- This innovative project promoted by the Fundación Cepsa and the municipal Culture department presents many interesting ideas
This morning, the winners of the ‘Chicharritos’ cultural initiative, organized by the Fundación Cepsa and the Autonomous Body of Culture (OAC) of the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, presented the winning sketches and gave details of how the works would be carried out.
The fifth deputy mayor and president of the OAC, José Carlos Acha, and the director of Cepsa in the Canary Islands, José Manuel Fernández-Sabugo, said that a public competition had been organized to choose eight artists’ decorated figures of the popular fish, which is one of the best-known symbols of the city. The works will be made with fiberglass and polyester resin and will be 2.30 meters high, stand included.
From now on, selected artists will be given the sculptures and can set to work on decorating them. The idea is that by the end of May they will be installed in a central area of Santa Cruz, together with a plaque referring to the name of each author. Once exhibited, the three most outstanding works will be awarded prizes with an economic endowment. The general public will be able to take vote on the best works, using social media.
Both José Carlos Acha and José Manuel Fernández-Sabugo have stressed the originality of the artistic actions with which the sculptures will be decorated, ranging from braided wool and satin ribbon, to plant elements, fishing nets, graffiti simulation, painting, pieces of mirrors, and so on.
Acha underlined the importance of collaboration between public institutions and private entities, such as the Fundación Cepsa, without whose funding many cultural initiatives could not be carried out. Fernández-Sabugo said that Cepsa, which has been linked to Santa Cruz for more than 86 years, has always been committed to culture in all its facets, and now also through its Foundation.
The eight proposals selected were those presented by Arganda Lorenzo Padrón (untitled); Francisco García González (‘El Chicharro disguised as gold’); Inmaculada Juárez Pérez (‘Water and mythological life’); Liseth Rodríguez Figuera (‘Chicharrito reflection’); Manuel Martín Díaz (‘Heart of Santa Cruz’); Mónica Brito García (‘By Mercy Bouquet’); Pablo Falcón Muñoz (‘Chicharro style’); and Raiber González Hechevarría (‘Rainbow Dream’).