The renowned international artist Spencer Tunick gathered around 500 people this morning in the Vegueta neighbourhood of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to create the work 'Gran Spectrum', an artistic installation in favour of diversity and the rights of the LGTBIQA+ community.
The American artist Spencer Tunick has once again chosen Las Palmas de Gran Canaria as the setting for one of his emblematic collective installations with naked people. On this occasion, the call was made during the early hours of this Sunday in the historic Vegueta neighbourhood, where around 500 people participated in the action titled 'Gran Spectrum', framed within the Culture & Business Pride programme.
The work, as reported by the organisation, was inspired by the colours of the LGTBIQ+ flag, a universal symbol of pride, resistance, memory, and recognition. Through the human body, colour, and public space, Tunick composed a scene that seeks to project freedom, diversity, and the defence of the rights of the LGTBIQA+ community.
In this action, colour did not act solely as a visual resource but as an essential part of the message. Each tone was part of a common composition that speaks of a plural, diverse, and vibrant society, as well as a society that occupies public space to remind that the rights won cannot be taken for granted.
The image created this morning in Vegueta is, above all, a collective declaration of presence and a statement against hate, as emphasised by the organisers. The action takes on special relevance in the global scenario, as in the United States, the home country of Spencer Tunick, and in other places around the world, there is a climate of questioning and regression regarding the rights won by the LGTBIQA+ community.
In the face of this reality, 'Gran Spectrum' seeks to provide an artistic and social response from the Canary Islands, projecting an image of serene resistance, shared freedom, and public affirmation. This project has brought together people from 23 different countries, along with distinguished participants, local citizens, and visitors who wanted to be part of a unique work.
This diversity of origins has turned the action into an image of international communion, a shared gesture that projects from Gran Canaria a clear message: society does not regress in rights; rights are defended, made visible, and exercised.
The organisers have highlighted that Spencer Tunick also reveals with this work something deeply linked to the recent history of the Canary Islands: the decisive role that the islands, and especially Gran Canaria, have played in the construction of new imaginaries of freedom, diversity, and civil rights.
The installation, which took place without incidents, involved the collaboration of volunteers and the support of the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City Council. The participants, who attended naked following the artist's instructions, took part in a collective choreography that lasted several hours.
This is not the first time Tunick has worked in the Canary Islands. The artist had previously carried out similar installations in other locations in the archipelago, consolidating his bond with the region. The choice of Vegueta, one of the most emblematic neighbourhoods of the Gran Canaria capital, was not casual: its cobbled streets and historical architecture provided a visual contrast with the naked bodies, reinforcing the message of freedom in a space laden with history.
The action 'Gran Spectrum' is part of the Culture & Business Pride programme, an event that combines LGTBIQA+ advocacy with cultural and business promotion. The organisation has expressed its satisfaction with the public's response, which exceeded initial expectations.
For attendees, the experience was unique. Many of them travelled specifically from other countries to participate in the work. The call was disseminated through social media and local media, achieving significant impact. The final image, which will be photographed by Tunick himself, will be part of his series of works on the human body and public space.
With this action, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria reaffirms itself as a cutting-edge artistic and social commitment stage. The city, which has already hosted other similar initiatives, demonstrates its capacity to host large-scale events that combine art, advocacy, and citizen participation.
The organisation has announced that the images of the installation will be revealed in the coming days, once the artist has processed them. Meanwhile, participants and citizens eagerly await the result of a work that will undoubtedly leave a mark on the collective memory of the island.
You may also like
