On Thursday, the Cabildo of Tenerife honoured its highest accolade, the Great Nivaria Distinction, to the painter Cristino de Vera from Tenerife.
This ceremony was held at the Canary Islands Office in Madrid, recognising the career and artistic contributions of the La Laguna artist, who “has elevated the name of Tenerife to the pinnacle of contemporary art,” as noted by the island corporation.
The bestowing of the Great Nivaria Distinction upon Cristino de Vera was unanimously approved by the entire Cabildo.
Cristino de Vera was born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in 1931 and in 1946, he enrolled at the School of Arts and Crafts of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where he was taught by Mariano de Cossío, his first mentor.
He also participated in drawing sessions at the workshop of sculptor Alfonso Reyes and worked alongside his father representing pharmaceutical products.
In 1951, he moved to Madrid and, through the influence of his tutor Cossío, he began studying under the guidance of painter Daniel Vázquez Díaz, alongside fellow students including Rafael Moneo and Canogar.
During his time in Madrid, the young 17-year-old Cristino painted with natural light while enjoying music in his studio located in the Bilbao neighbourhood.
International journeys abroad allowed many Canarian artists to enrich their technical skills with personal discoveries and insights into other artistic contexts.
The only Canarian artists recognised on the national stage in the 20th century were those who had emigrated, including Cristino de Vera, Óscar Domínguez, Manolo Millares, Martín Chirino, César Manrique, and Juan Hidalgo.
De Vera had the opportunity to engage with the great masters at the Prado Museum, where he spent his afternoons captivated by Zurbarán’s masterpieces.
He also visited the Casón del Buen Retiro and the Madrid Fine Arts Circle, which, along with his studies at the San Fernando School of Fine Arts and attendance at prestigious art exhibitions such as the I Biennial Hispano-American Art held in the capital, helped to cultivate a unique and unmistakable style in him over the years.
In 1962, Cristino de Vera received a scholarship from the Juan March Foundation to tour Europe. Eager to explore the world and discover the art of various locales, he became a frequent traveller. Throughout the 1960s, he visited France, several regions of Italy, Belgium, and Holland, where he viewed Botticelli’s works at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, encountered Picasso in Paris, greeted Cocteau, and met the artist Giacometti.
Ultimately, he authored the travel report required by the scholarship for the Juan March Foundation, which is included in the book The Word on the Canvas, published by Caja General de Ahorros de Canarias in 2006.
In the 1970s, he continued his travels through Europe alongside his wife, the psychologist Aurora Ciriza, who provided unwavering support.
While consistently visiting the Canary Islands for both his artistic endeavours and personal life, he made his way to New York in 1974 and, in 1979, undertook numerous journeys to the Far East (including Japan, Bangkok, Nepal and China), as well as to India, Mexico, Egypt, Morocco, Rome, Paraguay and Brazil.
These represent challenging and profound years during which the groundwork for the culture of democracy in Spain is established. His artwork emerges as suspended in time, intended for meditation and contemplation, presenting a novel mystique that, following various exhibitions—both solo and group—renders Cristino an enigmatic figure, yet essential within Spanish art at the close of the 20th century.
Presentation of the Award
“With the granting of Nivaria’s Great Distinction, we add yet another chapter to his extensive biography, acknowledging his legacy as an irreplaceable asset to our society. This accolade signifies our gratitude for transforming light and silence into a work of art, for elevating the name of Tenerife in the most esteemed circles of global art, and, predominantly, for reminding us that art is, at its core, an expression of life itself,” remarked the president of the Cabildo, Rosa Dávila.
“It is a privilege for Tenerife to count you as a favoured son and, as of today, as worthy of our highest honour,” he expressed.
The president was joined by the vice-counselor of the Presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands, Alfonso Cabello; the advisors for the Presidency and Culture, José Miguel Ruano and José Carlos Acha, respectively, in addition to the advisors of the insular corporation, Aarón Afonso (PSOE) and Ana Salazar (Vox).
The representative of the Government of the Canary Islands in Madrid, Rosa Aguilar, and the president of Cajacanarias Foundation and the Cristino de Vera Foundation, Margarita Ramos, were also in attendance.
