The Parliament of the Canary Islands and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Miguel Arcángel honored the Canarian artist Pepe Dámaso this Monday. The event was held in the Golden Hall of the Gabinete Literario in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and brought together institutional representatives, academics, personalities from the cultural and artistic sphere, and numerous attendees who wanted to accompany one of the most outstanding figures of contemporary Canarian art in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to creation and the defense of the cultural identity of the islands.
During her speech, Astrid Pérez highlighted the artistic and human dimension of the honoree and underlined the deep connection of his work with the Canary Islands. “Pepe Dámaso has made the Canary Islands a universal voice without ever renouncing his roots. His work has taught us that our land is not a border, but a starting point towards the world,” she stated.
The president of the Parliament also pointed out that the artist from Agaete “has transformed the memory, traditions, and emotional landscape of the Canary Islands into his own artistic language, free and profoundly brave,” adding that “his work will continue to be an essential part of the cultural identity of these islands.”
Astrid Pérez expressly thanked the collaboration of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Miguel Arcángel for promoting this tribute and recalled that since the beginning of her term, one of her objectives was for the Parliament of the Canary Islands to recognize “one of our most important international artists.”
In an emotional final part of her speech, the president conveyed the collective affection of Canarian society to the honoree: “Thank you for demonstrating that from this archipelago one can speak on equal terms with international creation without ever renouncing our own voice.”
Very moved, Pepe Dámaso thanked the recognition received and dedicated the tribute “to all the Canarian artists who continue to fight every day in a difficult present for art and culture.” The artist also expressed his gratitude for the affection received and advocated for the need to continue defending culture “as a space of freedom, memory, and future.”
The tribute included the screening of the documentary Pepe Dámaso and the Triptych of Agaete by Joos van Cleve, as well as the intervention of academic Juan Gómez Pamo, who highlighted the figure of the artist and reviewed his career from its beginnings, and the presentation of the institutional gift to the artist.
The event was closed after a prolonged ovation from the attending public following the presentation of the recognition from the Parliament of the Canary Islands on a day marked by institutional recognition and affection towards one of the great cultural references of the Canary Islands.
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