Simon Parsons

Academia de Tauromaquia

Tauromaquia : the art and science of bullfighting

The controversial status of bullfighting is interpreted as a kind of ‘martial art’, a culture and training detached from the animals and the actual contest.

The bullrings in cities link to the bull ranches in the vast in-between. This academy is situated on Madrid’s nondescript arid periphery. Imagined as an initiative by the celebrity ‘messiah of bullfighting’, José Tomás, following his goring in 2010, to celebrate his illustrious career and initiate a new generation of matadors.

José Tomás’ iconic status requires a retirement project more grandiose than a matador bar and memorabilia display. His academy is arranged as three strata : some embellished agricultural sheds set within a white painted circle and arranged to separate students from pilgrims … embedded classrooms and practice pits where students are taught ‘knowledge, skill and display’ based on the rituals of the Corrida (dance of the bulls/bullfight) … and an underground vault in the form of a spiralling gallery displaying the head of every bull he killed, plus the ears and tails awarded for his very best performances.