The La Laguna City Council has completed the urgent restoration of the sculpture 'Movimiento y Pino Canario', by José Antonio Zárate, in the Miguel Feria Cedrés park in San Benito, after a crack was detected that compromised its stability and posed a risk to users.
The sculpture 'Movimiento y Pino Canario', created by the Tenerife artist José Antonio Zárate Lugo, is now restored in the Miguel Feria Cedrés park in San Benito, La Laguna. The intervention, carried out as an emergency, was completed after a crack in the metal base of the piece alerted municipal services on July 9.
The Municipal Services Area then reported the damage to the Cultural Heritage department, which activated the action protocol immediately. The company Esculturas Bronzo, responsible for the second phase of the municipal sculpture restoration program, was in charge of recovering the work.
A surgical intervention for an emblematic piece
The work involved specialized welding of the deteriorated metal element, executed with minimal visual impact. The objective was clear: to restore stability to the large tubular structure without altering the original aesthetic proposal of the artist. The fracture, in addition to compromising the integrity of the sculpture, created dangerous edges for the residents passing through the park.
The councillor for Cultural Heritage, Adolfo Cordobés, emphasized the importance of a swift response. “This restoration demonstrates that public heritage is not an abstract concept, but a set of elements that are part of the daily life of our towns and neighbourhoods,” he stated. Cordobés added that “when a piece deteriorates, not only do we lose part of our cultural identity, but we also create risks that we must address responsibly and swiftly.”
An investment of nearly 150,000 euros in conservation
The intervention on 'Movimiento y Pino Canario' was not initially planned within the second phase of the municipal program for the restoration of sculptures, busts, and monuments in public spaces. This plan, which this year will reach nearly 150,000 euros in investment, prioritizes the most vulnerable pieces from all the towns and neighbourhoods of La Laguna. However, the urgency of the damage forced the extraordinary inclusion of this action, as was already the case with the work dedicated to Laura de la Puerta.
In the first months of the year, Cultural Heritage has intervened in several sculptures: the Tribute Monument to Los Sabandeños, in Punta del Hidalgo; the statue of La Milagrosa, in the San Cristóbal square; the bronze ring of Laura de la Puerta Guillén, on Camino Largo; and the Monument to the Farmer, removed from the Vía de Ronda due to corrosion and currently undergoing comprehensive restoration in the workshop. Soon, the cleaning of the monolith in memory of the Victims of AIDS, in the Javier Fernández Quesada park, is planned.
Two major projects underway: Padre Anchieta and La Trilladora
The department is also advancing in two large-scale projects. Through an agreement with the University of La Laguna, the monument to Padre Anchieta, created by Bruno Giorgi, will be restored, with a municipal investment of 85,000 euros. The recovery includes both the bronze sculpture and the granite base. Additionally, the restoration of the monument to La Trilladora, located at the roundabout leading to the airport, is in process, with an initial allocation of 47,185.95 euros.
The work of José Antonio Zárate Lugo, an artist born in La Orotava in 1954 and known for his abstract exploration of the insular landscape, is once again in optimal condition. The residents of San Benito can once again enjoy this piece, which is part of the cultural and natural route of the neighbourhood. The restoration reinforces the municipal commitment to the conservation of sculptural heritage and the improvement of public spaces that facilitate community life.
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