Departures of note

Igor Arzuaga Gumuzio was a multidisciplinary Basque artist born in Areta in 1976. He began his musical career playing the trikitixa on the streets of Areta and Bilbao before joining the historic band Exkixu, founding the folk group Eitina, and playing bass in the quartet Une Latzak, with which he shared a stage with Green Day and gained recognition in the Euskadi Gaztea demo contest. As a solo artist he released self-produced albums such as El Perro Corredor and collaborated with leading Basque musicians including Ruper Ordorika, Mikel Urdangarin and Josu Zabala. Beyond music, he cultivated painting, holding exhibitions in Areta, Llodio and Orbeko Etxea, published a book of illustrations, and wrote two poetry collections in Spanish, De espantapájaros y escarcha and Embriagado de infinitos. He also took part in community radio at Uhinas Irratia and collaborated in theater with Mikel Ayllon on pieces such as Takoidun Zapata Gorria and Hau Gerra Bat Da. His death at 48 left a deep mark on the cultural life of the Ayala and Llodio region.