Last week, the sculptural ensemble "The Rising Tide" by artist Jason deCaires Taylor was removed from the surroundings of the Castle of San José. The main argument that was pointed out to carry out this action from the political instances of the Cabildo and the management of the Tourist Centers was "to return the identity to the cultural and artistic work of César Manrique."
Personally, I think that the explanation is insufficient and I also disagree with the reasoning because I consider that the International Museum of Contemporary Art, in which Manrique intervened and the sculptures of deCaires maintained a very interesting dialogue and, above all, made us question the biggest problem we must face this century: the climate crisis. What effective measures are really being taken if, as numerous reports and studies indicate, the sea level rises considerably on the fragile coast of Lanzarote?
Let's think that if enough intention is not paid to this environmental issue, in which our lives are at stake, what are we going to expect in cultural matters that practically seems to matter to no one. The underlying issue, from my point of view, is that the urgent removal of these horses did not seem at all an urgent issue in terms of the island's cultural policy, which has many shortcomings. Furthermore, if the matter were so justified, there would have been no problem in dialoguing with the artist and the cultural agents who have opposed to agree on where to place the work again. Another issue is the administrative responsibilities, the debate on the acquisition or not of the same, etc. that must be refined in the corresponding instances.
What should make us reflect as citizens, as a result of the removal of de Cayres' horses, is on the very concept of art and what the political elites intend to impose (or refute) at each moment. Although perhaps the present is a bit disappointing, Lanzarote has always been a leading island in cultural matters and should not stop being so.
In culture, an area so often reviled from politics, putting people who are unaware, with little sensitivity or, directly, alien to the cultural sector at the head of the cultural departments, the real needs of the population must be analyzed and not the elitist opinions, although they should also be considered as a whole. Politicians must be receptive, supporting cultural initiatives that arise from society and collectives, also acting as patrons for local and emerging artists, with a broad vision, to enrich the island's cultural heritage, opting not for an imposition, but for a participatory cultural policy, because culture must be for everyone.
