César Manrique: un contemporaneo del futuro

Centenario di César Manrique: arte ed eredità

Un visionario del XX secolo

On April 24, 2019, the centenary of César Manrique's birth (1919-1992) was celebrated. He was a comprehensive artist: painter, sculptor, and architect. He also stood out as a communicator and dedicated his life to his homeland. His love for Lanzarote extended to the whole of the Canary Islands.

Lanzarote witnessed the birth of this multifaceted artist, admired worldwide. To commemorate his legacy, the island organized an extensive program of events and activities. Among them, a traveling exhibition throughout the archipelago stood out. The tribute remembered Manrique as a communicator, educator, and mentor of his beloved island.

La visione futuristica di César Manrique

César Manrique was a visionary who imagined a future few could conceive. He defended a critical view of the territory and tourism development. He also championed ideas related to responsible tourism and sustainability. These pioneering concepts guided his work until the end of his days.

The Cabildo of Lanzarote promoted the exhibition project "100 years: Lanzarote and César." The exhibition toured all the Canary Islands. Its traveling nature allowed the artist's figure to reach the entire archipelago. It also showcased the evolution of Lanzarote over the last century and promoted tourism among the islands.

Il secolo di César: Trasformazione e arte a Lanzarote. Il cambiamento negli anni '60 e '70

The exhibition highlights the profound transformation of Lanzarote during the 1960s and 1970s. In those years, the first desalination plant was installed, and the first passenger air connection was inaugurated. These advances marked a new stage for the island.

Lanzarote began to open up to tourism as an economic sector. This change influenced the lives of its inhabitants and the development of the territory. It also transformed the entire archipelago.

Manrique's figure is essential to understanding this evolution. For this reason, many consider that period as "the century of César." His legacy takes on special importance on a fragile and remote island, marked by a unique landscape and difficult conditions.

Un'eredità culturale e paesaggistica

Manrique's vision of Lanzarote and the Canary Islands reflects a profound transformation of 20th century Spain. His work reinterpreted the landscape and created a new way of contemplating it. The artist turned the volcanoes and lava into central elements of the collective imagination.

L'arte fatta natura. Un'estetica unica e rispettosa

Manrique's art sought to evoke emotion and bring beauty closer to people. It was born of his love for the land and an extraordinary sensitivity. Lanzarote was one of his great sources of inspiration. Its dry, rugged, volcanic, and wild landscape has a special appeal thanks to the light and color.

Traditional architecture is also part of this charm. The Byzantine reminiscences, white walls, and green and blue windows stand out. Lanzarote, like the rest of the archipelago, hides treasures that captivate those who visit.

Integrazione dell'arte e della natura

In a few years, Manrique managed to integrate his work into the Canary landscape. His goal was not to modify the territory but to enhance its natural characteristics. To achieve this, he developed a new aesthetic vision that he called "art-nature/nature-art."

This philosophy allowed him to combine different artistic expressions with the landscape. Among his projects, viewing points, gardens, and the recovery of degraded spaces stand out. He also intervened in coastal areas. All these works sought a respectful dialogue with nature.

Opere emblematiche di César Manrique

Several of his most well-known works stand out in Lanzarote. Among them are the Jameos del Agua, the Mirador del Río, and the Cactus Garden. The Taro de Tahíche, his former home and current headquarters of the César Manrique Foundation, is also noteworthy.

In Tenerife, he left his mark on the Lago Martiánez, in Puerto de la Cruz. He also participated in the development of the Maritime Park, in Santa Cruz. On La Gomera, the Mirador de El Palmarejo stands out. On El Hierro, there is the Mirador de La Peña.

Manrique transformed the way landscapes are contemplated. He also expressed his philosophy with words that reflect his connection to the land:

"Man was not created for this artificiality; there is an urgent need to return to the land, to touch it, to smell it. This is what I feel."