The president and Councilor of Historical Heritage of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Oswaldo Betancort, has announced that the Island Corporation will take the first steps to explore forms of collaboration, both with public institutions and with private entities and foundations, with the aim of guaranteeing the conservation of the mural that César Manrique made in 1954 on Santa Cruz de Marcenado street, in Madrid.
“It is the duty of the Cabildo to ensure the heritage and artistic legacy of César Manrique, not only in Lanzarote, but in any part of the world where his work is in danger of disappearing. We want to open avenues of collaboration to ensure that this mural located at street level, part of the artistic memory of Spain, receives the attention it deserves,” said Betancort.
The initiative contemplates the sending of an official letter to the Madrid City Council to formally inquire about the current state of the work and learn firsthand about the existing possibilities for its conservation and protection.
This work suffers from a state of neglect and has been aggravated over the months. The advertising attached to the ceramics, graffiti and visible deterioration in the lower part of the building's facade threaten to erase an essential chapter of Manrique's legacy in the Spanish capital.
Betancort insisted on the "historical and heritage relevance of this work, which reflects the beginning of artistic modernity in the Spain of the 50s", and reiterated his "commitment to study all possibilities, including the eventual relocation of the mural on the island, provided that it is valued as the most appropriate option for its conservation".
“Manrique's legacy transcends borders and it is everyone's responsibility to preserve it. Lanzarote is willing to get actively involved to prevent an essential part of our common history from being lost,” concluded Betancort.
