Through immersive and interactive experiences, the THERMALIA Museum brings Anita’s remarkable story to life, connecting personal memory with broader heritage themes.
The Living Room Replica: A Collective Archive of Caldes
(Participatory Open Call)
As part of the exhibition, a section has been transformed into a collaborative installation exploring the theme of forgotten ancestral memories.
Through an open call, the THERMALIA invited citizens of Caldes de Montbui to search their family photo archives for portraits taken by Anita Gispert. The response was extraordinary — more than 40 unpublished portraits of grandparents and great-grandparents were uncovered.
To honour these rediscovered memories, we recreated a 1920s living room where the portraits are displayed as they might once have been in family homes.
This collective effort breathes new life into family archives, bringing ancestral memories into the present and weaving them back into the town’s shared heritage.
Open Call
The Photo Booth
To bring Anita Gispert’s world closer to today’s visitors, THERMALIA has created an interactive photo booth. Here, guests can capture their portraits alongside a life-sized replica of Anita herself.
With period costumes available, the experience offers a playful and immersive glimpse into early 20th-century photography — allowing visitors to step back in time and bring history to life, one snapshot at a time.
