"Lanzarote, but also the Canary Islands and Spain, are once again putting Pancho Lasso in the place he deserves, which is none other than recognizing him as one of the main artists of the 20th century on the island, and one of the most important Spanish and Canarian sculptors of the avant-garde. His contribution to the history of art and cultural heritage is incalculable."
This is what the president of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Pedro San Ginés, said this Thursday at the tribute to Pancho Lasso, in which the sculptor's family was presented with the title of Favorite Son of Lanzarote, with his grandson Alejandro Bonmatí Lasso being in charge of collecting it. In turn, the Island Corporation also presented Pancho Lasso's daughter, Rosalía Lasso, with the Golden Crab. Francisco Lasso Morales (Arrecife, 1904, Madrid 1973), was named Favorite Son by the Cabildo de Lanzarote in November 2004.
The event was attended by family members of Pancho Lasso and numerous local authorities, but also institutional representatives of the Ministry of Culture and the Government of the Canary Islands - the Deputy Minister of Culture of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alberto Delgado Prieto, and the head of service of the Deputy Directorate of Promotion of Cultural Industries of the Ministry of Culture, Enrique de Andrés Ruiz - two administrations that have contributed financially to the development of all the events of this Tribute, whose cost has amounted to 47,625 euros, of which 29,625 euros have been allocated to the reproduction of "Tribute to Music".
Precisely, the inauguration of this sculptural piece has been the act that has closed the celebrations, and that has been discovered in its location on the maritime avenue of Arrecife, on Coll Avenue, in front of the Casa de Los Arroyo. The piece, valued by historiography as one of the most representative and original works of Spanish sculptural surrealism, has a height of 3.45 meters, and is a "Tribute to the Music of the International, given that Pancho Lasso was a militant in the Communist Party".
With the reproduction of this sculpture, "one of the most cherished dreams of the Lanzarote sculptor is fulfilled, which is to reproduce one of his works on a large scale, as he always wished, and which he was unable to achieve in life," said the Minister of Culture of the Cabildo de Lanzarote, Francisco Cabrera.
On the other hand, Lasso's grandson, Alejandro Bonmatí Lasso, had words of gratitude, on behalf of the entire family, for the local authorities and institutions, to whom he thanked "the care and affection with which they have treated the figure of my grandfather, and the respect that everyone shows for his legacy".
Exhibition of unpublished work
After the inauguration of the sculpture, the authorities and family members moved to the Castle of San José to see the exhibition that is exhibited in the International Museum of Contemporary Art with the works of the author, which are part of the center's collection, and which includes some unpublished pieces by the author of "The Bird".
Among these pieces are carved tables with references to the Spanish Civil War, a sculptural piece of a soldier dated between 1936 and 1937, and some sculptures that, although they have already been exhibited, have not been exhibited for many years, as is the case of "Old Woman Sitting".
This is the largest and most complete collection of works by Pancho Lasso, whose property belongs to the Cabildo de Lanzarote since in the 80s the Corporation bought the works from the sculptor's daughter, Rosalía Lasso. The collection is made up of 12 sculptural pieces, 8 drawings, 8 paintings, 6 medals and 1 relief and the first exhibition of the funds was held in the Casa de los Arroyo, where it was inaugurated on May 23, 1995.
Later the works went to the funds of the MIAC, where in the year 2000, specifically on December 15 of that year, a permanent room dedicated to the sculptor was inaugurated. From that date until today you can enjoy in the Lasso Room of the Castle of San José the most significant works of the artist.