Cesar Manrique informed the Government of the island and the people, the importance of the natural balance between civilization and the landscape, a clear example of this was the ban billboards on the road.The seven Centers for Arts, Culture and Tourism on the island are largely created by César Manrique, and they are also the most recognized and remembered.
In the same year 1968, Cesar Manrique built his house, located in the Taro de Tahiche on five volcanic bubbles. It has two floors: the top is a work with traditional large windows on the lava, extensive terraces; the ground floor was built taking advantage of the holes that were produced by lava and a small “jameo” where a swimming pool is placed.
In 1988 he moved to Haría and leaves his house to the Fundación César Manrique created in 1982. Cesar Manrique died on September 25, 1992, at the age of 73 years, in a traffic accident, just a few metres from its foundation.
The most important distinction that this great artist won, even if did not contemplate it, has been the appointment of Lanzarote as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1993, only a year after his death. Significantly, Cesar Manrique stated when alive that his greatest wish was that Lanzarote got this distinction.
FOUNDATION CÉSAR MANRIQUE
The Foundation was created in 1987 under the name of “Amigos de Lanzarote” and since 1992 was renamed the Fundación César Manrique. The house is located in Taro Tahíche, where the artist lived for 19 years. It was built on the basis of five volcanic bubbles and has a traditional architecture of Lanzarote. The Foundation is private and their financing is done with the entrance tickets from visitors and souvenirs.
In the top floor of the building contains a collection of works by Cesar Manrique, and you can also appreciate the private collection of the works of artist such as Picasso, Miró, Chillida, Sempere, Guerrero, Chirino, Klee, etc. In the basement there are five rooms, eight meters long and five meters high, named as the colour that these have on their walls.
The objective of the Foundation is to promote and develop the arts and the environment and culture. It is also responsible for the preservation of the work of César Manrique with the intention of protecting the environment and the structure of the territory.
The Foundation represents the idea of Cesar Manrique to preserve the message of his work and the appreciation of art and nature. |
César Manrique Cabrera was born in Arrecife on April 24, 1919, he is the most important character in Lanzarote, through his paintings, sculptures and works, which have turned the island into a great work of art, in which the nature and the environment are fundamental.
