‘Memories of a Villa’ is the new mural that captures Silense popular wisdom. It is located on the side of the plaza in the center of San Bernardo (Las Canteras). The theme included in the bases of the call made by Citizen Participation for this project focused on The Silos. The proposal of the local artist, Jonathan Abreu Alvareza native of Tierra del Trigo, was chosen by vote among the four projects presented.
This initiative has been carried out thanks to a subsidy provided by the Cabildo de Tenerife. «We have executed the project. The voting process for the proposals was carried out in the Pérez Enríquez room at the end of July and this one was the winner», explains the councilor of the area, Andrés Rodríguez Gonzalez.
The mural reflects several identifying elements of Los Silos, such as the telegraph house, Agua Dulce beach, the northern whale, the sugar mill and the face of Fernando Hernández Álvarez, a relevant figure in the municipality for the transmission of his knowledge. poet and lime kiln worker. His presence in the mural stands out among all the elements due to the realistic nature of his figure.
The author of the mural confesses that he was previously working on drafting a project that consisted of capturing the faces of the oldest people in Los Silos in order to develop a work with an intergenerational theme. «It is important how the elders transmit knowledge to the young so that the tradition of the towns is not lost. Since I found out about the call, Fernando came to mind,” who in the municipality is called Don Fernando, says Abreu.
Jonathan Abreu Álvarez, with the signature Air Jecor, has used realism and quartering to make this mural. The materials used in its creation, mainly, have been both latex or vinyl paint, which make up the base and backgrounds, and spray, which has been used mainly in the portraits and details.
Abreu Álvarez highlights that “60% of the work is the creation of the sketch.” The author acknowledges that “it is the most difficult thing.” The artist has highlighted that it is not the first proposal that I presented. I made several sketches before, I started moving it around and, in the end, the one I liked the most was this one. Normally, I go through a pre-creation process with a lot of sketches until you find one you like.
For its part, Andrés Rodríguez González, Councilor for Citizen Participationhas assessed that «the result is wonderful. Whoever can come see him, do so, because it is impressive how he has turned out and as a tribute, also to Don Fernando, a person so loved in the town. “It is fortunate to be able to enjoy the art of artists like Jonathan, who has done a splendid job,” he concluded.
