The recovery work on the 'Wind Toy', the sculpture that César Manrique designed for Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and which was installed in 1995 in the Plaza de La Puntilla in Las Canteras, anticipates that a replica of the work will return to its location in May.
The Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council has reported in a statement the award of the tender for the replica of the monument, in November, to the company Isidro Hernández y Hermanos, S.A. for 290,009 euros.
The replica of the sculpture will follow the original design of the Lanzarote artist, respecting the agreement signed between the City Council and the César Manrique Foundation.
It is a work of 9.67 meters in height and 5.76 meters in width, composed of 52 mobile pieces, made of 316 stainless steel, a material more resistant to the marine environment than that used initially, which suffered a high degree of deterioration due to oxidation.
On December 10, the contract was signed between the parties, initiating the non-extendable period of 5 months for the reproduction of the 'Wind Toy' to be manufactured and reinstalled in its original location.
The first tasks on site have consisted of extracting four core samples from the concrete base that supported the previous sculpture.
The awarded company has extracted samples to evaluate the actual quality and resistance of the structure to calibrate the degree of carbonation and the hardness of the concrete, in order to determine the anchoring needs.
The councilor responsible for monumental maintenance, Gemma Martínez, has highlighted that the 'Wind Toy' will have to "face the harshness of the sea and the wind due to its complicated location, which, however, is part of the beauty of the composition".
With this solution, she said, "we are committed to maintaining the work facing the sea, but ensuring maximum durability and safety, with the most resistant materials and the necessary adaptations to the base."
