The general secretary of the PSOE of Lanzarote and Deputy in Congress, María Dolores Corujo, has promoted a Non-Law Proposal in the Assembly of Madrid to urge the regional government to declare as an Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) the only street-level mural by César Manrique that is preserved in the capital, located at number 9 Calle Santa Cruz de Marcenado.
Corujo pointed out that "Madrid was a key city in Manrique's artistic career and this work, created in 1954, represents a unique testimony of that stage. Protecting it is a matter of cultural justice and shared memory between the Canary Islands and the capital."
The initiative proposes, in addition to its declaration as BIC, that actions be coordinated with the Madrid City Council to guarantee its restoration and conservation, that an agreement be explored with the property to ensure its on-site maintenance or its possible transfer to an institutional space, and that actions be developed to disseminate Manrique's legacy in Madrid.
"The lack of protection of this work is a symptom of institutional disinterest that we must correct. It cannot be allowed that a piece of this value, a witness to the connection between art and the urban landscape, ends up abandoned or destroyed due to lack of public intervention," said Corujo.
The proposal is in addition to the motion already approved by the Cabildo of Lanzarote, which asks the Government of the Canary Islands to purchase the property and convert it into a space for the creation and dissemination of Canarian culture in Madrid.
The ceramic mural, with themes linked to the world of construction, is a unique piece of Manrique's early work, with avant-garde features that announce the aesthetic and environmental commitment that would mark his entire career. It is currently in a state of deterioration and without legal protection, despite the fact that various institutions, such as the César Manrique Foundation or the Complutense University, have called for its conservation.