{"id":528,"date":"2019-11-08T14:48:04","date_gmt":"2019-11-08T14:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/?p=528"},"modified":"2019-11-08T14:54:06","modified_gmt":"2019-11-08T14:54:06","slug":"528","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/2019\/11\/08\/528\/","title":{"rendered":"ARTS AND POLITICS: THE ODD COUPLE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ARTS AND\nPOLITICS: THE ODD COUPLE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With\nthe UK holding an election in December that, even if the parties each try to\naddress social issues, will inevitably be about Brexit and November 10th the\ndate of a general election being held in Spain and across The Canary Islands\nafter a spate of \u00b4hung\u00b4 results recently, I fear the arts might be ignored by\nthose who seek our votes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personally\nspeaking I don\u00b4t like seeing art being misappropriated, commodified,\ncommercialised, agendised or politicised, so being ignored and left alone by\nthe politicians might be no bad thing for arts and culture, especially over\nhere on Lanzarote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just about everything on the island is splashed onto\nan artist\u00b4s pallet as colours and customs all run together to maintain the old\nand create the new. Even on such a lush and vibrant artistic landscape, though,\nthe paths that brought us here are never erased. People on the island do not\noverlook significant landmarks passed along the way, such as the incorporation of the islands in the Castilian Crown\nby the end of the 15th Century. From that time on, Hispanic culture and\ntradition spread across all the islands of the archipelago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visual artists of the 17th, 18th and 19th Century restricted their work\nto religious themes and many paintings and sculptures from that period still\nadorn churches all over the island. One of the most prolific, profound and\npopular religious sculptors was Jos\u00e9 Luj\u00e1n P\u00e9rez (1756-1815), whose work can be\nadmired in many churches and cathedrals throughout the Canary Islands. Later,\nin the early part of the twentieth century, N\u00e9stor Martin Fern\u00e1ndez de la Torre\nspecialised in murals and fought fiercely to revive and preserve Canarian folk\nart and architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Literature, too, has a long history in the Canaries, though many poets\nand novelists from the islands have been compelled to move to mainland Spain in\norder to find wider markets and appreciation of their work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The island traditions of folklore music and dance are frequently\nobserved at fiestas that remain far more significant than being mere tourist\nattraction. Andalusian dances and Latin American rhythms, especially of Salsa\nmusic introduced by immigrants, also prevail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Classical Music Festival runs annually from January to March with\nalmost all islands of the archipelago participating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So much of Lanzarote\u00b4s arts and culture seems to have emanated from its\nformer capital of Teguise. Wandering around this quiet, dignified area on a\nlazy weekday afternoon it is difficult to imagine Teguise as once being the\nmost important and musical town on the archipelago. Teguise is the home of the\ntimple, a unique five-string guitar that accompanies many traditional dances,\nas well as the castanets. A slightly smaller town just down the road, San\nBartolome, is also well known for its folklore music and dance traditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Musical events, such as the famous and annually held Visual Music\nFestival, often take place in the awe-inspiring volcanic caves  Jameos Del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes.  These natural cathedrals are surely among the\nmost impressive concert arenas in the world, with their subdued lighting and\nincredible acoustics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The island is certainly not short of museums or art galleries either,\noverflowing, almost, with examples of the island\u00b4s rich culture. Among the very\nbest of these venues is the Cesar Manrique Foundation, one of scores of\nlocations that this year are celebrating and commemorating the life of a\nvisionary artist. The foundation even contains exhibits of work by Picasso,\ntoo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Cesar Manrique<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I love Manrique\u00b4s work and how the island remains in thrall to his artistic vision and compassion, but it is the island\u00b4s relationship with him that causes me slight concern at the moment. Since the last local elections, and in the loose hands of a multi-coalition national government, Manrique\u00b4s work and the status of the foundation in his name seems to have become the emblem fluttering in the middle of a tug of war rope. Even in the midst of a wonderful, and free, fortnight\u00b4s series of concerts to celebrate the centenary of Manrique\u00b4s birth there were claims and counter-claims over the legitimate ownership of his works; is the foundation its sole executive or is the government a participating agent, too? A dispute over who had the right to reproduce an important literary work about the artist erupted during the festival but some felt that the only ones who would have suffered by its suppression were the people of the island that was so loved by the artist <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There seems to be some conciliatory conversations taking place now\nbetween the foundation and the government but the general public are not,\nperhaps, being made aware of the agenda of those discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Maria Dolores Corujo
