IN-PERSON Barcelona. Section B

Abstract

The medieval village of Portomarín, a strategic stage on the French Way to Compostela, was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1946. However, at the beginning of 1963, this medieval town was completely flooded after the construction of the Belesar reservoir. A temporary emptying of the waters allowed the villagers to return to their houses and recover belongings abandoned in the hasty departure, until the Fenosa company, under the protection of Franco’s regime, proceeded to dynamite the old village. The virtual restitution of Portomarín, financed by the College of William&Mary (USA) and Galiverso (Xunta de Galicia, Spain), has as its theoretical framework the history of digital art, in this case aimed at recovering the specific characteristics of the structure and physiognomy of the disappeared village. The final result is exhibited from July 2023 in the form of a virtual experience with 3D glasses. The process was surrounded by numerous problems and limitations due to the lack of historical plans and even the loss of the models made specifically for Fenosa propaganda. Fortunately, the archive of the local photographer José López provided the images for the joint work of historians and graphic designers. As rigorous and accurate as Virtual Portomarín is, its authenticity as a digital artefact is relative. Neither the realistic textures nor the sound ambience that accompanies it can replace the direct experience. The possibilities of disseminating the lost heritage, the tourist experience and future educational guides should be considered as alternatives to the irreparable loss of the historic village.