Urban Sabotage Art Celebrates Heritage in a Tenerife Town

Assembly sabotage is the artistic name of Matías Mata, an artist from Lanzarote with international appeal. Wherever he goes, he seems to leave a mark that’s hard to ignore.

The sensitivity and passion he brings to his work are evident in the mural at Acentejo, located at the roundabout where the General Highway (TF-217) meets Mencey Bencomo Avenue. This is the main entrance to the municipality and attracts thousands of drivers, all drawn in by this stunning mural that’s now a part of the community’s identity.

The artwork pays homage to local traditions and the individuals who have contributed to preserving them. Notable figures like the potter Adela Hernández—who has earned a silver medal in Tenerife—and carpenter José Antonio Gutiérrez, one of the last craftsmen making the Victoriera chair, are spotlighted here. This chair is a familiar sight in many homes across Tenerife and is integral to the rich artisanal history of the municipality, which aspires for recognition as a site of cultural interest (BIC).

Interestingly, the first artist, who has also achieved international acclaim, has a nearby street named after her, not far from her former home. As for Gutiérrez, all the chairs you see in the City Council’s Plenary Hall were crafted in his workshop.

Urban Sabotage Art Celebrates Heritage in a Tenerife Town

Matías Mata, better known as Sabotage to the Assembly, has been painting a mural located right in front of the entrance roundabout to La Victoria de Acentejo, making it his first artistic contribution to the municipality. Fran Pallero.

Both faces in the mural are familiar, yet they’re not entirely finished being interpreted. Many people are curious about the enigmatic woman who appears to be drinking a glass of wine, with the Teide beautifully reflected in it, visible from La Victoria.

This character is fictional, an inspiration from the artist, who wanted to capture a fundamental aspect of the local culture—one of the main hallmarks of both the town and the Acentejo region: “For me, wine carries a woman’s name. It’s not just because many women work in this area, but there’s something distinctly different about a woman drinking wine,” he quips.

La Victoria de Acentejo boasts a wine tradition that dates back to the early 16th century, when the first vines were planted. This rich history explains the deep roots and the considerable significance that wine culture holds in the municipality, as well as its role in preserving the agricultural landscape.

The mayor, Juan Antonio García Abreu, reached out to Sabotage to the Assembly a couple of months ago with a proposal to create a mural on the wall. After discussing concepts and taking into account input from the artist, a sketch was presented and the project moved forward. To inform his work, he drew inspiration from Adela and José Domingo using both historical and personal resources from the City Council. He got photos of them and added his “own little winks.” He began work on the 16th and hopes to have it completed by the 28th, as he has a trip planned for June 1. “After these intense marathons, I definitely need a couple of days off,” he admits.

He starts his day at 6:30 am and by 8:00 am, he’s already up in the crane, painting away. His only break comes at midday for lunch, and then it’s back to work until late afternoon. There are no weekends for him, “As a freelancer, Sunday feels just like Tuesday to me; I like potatoes any day,” he laughs.

Matías typically works alone—only for exceptionally large murals, spanning 800 or 1,000 square metres, does he take on an assistant. This project, however, is of a standard size at 20 metres by 7, but it does come with its complexities due to the design elements and its colour palette, which mainly involves a dozen greys and about 30 different reds. This is his first mural in La Victoria and whenever he works on a project in Tenerife, he aims to give it his all.

The roundabout, which has an exterior diameter of 30 metres with three branches, was completed last August. The road sees 3,500 vehicles daily and is heavily trafficked, serving as an essential route for those looking to avoid the highway and connect with neighbouring towns. “The number of cars passing through is astounding; getting a photo without one in the frame is practically impossible—I’ve only managed to do it before eight in the morning,” he shares.

These days, it’s nearly impossible not to notice Matías hard at work. “They honk the horn all the time, and if I turned around every time, I wouldn’t get any painting done. So, I wear my headphones and listen to music to zone in,” he confides.

Sabotage to the Assembly feels “amazed and surprised” by the positive response from locals, who seem to appreciate the mural. Interestingly, like most of his works, he hasn’t given it a title because, essentially, “it’s the people who do that.” He recalls a comment someone made the other day: “The fourth is missing,” and he’s now considering that as a possible name for the piece—one that the community can resonate with, as it encapsulates their identity and cultural roots.

Matías is grateful for the warm reception he has received in La Victoria and is determined to celebrate the completion of his work in line with his traditions: at a Guachinche in the area, where you can bet there’ll be plenty of wine.

Adela Hernández, an ‘SUV’ and silver medal

Adela Hernández, or Adela Brito as she was known in the neighbourhood, crafted all sorts of artisan utensils. From braziers to water containers, corn toasters, mugs, plates, and cauldrons, her creations were worthy of the Tenerife silver medal.