The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Lanzarote has achieved the unanimous approval of its motion to urge the Government of the Canary Islands to acquire the property located at number 9 Santa Cruz de Marcenado Street, in Madrid, which houses the only mural by César Manrique at street level outside the Archipelago.
With this decision, the PSOE "manages to take a firm step towards the preservation of the legacy of the Lanzarote artist, protecting a work of enormous historical and symbolic value that is currently at risk of disappearing." The mural, designed by Manrique in 1954, is located inside and on the facade of a building that lacks any type of legal protection.
The socialist councilor and former head of the Culture area, Alberto Aguiar, celebrated the unanimous support of the Corporation and stressed that “we cannot allow a unique work by our most universal artist to be lost. It is our responsibility to protect it and give it the value it deserves.”
The place is just 40 meters from the Casa de Canarias in Madrid, which makes it a strategic enclave to reinforce the institutional presence of the Islands in the capital of the State. In addition, it is located just 350 meters from the Benito Pérez Galdós Public Library, which opens up the possibility of allocating it to the dissemination of the creative talent of the Archipelago.
“The legacy of César Manrique is a treasure that we must preserve and project. This mural is part of our cultural history and has enormous symbolic value. Betting on its protection is also betting on our identity,” Aguiar defended.
Thanks to the PSOE motion, the Cabildo will urge the Government of the Canary Islands not only to acquire the property, but also to turn it into a space for the development of cultural activities linked to Canarian creation, thus consolidating a stable platform for the projection of art and the island culture in the heart of Madrid.