President Of The Cabildo of Lanzarote<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In fact, The President of the Cabildo de\nLanzarote, Maria Dolores Corujo, recently met with the C\u00e9sar Manrique\nFoundation (FCM.) Dolores Corujo spoke with the President of the FCM, Jos\u00e9 Juan\nRam\u00edrez, and Fernando G\u00f3mez Aguilera, the director who has worked at the\nheadquarters of the cultural entity in the Taro de Tah\u00edche.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The President of the Cabildo declared that, \u00b4the main\nobjective of this visit (was about nothing other) than trying to restore the\nnecessary and essential institutional relationships that keep the Cabildo of\nLanzarote and the FCM looking after the legacy of our most universal artist.\nLanzarote owes a lot to C\u00e9sar Manrique.\u00b4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 \u201cI firmly\nbelieve,\u201d she added \u201cthat it is necessary that the first public institution of\nLanzarote will again be able to return to fruitful communication with the\nFoundation.\u00b4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maria Dolores Corujo finished by reassuring her\naudience that the meeting had been fruitful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such comments are being made, however, against disturbing rumours that her\nLanzarote Cabildo (parliament) are considering moving displays and exhibitions\nby much admired contemporary artists out of environments where they might\n\u00b4detract\u00b4 or distract from the quality of Manrique\u00b4s work and his importance.\nIt is feared that sculptures at the shoreline beneath the Museum Of\nContemporary Art, that seem to have proved hugely popular amongst indigents and\ntourists alike, might be moved to another location. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rising Tide, sculpture by Jason\ndeCaires Taylor, a British-born sculptor who participated in the Totally\nThames Festival 2015, was temporarily installed on the inter-tidal zone at the\nfoot of the building of the International Museum of Contemporary Art, at the Castillo\nde San Jos\u00e9, Arrecife. It had previously been installed by the artist on the\nRiver Thames foreshore at Vauxhall in London. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201dThe Rising Tide is a sculpture depicting four riders on their saddles,\nhorses whose heads are oil drilling pumps , reflecting the great threat that\nhangs over the planet and especially on the seas and oceans”, explains the\nCentre for Arts, Culture and Tourism (CACT) in its statement. With this\ninitiative, the CACT aspire to \u00b4make the works of Jason deCaires Taylor more widely known.\u00b4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Rising Tide arts installation<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The same sculptor developed the Museo Atl\u00e1ntico<\/a>, <\/strong>thought to be the world\u00b4s first underwater museum of sculptures, to the south of the island. At the same time, The Rising Tide is a promotional vehicle for the island. Set in a stunning location, the scene welcomes tourists and visitors who arrive in the capital by boat or ferry. The Rising Tide is currently installed on the Bay of Naos, with the CACT having been granted permission by the relevant Port Authority of Las Palmas. The work \u00b4is placed as a sustainable work by the artist, since the process does not use harmful materials to the ecosystem, or to anchors on the seabed.\u00b4 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the moment, the figures of The Rising Tide are particularly\nimpressive when silhouetted at low tides and in the sun rise and sun set shades\nthat settle on the water\u00b4s edge. It would seem that many people love the\ninstallation, and as I write this a petition has already 1,000 signatures\ncalling on the Cabildo to leave the horses where they are. Nevertheless we at\nall across the arts have heard that a removal firm has already been\ncommissioned and work on the unearthing of these wonderful statues is due to\nstart over the next ten days. There is a loose assurance that they will be relocated\nin some place the Cabildo deem to be \u00b4more appropriate\u00b4 but there is no\nindication that they have yet decided where, or when, that might be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I fear that we might lengthen Manrique\u00b4s shadow so that it darkens the\naspirations and ambitions of the generations of artists following in his footsteps.\nHis should surely be the positive inspiration that frees them to pour new wine\nfrom old bottles, not the foreboding ruler by which they might feel they are\nbeing measured.