The recent restoration process of the Monument to the Farmer in Lanzarote has generated a debate about the preservation of our cultural heritage and the responsibility of the institutions in charge of protecting it. The replacement of 75% of the original structure with a replica, after it suffered serious damage to its structure, has left a feeling of frustration in the citizens.
Although the restoration of the Monument to the Farmer is a laudable act to bring it back to life, the fact that a large part of César Manrique's work has had to be replaced raises questions about heritage management in our community. The responsible institutions seem to have allowed the sculpture, a symbol of the agricultural and cultural character of Lanzarote, to reach such a critical state as to require such a drastic intervention.
"Negligence in preventive care is a failure on the part of the authorities"
One of the aspects that is most striking in this whole process is the lack of adequate maintenance over time. The restoration of the monument should not have been seen as an emergency intervention, but as a programmed action within a long-term conservation plan.
Negligence in preventive care is a failure on the part of the authorities in charge of heritage management. Institutions must be aware that the conservation of such a representative work requires continuous monitoring and not just reactive interventions after damage.
The damage caused by the windstorm is not an isolated case. It is just a reflection of the absence of effective conservation policies. Instead of waiting for an unexpected event to cause havoc, it is necessary to implement regular maintenance protocols that ensure that works of art and monuments are kept in optimal condition over the years, without the damage being irreversible.
"What does it mean for the identity of a community to see how a part of its most valuable heritage is replaced?"
One of the most controversial points of this repair is the decision to replace part of the original monument. Although it is argued that this will contribute to financing the restoration, the idea that fragments of a work of such high symbolic value are replaced by other pieces raises a crucial question: What does it mean for the identity of a community to see how a part of its most valuable heritage is replaced?
We cannot lose sight of the fact that works of art, especially those that are part of the public space and collective memory, should not be treated as mere collectibles.
The Monument to the Farmer is not only a creation of César Manrique, it is a fundamental part of the history of Lanzarote and the Canarian people. The replacement of part of this structure seems to reduce it to a consumable asset stripped of its cultural and emotional meaning.
The protests that have arisen as a result of the replacement of the Monument to the Farmer reflect a widespread discontent in the population. This monument represents not only a piece of art, but also a part of their identity, their history, their land. Seeing how it deteriorates to the point of needing a replica and how fragments are sold is an open wound in the collective soul of Lanzarote.
Cultural heritage is not only the property of the entities that manage it, but of all citizens who feel represented by it. The lack of consideration for the feelings of the local community and the replacement of a piece of its history is incomprehensible to many people, who demand that priority be given to the conservation of the entire monument, without resorting to the replacement of its parts.
The Monument to the Farmer is a symbol that represents our history and identity. We cannot allow its essence to be stripped or fragmented. The replacement of part of the work and the lack of adequate maintenance are errors that, as a society, we cannot continue to allow ourselves if we really want to preserve our legacy for future generations.