“It is as reasonable to represent one kind of imprisonment by another, as it is to represent anything that really exists by that which exists not.” This sentence by Albert Camus highlights the slogan of the Festival 10 Sentidos 2023.

The 12th edition of 10 Sentidos continues, as it did in the last edition, with a strongly positive slogan. We live in times of crisis (Putin’s war, the gas shortage, skyrocketing electricity, an economic crisis that they warn is looming…), but as Antonio Escotado explains, humans, in times of great crisis, direct their attention towards that which can give certainty, security and anchor you to life. And illusions, desires and wishes offer the best context to always live with hope. It should be noted that the positive meaning of illusion only exists in the Spanish language. In other languages, the term is always related to that which lacks support. And yet, writers, poets and philosophers of all times and geographies have always reflected on this concept, which is so important to sustain us in life.

In May 2023 the stages, cultural centres and neighbourhoods of Valencia will attend to and defend illusions in an intergenerational way. In this way, the 10 Senses Festival is committed to illusions in all stages of life, from the clearest and most familiar illusion of childhood to the very real illusions of the elderly after a long experience in their journey through life.

“The illusion of life makes us endure the proximity of death”.

Ana María Matute

“I believe that the only great loss is illusions, and sometimes certainties, however beautiful they may be, are not enough to replace them”.

Julio Cortázar

“Every age is nourished by illusions, otherwise men would soon give up on life, and that would be the end of the human race.”

Joseph Conrad

“You don’t eat illusion,” she said.

“You don’t eat it, but it feeds,” replied the colonel.

Gabriel García Márquez

“That illusion, however small it may be, does not deserve to sleep eternally in the dark”.

Cristina Selva

“To grow up is to lose some illusions in order to begin to have others”.

Virginia Wolf

“Life is the florist who sells bouquets of illusion”.

Margaret Mazzantini

“Narrative is an illusion”.

Delphine De Vigan

“When we can no longer dream, we die”.

Emma Goldman