The approach is extraordinary and a triumph: murals that now shape an open-air museum. It all began in 2019, when the Town Hall and the Association for the Promotion of Visual and Performing Arts (Afaver) launched an initiative called the Urban Art Festival of Los Realejos 6 of 12. The project brings together multiple artists from different parts of the world who create art using the walls of the municipality as their canvas. The idea has grown and strengthened to the point that there are now 33 works on display in just as many locations across the Realejos area.
The main motivation behind the street museum is to promote artistic expression in public spaces, “to give value to contemporary, urban art, and also to forgotten spaces, telling stories with both local and international artists, creating different styles in order to offer a unique and representative variety of each artist”. And one more point that complements this project summary: “Generate reflection and dialogue among residents and visitors”.
Residents and property owners offer the walls of their buildings for artists to showcase their creations, contributing to beautifying the urban environment. The mayor of Los Realejos, Adolfo González, explained this week that the idea was born five years ago “with the aim of offering Los Realejos to a variety of artists from the regional and national scene to showcase their works”. It emerged “almost as a pilot experience” and was driven by the Town Hall and in collaboration with the Tenerife artist Víctor Pacheco. A proposal that “was consolidating and gaining capacity”.
The fish / E. D.
In the process, participating artists are hired following pre-registration. Each work is completed in two months, allowing for the creation of six per year for the project. In the coming odd months of July, September, and November of this year, the creation of three more is planned. Alongside each of these large-format murals, an identifying plaque provides the curious visitor with the reference of the artist who created it, the name of the work, and its year of creation. A QR two-dimensional barcode grants access, through the use of digital devices, to all that information via the website www.seisdedoce.com, which expands on all the displayed details. In addition, informational brochures are distributed containing a photograph, author, place of origin, and location of the mural.
Throughout the nearly five years of development of the Urban Art Festival of Los Realejos 6 of 12, the municipality has created a museum where each work reflects a personal or general aspect, giving life to a once blank space. The Councilor for Culture, Samuel Farráis, highlighted the collaboration of the community to make this project possible: “Although some of these works are displayed on walls or facades of public spaces, many of them have been created in private buildings and properties overlooking streets or squares in our municipality, made possible thanks to the collaboration and willingness of many residents, families, and property communities that have facilitated it”.
Artists and artworks
This International Open-Air Museum has that character because local artists as well as those from the rest of Canarias, national, and international artists participate in its creation. Feoflip, from Lanzarote, created Achinech in Las Toscas del Romero, a work that “takes us on a journey through science fiction, surrealism, and comics”. ‘Busca tesoros’ is the mural by Malakkai (Almería) located on Pablo García García street, in the urban area, in his work “the female figure and strange animals intertwined with irony and a peculiar sense of humour always predominate”.
One of the murals / E. D.
That same year, in 2019, Acaymo Padrino (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) created Mocán at number 9 Avenida de Canarias. Tanausú Alemán (Gran Canaria), a mural graffiti expert, depicted Juego de niños on San Agustín street, 4, full of volume and colour. Long star is the hallmark of Man o Matic (Huelva) which can be seen at number 23 on San Vicente street, a “reflection on life, culture, and current society”. Julieta XLF (Valencia) leaves Ella vuela sobre el pinzón azul on Ladera del Toscal street.
The festival goes international. Ione Domínguez (Tenerife) painted Marioneta gitana, at number 94 Calo Blanco street; the French artist 3TTMAN created Plataneras, a mural on El Pilar street, 20; Iker Muro from Bilbao left his mark on General La Cruz Santa road, 46 A, but unnamed; Ayoze Jiménez (Gran Canaria) is the creator of Big Cat, on a wall on El Piris street; the Tenerife artist Kobtropical created Unión, at number 2 Tenerife street, and Sabotaje al Montaje did it at 11 Avenida Canarias: Sin señal, isolation, and virtual emotions.
Spok (Madrid) is the author of Algo de este royo, at number 178 Icod el Alto road; Un patio en Los Realejos is at 49 Real de La Cruz Santa street; SEA162 (Madrid), created El Viaje, at La Montaña road, 48; Taquen (Madrid) did it on Alfonso street
Angel Ramos with The Turkish dove; Lidia Caro (Galicia) chose Decoration on Santiago Apóstol Avenue, and Datos Punto Cero (León) focused on sustainable ecology on Pablo García García Street.
La Merienda is located at 180 Icod el Alto Road, a piece by Slim Safont (Barcelona); Soen Bravo (Madrid) is the author of an untitled work at 27 La Romera Street; Marta Lapeña also left the mural on Dr. Antonio González Street without a title; the Amazonas Duo (from Colombia and Argentina) created Chrysalis at 7 El Mar Street; Musa 71 (Barcelona) also left untitled the mural on Taburiente Street, as did Manolo Mesa (Cádiz) on Tindaya Street.
On La Corona Road, heading to La Cabezada, Aches (Ireland) painted La Lolita; Pablo Astrán (Donostia) is the author of The Island at 8 Barroso Street; Santiago Apóstol Street also features The smile thief by El Pez (Barcelona-Bogotá); Elian Chali (Argentina) created Too tight in here on José Garcés Street; Kram (Barcelona) left his mural on 27 Reyes Católicos Street untitled, as did Stom500 (France) on 36 Camino Nuevo.
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Udatxo (Bilbao) is the author of the mural on San Cayetano Street, in La Montaña; Doa OA. (Galicia) painted Summit Heather in Mocán Square, and Maldito Mono (Gran Canaria), Eight, at 3 Calzadilla Street, La Cruz Santa.
