Ouka Leele

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Allende and the second or maternal family name is Gil de Biedma.
Ouka Leele
Ouka Leele, 2011
Born
Bárbara Allende Gil de Biedma

(1957-06-29)29 June 1957
Madrid, Spain
Died24 May 2022(2022-05-24) (aged 64)
Madrid, Spain
Occupations
  • Photographer
  • painter
  • poet

Bárbara Allende Gil de Biedma (29 June 1957 – 24 May 2022), also known as Ouka Leele, was a Spanish photographer.

Life and career

Bárbara Allende Gil de Biedma was born in Madrid on 29 June 1957 to a well-off family belonging to Bilbao's bourgeoisie.[1] Her uncle Jaime Gil de Biedma was a famous poet; and her cousin Esperanza Aguirre served as the President of the Community of Madrid from 2003 to 2012. She picked up the alias of Ouka Leele from the name of a fictional star created by El Hortelano.[1]

She was one of the most important photographers during La Movida Madrileña[2] and she also worked as an illustrator and wrote several poetry books.

She was a member of the Agence VU.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, she participated in 2020 in an anti-mask stunt organised by Rafael Palacios, and claimed that "the best mask is love".[3][4]

She died in Madrid on 24 May 2022 "following a long illness".[5][6]

Awards

Collections (partial)

See also

Publications

References

  1. ^ a b "Muere la fotógrafa Ouka Leele". El Confidencial (in Spanish). 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  2. ^ Jones, Sam (25 May 2022). "Spanish photographer Ouka Leele, star of the Movida Madrileña, dies aged 64". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  3. ^ Fanjul, Sergio F. (21 July 2020). "Negacionistas víricos". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. ^ Miró, Francesc (17 August 2020). "Miguel Bosé y la cultura negacionista: por qué hay artistas que confunden mascarillas con mordazas". elDiario.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  5. ^ Jones, Sam (25 May 2022). "Spanish photographer Ouka Leele, star of the Movida Madrileña, dies aged 64". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  6. ^ "Muere a los 64 años la fotógrafa Ouka Leele, referente de la Movida Madrileña". Cadena SER (in Spanish). 24 May 2022. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2023.

Sources

  • Álvarez, J. D. Esa luz cuando justo da el sol. Biografía de Ouka Leele (Neverland Ediciones, 2006).