This September, we can travel around Spain without leaving Mijas. We can do so through the eyes and paintings of a young Russian artist, Eugenio Patrakov. His works are on display this month at the Mijas Pueblo Tourist Office; the exhibition is an illustrated journey through the 52 Spanish provinces, featuring some of their most representative cultural, historical, natural and culinary elements. “Every province has something spectacular”, emphasised Patrakov, who shared that he has already visited 28 provinces and hopes to continue visiting and exploring our country, as he considers painting “a bridge between his culture and Spanish culture, and a way to slow down time and see what is around us, right down to the smallest details”.

 

Each province is represented by a hand-drawn illustration measuring 10 x 10 cm. “They are little gateways to different corners of the country”, said the artist, adding that “each painting takes me about eight to ten hours, because it’s not just about drawing, it’s about gathering information on that specific province”.

The councillor for Tourism, Francisco Jerez (Vox), explained that the exhibition forms part of the programme of displays that this venue refreshes every month. “On this occasion, we have a Russian artist who has lived in Spain for several years and was particularly struck by the vast diversity across our provinces, from landscapes and cuisine to customs and traditions”.

 

Eugenio Patrakov

The artist at the heart of this exhibition, Eugenio Patrakov, is originally from Russia and has lived on the Costa del Sol since 2022. “In recent years I’ve travelled a lot and I draw along the way. For me, it’s a way to slow down and truly feel places: their rhythm, their light, and their little details", he explained.

“When I arrived in Spain, I knew this would be my home. And if it’s my home, I wanted to truly know it: through its cities, its nature, its culture, and its people. Since then, I’ve visited more than half of the country’s provinces”, added Patrakov, who admits that “this project began as a personal exploration. I discovered hundreds of places even many Spaniards don't know about: parks, natural spots, architecture, traditions and gastronomy. Spain might seem like a small country, especially if you come from Russia, but the more you travel through it, the clearer it becomes that one lifetime isn’t enough to discover it completely". The artist is currently working on a colouring book based on this same concept featuring watercolours of the province, complete with information on the various locations depicted.

 

Mijas

The exhibition also features a space dedicated specifically to Mijas, with larger-format works depicting easily recognisable landmarks in the municipality. “It’s lovely to see what catches the eye of someone from outside and how they translate it onto paper. In his watercolours of Mijas, we immediately recognise places such as the hermitage or El Compás”, noted Jerez, who added that the exhibition allows visitors to “take a little tour of the whole of Spain without leaving Mijas Pueblo”.

 

The councillor for Tourism particularly encouraged residents, visitors and families to come along over the coming weeks to discover the artist’s work and “discover Spain through the eyes of someone who came from abroad and took an interest in our diversity”. For his part, Patrakov invites us “to slow down, to look closely and to discover it in your own way. Tu España en acuarela’ (‘Your Spain in Watercolour’) can be visited at the Mijas Pueblo Tourist Office, Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 15:00.

 

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