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel churlish in mentioning these fears, though, when arts and culture\nstill seem in robust health, with the \u00b4artsy\u00b4 village of Yaiza constantly\nshowing a changing and diverse array of work by a number of artists. Visitors\ncan often meet and talk to the artists of many exhibitions and sometimes\nprofessional freelance curators like Estefamia Comejo are there to offer their\nexpert guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are award winning museums of farming and agriculture and even an\ninteresting International Miniatures Museum in Haria in the north of the island\nand the incredible history (and future) of the island\u00b4s volcanoes are widely\ndemonstrated in the wonderful technical centre on the Timanfaya volcano range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, rather than consider how many artists, art galleries and\nmuseums there might be on Lanzarote we should rather consider Lanzarote as one,\nhuge art gallery. Like Manrique, we should explore it to inspire our\ncreativity, and to increase our awareness, understanding and tolerance of\nothers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We could then all share an appreciation of the contribution made to this\nworld by sculptors, painters, architects and designers, singers, musicians,\npoets and writers and, in fact, all artists and artisans alike<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those\nof us who care about the arts should make our voices heard and make our votes\ncount. I am not one who feels the arts need to go cap in hand for government\nsupport, nor do I demand greater largesse from governments. I hope, nay I\nexpect, only that governments help foster and create a social climate in which\nthe arts and artists can survive and flourish when deserving to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nor\ndo I think the arts need be loud and radical. Protest made through reason is\nmore often effective than protest made through rant. A sentence that opens with\na small p can be as meaningful as any political shout that begins with a\ncapital P.  That is not to say that art\nshould never be a voice of Protest, but not every sledgehammer cracks a nut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless,\nthe arts, in any of their various guises and disciplines can, and often seeks\nto, serve as an \u00b4agent of change\u00b4 as anyone who has seen the current Ken Loach\nfilm, Sorry We Missed You, can testify. The film shows Ricky, Abby\nand their two children living in Newcastle. They form a close-knit family.\nRicky has gone from one job to another; Abby takes care of elderly people and\nenjoys her work. Despite working harder and harder, they are aware that they\nwill never own their own home of enjoy financial security. The couple decide to\nrisk everything, and Abby sells her car so Ricky can purchase a van and become\na delivery man on his own: he’ll finally be his own boss. The modern world\nsneaks into the family kitchen, offering them a different future. Loach, writer\nof Kes, places contemporary society in the UK in front of a mirror and asks if\nwe like what we see, and this new film will be showing here on Lanzarote, too,\nin late December and early January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over\nhere on Lanzarote the arts generally sit comfortably, as part of the island\u00b4s\nsunny disposition and blue-sky thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having worked in the UK for more than thirty years as\na publicist for the arts at national and local level, I have been so impressed\nby the support the Cabildo, of whatever colour and party, seem to have given\nthe arts in my four years over here. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arts events are usually at affordable prices at\naccessible venues and conducted in an atmosphere conducive to cultural identity\nand pride whilst also promoting cultural cohesion. However, I feel the\npublicity outreach to new residents from abroad could be improved, so that they\nbecome as aware as are local people of forthcoming events. Nevertheless, I also\nwish that more of those new residents who are aware of and have access to so\nmany arts events all over the island would take wider advantage of them. My\nexperience here has always been one of being made to feel welcome at concerts\nand exhibitions etc. and even my lack of a Spanish vocabulary extending beyond\nfootball does not detract from my enjoyment of events. Sometimes trying to work\nout what the heck is going on actually lends added value to my fun. I have\ncertainly never experienced anything to frighten the horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And here we are back talking about horses. I remain\nsomewhat  puzzled about the reasons for\nthe proposed re-location of the \u00b4horse statues\u00b4 on the shore-line at Castillo\nde San Jose. They have become a constant and evocative presence there, and\nthere must be hundreds of people like me, who having caught a glimpse of them\nat low tide, as dawn breaks or in shadow as the sun sets, have then pulled into\nthe castle car park and wandered along to catch a closer look and take a\nphotograph. These creatures, whilst so obviously man-made are, nevertheless,\nrealistic and timeless. There is much to be grateful for on the Lanzarote arts\nscene, as established artists and aspirant artists alike are given a platform\nto demonstrate their abilities. Visual arts, song and dance, and even stone\nhorses, all serve as our finest ambassadors. My plea to any politicians,\nthough, who might want to limit the power of the arts, or to harness its power\nfor their own ends echoes WB Yeats: \u00b4Tread softly, because you tread on my\ndreams.\u00b4<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ARTS AND POLITICS: THE ODD COUPLE With the UK holding an election in December that, even if the parties each try to address social issues, will inevitably be about Brexit and November 10th the date of a general election being held in Spain and across The Canary Islands after a spate of \u00b4hung\u00b4 results recently, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-528","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aata"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/528","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=528"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/528\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aata.dev\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}