The Tenerife sculptor José Abad, renowned for his expertise in wrought iron and wood, and the mastermind behind the statues of the Menceyes displayed in front of the Basilica of Candelaria, passed away this Thursday in La Laguna at the age of 83, as sources from the City Council of the municipality informed Efe.
Pepe Abad was born in La Laguna on September 24, 1942, and was a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Miguel Arcángel of the Canary Islands, as well as a corresponding academic at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid.
The President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, expressed his condolences on social media to the family and friends of the artist, while highlighting that his hands crafted works “that will ensure his legacy endures,” ranging from the Menceyes of Candelaria to the toys of Costa Teguise.
“A master, a lagoon native and a Canarian who leaves an indelible legacy,” stated the President.
Likewise, the Mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, has mourned Abad’s demise, referring to him as “one of the significant artistic talents from La Laguna,” recognising him as a sculptor whose imagination was primarily realised in wrought iron and wood.
“He leaves behind an impressive curriculum and legacy, with exhibitions at every level and numerous accolades,” the mayor remarked.
It was in La Laguna that the artist showcased his final exhibition, titled “Motheryerro,” which ran from June to September of the previous year.
However, Abad has become ingrained in the collective memory of Tenerife due to his initiative to restore the ancient figures of the aboriginal chieftains, which were installed in Candelaria in 1963 and had suffered deterioration from wind erosion and salt.
As the sculptor noted on his website, it was the Candelaria City Council that commissioned the creation of the new Menceyes Guanches in bronze. This assignment represented a dual professional challenge, as he undertook to develop a sculptural team from the coordinates established by the promoter while also delving into the past to give the figures the physical characteristics of the Aboriginal Guanches.
To achieve this, he travelled to Italy to study classical sculpture and examined the Guanche mummies at the Archaeological Museum of Tenerife to understand the physical structure of the indigenous people.
During this time, he also investigated the remnants of their material culture to accurately adorn the figures with items that the natives likely used, such as necklaces, shells, sea items, ancient insignia, ceremonial staffs, bracelets, and ribbons for the wrists and ankles.
Abad was also the visionary behind the “Monument to the victims of the Gomera fire,” located at ROQUE DE DIGA, commemorating the twenty individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 1984.
Additionally, he designed the Latin candle monument in Arrecife, the “Erjos Toys” in Costa Teguise, also on Lanzarote, and the “Gate of La Graciosa” in Caleta de Sebo, among other works distributed throughout the archipelago.
