Santander inaugura exposición de esculturas de Manolo Valdés
Santander will inaugurate this Friday, July 4, the exhibition of monumental sculptures by Manolo Valdés, an artistic proposal from the City Council and Opera Gallery.
The mayor, Gema Igual, has revealed some details of the exhibition, coinciding with the installation of the sculptures, which began to be set up this Tuesday and are already visible outside the Palacio de la Magdalena and next to the bay, at Muelle de Calderón.
The selection of works includes four of the iconic crystal resin sculptures of the Reina Mariana, in collaboration with the Port Authority of Santander, which can be seen at the Muelle de Calderón until September 30.
Additionally, for a whole year, Santander will exclusively host three large-scale sculptural pieces – titled Clio White, 2020; Blue Circles, 2024; and Mariposas, 2024 – in different locations on the Magdalena peninsula.
Accompanied by the president of the Port Authority, César Díaz, and the councilor of Culture, Noemí Méndez, Igual has stated that it is a pride to welcome the monumental work of the master Manolo Valdés, one of the great references of contemporary art.
«His work, full of strength, will dialogue with our emblematic Palace, with our bay, and with some of the main cultural centers and museums of the city, in the heart of the Cultural Ring, offering a unique and accessible experience to residents and visitors,» she said.
«We are bringing art back to the streets to be part of our daily lives, to surprise and move us. This exhibition enhances our wide range of attractions and contributes to making Santander the cultural city of reference in the North of Spain on which we focus our efforts,» she added.
Manolo Valdés is globally recognized for his paintings and sculptures, which often reference and recontextualize important moments in art history. For his interpretations of allegorical characters and totemic icons, he uses materials ranging from crystal resin to corten steel, and Murano glass.
For Igual, the collaboration of the artist and the institutions that have made it possible for these sculptures to be installed in Santander is an honor for the city. «I am sure it will be one of the great cultural events of the summer in Cantabria,» she concluded.
The last time Valdés’ monumental sculpture could be seen in the city was in 2009, in an exhibition organized by the La Caixa Foundation and the Museum of Art of Santander MAS.
For over 30 years, Opera Gallery has been dedicated to promoting the most dynamic and innovative expressions of modern and contemporary art through an ambitious program of exhibitions, collaborating with institutions that shape the cultural landscape, often supporting private collections and prominent public institutions.
