Manuel González Méndez (1843-1909), a French destiny
Born in La Palma in 1843 and died in Barcelona in 1909, this painter was entitled to the highest honors of the French Republic by receiving the Legion of Honor. An exceptional distinction, at a time when it was synonymous with excellence and merit and was only granted to foreigners on an exceptional basis. Originally from the island of Santa Cruz de La Palma, Manuel González Méndez began exhibiting in Paris in 1875 and never stopped producing, even receiving a prize at the 1900 Universal Exhibition held in the capital. Filled with glory, he became a member of the Academy of Fine Arts and returned to the Canary Islands to carry out various private and public commissions. He died in Barcelona in 1909 on his way back to Paris.
Several of his paintings can be seen in the Municipal Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Cruz and in the magnificent Gabinete Literario in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where the ceilings of the large salon, a former theater room, were decorated by the artist. Two of his paintings have recently been the subject of controversy: The Handing Over of the Princess and The Foundation of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, which decorate the Parliament Hall of the Canary Islands and depict the arrival of the Italian conquistadors in Guanche land, were considered to reflect the extermination of the Guanches by the Castilians. They have not been removed, as they are considered part of the historical and cultural heritage of the country, but they have been hidden during the parliamentary sessions.
Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre (1867-1938), figure of Spanish symbolism
Among the first great Canarian artists, Néstor Martín Fernández de la Torre is one of the most outstanding figures. Originally from Gran Canaria, he studied in Madrid and traveled through Europe, learning sculpture and painting. He then returned to the Canary Islands, where he took part in the frescoes of the Pérez Gáldos theater in Las Palmas and the casino in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. His painting does not particularly depict local life or landscapes: like many painters of the time, he is primarily influenced by the symbolist movement. It reflects a dreamlike and colorful universe, populated by sensual characters, marine animals and lush plants, which nevertheless recall certain characteristics of the islands - in a style that is sometimes compared to that of Klimt.
Towards the end of his life, he dedicated himself to the defense of Canary Island architectural and folkloric traditions. In particular, he launched a campaign to promote local tourism, which he called "Tipismo" (quality of what is typical, picturesque, specific to a particular place). He died suddenly at the age of 51 from pneumonia, leaving several large projects unfinished. Twenty years after his death, the Nestor de la Torre de Las Palmas Museum was inaugurated, a beautiful neo-Canadian building designed by his architect brother, but based on pre-existing works by the artist, located in the Pueblo Canario of Las Palmas - a visit not to be missed.
Cesar Manrique (1919-1992), the artistic soul of the Canaries
The most famous Canarian artist is without a doubt the artist and architect Cesar Manrique. There is not an island on which he has not left his mark. Born in Lanzarote, he studied in Madrid before becoming a recognized abstract painter, influenced in particular by Miró. After a stay in New York, he returned to his native island in 1968 and devoted himself to architecture. In addition to his own house, which today is the César Manrique Foundation, a place not to be missed, the artist and architect has left numerous tourist buildings and sculptures in Lanzarote (restaurant in the National Park, mirador del Río, Jameos del Agua and Cueva de los Verdes, etc.) as well as in the other islands (restaurant-miradors in La Gomera and El Hierro, Lido de San Telmo and Playa Jardín in Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife). His architecture is both respectful of the Canary Islands' tradition and landscape, and wonderfully integrates the natural materials of the islands, such as the lava that surrounds his house. Manrique has greatly contributed to the development of his island Lanzarote and the promotion of low and white houses, emblematic of the island. The artist died on September 26, 1992 in a car accident.
