In Elche, a commemorative gathering organized by Rubén’s family and friends, with Margalló-Ecologistes and Acció Elx, is being prepared. The venue is Casal d’Elx-ACPV, Casal, Carrer Sant Jordi, 2, and the date is November 10, 2023, at 19:00.
The program features a photography exhibition that showcases images taken by Rubén and photographs of other artists that honor his memory. A multimedia projection will present Rubén’s pictures alongside a compilation of actions and demonstrations focused on the environment, pacifism, and social justice. Musicians Sarah Mirete and Pablo Gonzáles from the band Zarzagán will perform. Friends will share conversations and reflections about Rubén’s life and impact.
Rubén Sempere lived from 1945 to 2023 and passed away in Elche on June 27, aged 78. He helped found Margalló-Ecologistes within Acció Elx and was involved with the Club of Friends of UNESCO, the Committee of Solidarity with Latin America, Entre Pobles, and various movements addressing the city’s environmental, political, and cultural life. He supported the Valencian language and enjoyed hiking. Close to his friend Andreu Castillejos, he also collaborated with Esbart Zero. Those who knew him remember his practical spirit, his habit of solving problems with simple, effective fixes, and his role as a true toolbox for projects big and small.
In a recollection from September 2006, Rubén, Castillejos, Paco Miron, and the writer took a memorable road trip through Morocco in Paco’s caravan. It was a time away from work, visiting people Paco knew, and being warmly received. They traveled through Tattiouine in the Atlas foothills, visited the palm groves of Tafilalet, and wandered the dunes of Merzouga.
Trip to Morocco in 2006 INFORMATION
The small village of Tattiouine, about nine kilometers from Midelt, felt like a living Christmas scene. Around twenty families lived in adobe houses without running water or electricity, surrounded by fowls and shepherded flocks. Andreu and Rubén spent quiet moments planning after retirement. Rubén hoped to open a bicycle wheel repair shop, and after returning to Elche he planned to collect old bicycles, repair them, and send them to Tattiouine. Retirement would bring a chance to teach tire repair and to imagine a future where landscapes could be captured in drawings that could not be taken away. The group dreamed together and imagined new beginnings.
An image used in the brochure captures Rubén during that journey, drawn from a group photo of sixteen friends with a large local family they shared a dinner with, featuring roasted goat meat. At one point Rubén, seated to the right, appeared unsettled and paused to consider his meal. The moment carried a quiet tension as he navigated what to eat and how to proceed, while a friend joked about the setting and the plate. The memory remains a poignant testament to Rubén’s careful, considerate nature and the deep bonds formed on the road.
The street art created for the event brochure draws on the aesthetics of traditional graffiti and the tradition of public memory, echoing iconic images seen on city walls. Rubén is imagined in the public imagination as a figure of resilience, akin to the legendary heroes celebrated in murals. Special thanks are extended to Sergio Van Hul for skilled image work under challenging conditions. Two paintings were made to honor Rubén: one for the Margalló-Ecologistes headquarters in Acció Elx and another for Casal d’Elx-ACPV, places Rubén frequently visited. The project continues as a living tribute to his contributions and spirit.