citylikeyou — Salamanca / Xavi Garcia

Graphic designer from Salamanca, whose work reconciles classical motifs with the global concourse. After studying at Central Saint Martins, London, and with experience in New York City and Barcelona, Xavi now works from his hometown, a medieval city of golden stone located in the mid-West of Spain.

http://www.equisgarcia.com

Designer

Current city: Salamanca

equisgarcia.com

Salamanca / Place

Walls in some of the buildings surrounding the University are fully covered with this medieval form of graffiti called Vitor. Meaning victory, and dating as far back as the 14th century, they celebrate a student's graduation with a Doctorate. Traditionally painted using bull's blood (now with a less-controversial, less-charming synthetic pigment) it's interesting to see all the different variations on the same theme.

Salamanca / River

I enjoy riding my bike alongside the river, or sitting barefoot on the grass with a good read. Views include (within 100 meters) a Roman bridge, a Gothic-Baroque cathedral and a Modernist house with a mind-blowing stained-glass façade. A walk at night (with all these buildings illuminated) is mesmerizing, and in summertime it is also possible to rent a little boat and navigate the river.

Salamanca / Place

This medieval vault (attributed to Fernando Gallego) is one of my favorite places in the city to think. Set in a dark chamber, with only this piece on display and soft classical music playing on the background, colors seems to start changing every minute you spend there. By the time you leave the room, you will feel like you just returned from a different era.

Salamanca / Museum

In a city with such a big presence of historical landmarks, the fact that the contemporary museum is housed in the former city jail seems rather ironic—a lounge bar is also quite fittingly located on the jail's patio. Conserving most of the old elements from its former use, the space is always worth visiting, even if it's only to interact with this wonderful permanent installation by Mona Hatoum. The piece, located in room 4, repurposes the cell's doors to form a revolving door without exit.

Salamanca / Village

These two small mountain villages make for the perfect city escape in either summer or winter. I like to wander around the narrow, cobbled streets, cosy up in one of the many restaurants and cafés and look at the local craftsmen work in their shops. Not far away there's a mountain topped with a monastery—a great place to enjoy of a good dose of fresh air and serenity. Amazing views of the area don't hurt either.

Madrid / Artist

Lucas Levitan is an illustrator today, filmmaker last week, photographer last month and art director last year. A new cycle might start again soon. A few years ago, whilst lunch break walking on Redchurch Street in East London, a brick fell from the 4th floor scaffolding of a building site and missed his head by millimeters. It made him think he should be doing more or what he loves, drawing. It was a turning point. That same moment he went back to the office he used to work for and resigned. Now he's lost and happier.

Shanghai / Curator

Born and raised in Beijing, Lyla is an independent content curator based in Shanghai. Working with content creation, community experience, editorial design and exhibition curation under Iroha, her studio brand, she is currently completing her Master of Design Futures at RMIT, Melbourne. A dog person who lives with Hey, a cat, Lyla is also a coffee enthusiast, occasional illustrator, barista and podcaster and a passionate community builder engaged with Shelf, her personal endeavor to promote independent publications through community shops in Shanghai.

Melbourne / Creative Director

Founder of ONETOO, a brand and design studio based in Melbourne, Australia. I'm curious about the stories that shape individuals, cities and cultures.

London / Designer

Joana Filipe is an Interior/Exhibition Designer and Creative Producer. She lives and works in London.

London / Artist

French artist and designer, based in London

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