A landscape conducive to the development of photography
The history of tourism development in the Canary Islands is closely linked to that of photography. Located on the European maritime route to the African, Asian and American markets, the archipelago has been at the heart of international trade for several centuries and has benefited from the technological innovations that have been circulating throughout the world. This is the case of photography, which was introduced quite rapidly in the archipelago in the early 1840s. Very early on, European photographers established their photographic studios, quickly followed by local artists, participating year after year in the development of a rich and varied heritage in the field. It was in October 1839, barely three months after the official presentation of the daguerreotype in Paris, that photography arrived in Santa Cruz de Tenerife on board a French frigate, "L'Orientale". Among the members of the crew was Louis Compte, who introduced photography to the South American continent just after this stopover. At the end of the 19th century, the development of this art form in the Canary Islands went hand in hand with the economic growth of the islands, which gradually attracted the attention of Europeans.
Among the photographers who contributed to the documentation of the Canary Islands were Santos María Pego, Alberto Boissier y Romero, Luis Ojeda Pérez and Abelardo Auyanet. Portraits, landscapes and socio-political reports are the three main lines of development of this new medium, which, at first reserved for the elite, gradually dedicated itself to documenting local popular life. Thanks to it, the Canary Islands succeeded in capturing the attention of the foreign eye, which saw a vitality and exoticism that had no equivalent on the European continent. The photographic image then became a real tool for social cohesion, with the construction of an island iconography contributing to the promotion of a "Canarian identity", a process that intensified in the first half of the 20th century with the rise of the postcard. Since then, the archipelago has continued to be a source of inspiration for local and foreign photographers. To admire these works and discover the different views of the islands, we recommend a visit to the Tenerife Espacio de Las Artes, an exciting art and photography center, whose building, designed by the architects Herzog and de Meuron, is worth a visit in itself.
Understanding the island through its sculptures
In the field of sculpture, it is impossible not to pay homage to the first inhabitants of the Canaries, the Guanches. Candelaria (Tenerife) is the place to go to admire the Square of the Patroness of the Canaries, a large esplanade at the foot of the magnificent Basilica of Our Lady of Candelaria. Here you can see the famous sculptures of the nine Menceyes Guanches of Tenerife, the kings who ruled the island during the Spanish conquest in the 15th century. Monumental bronze statues have replaced the original statues carved in volcanic stone, which were moved to another avenue in 1993. The statues are the work of sculptor José Abad and symbolize an essential dimension of Canarian culture. The nine Menceyes are the sons of Mencey Tinerfe the Great, whose court was held in Adeje 100 years before the Spanish conquest. They divided the island into 9 kingdoms: Acaimo (Mencey de Tacoronte), Adjona (Mencey de Abona), Añaterve (Mencey de Güímar), Bencomo (Mencey de Taoro), Beneharo (Mencey de Anaga), Pelinor (Mencey de Adeje), Pelicar (Mencey de Icode), Romen (Mencey de Daute) and Tegueste (Mencey de Tegueste).
And we can also think of the other "king" of the Canary Islands, Cesar Manrique, by going to Mozaga, on the island of Lanzarote. Exactly between Mozaga and San Bartolomé, in the middle of a crossroads, his Monumento al Campesino pays homage to the peasant of his native land through a fifteen-meter high sculpture.
Meet contemporary popular cultures with street art
Street art is quite widespread in the archipelago, and fits perfectly with the colorful hues of the facades. In Gran Canaria and Tenerife, frescoes and graffiti are particularly present and blend cheerfully into the urban landscape. Discovering them allows you to discover the local popular art while walking in areas off the beaten track. In some cities, such as Santa Cruz de Tenerife, artists are even entitled to spaces entirely dedicated to their murals, the largest of which is located in front of thechurch of the Concepción, a major monument of the city. In Puerto de la Cruz, in the north of Tenerife, the city center is also wonderfully decorated, with works of all sizes, from very large commissioned frescoes that cover entire sections of the facade to small discreet graffiti hidden in the corners of the streets. A real treasure hunt!
As you can guess, many foreign artists come to find inspiration on these islands, and this is the case of the French artist Louis Lambert for example, who settled a few years ago in Punta de Hidalgo, in a rather wild part of Tenerife. You will probably come across his little three-headed character, a sort of alter ego, the hero of a childish universe with South American influences, who has become a real local figure.
