Titled “Cuarteto de luz y sombra” (Quartet of Light and Shadow), this initiative aims for the public to delve into a hidden Gran Canaria through Arencibia's artwork. García Saleh, a professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and a writer, will transform the city's physical spaces into a living stage, inviting participants to an active investigation where paganism, Christianity, tradition, and witchcraft intertwine beneath layers of paint.
The cycle, which offers free admission, is promoted by the Casa-Museo Antonio Padrón, under the auspices of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria. The sessions, conceived as a chronological and spatial journey, will begin at 7:00 PM at four emblematic locations in the capital of Gran Canaria.
The tour will start on April 15 at the Salón Arencibia of the Hotel Santa Catalina, where a mural evoking a deep Canarian identity will be analyzed. On April 22, the event moves to the Salón de Actos del Colegio Oficial de Médicos, exploring a more sober and humanist facet of the artist. On April 29, the analysis will continue in the Salón de Plenos del Cabildo de Gran Canaria, deciphering the visual mythology created by the painter. Finally, on May 6, the cycle will conclude at the Paraninfo del Rectorado de la ULPGC, at the heart of academic life.
The selection of Fabio García Saleh as guide is strategic, given his authorship of the novel El banquete de las brujas (The Witches' Banquet), a work that explores a magical and esoteric Gran Canaria. His literary and academic background allows him to interpret Arencibia's hermetic language, revealing the relevance of these works decades after their creation.
“"Arencibia was not just a painter, but an authentic narrator of spaces. His murals contain multiple layers of meaning that transcend the merely decorative. Painted in churches and public spaces during the dictatorship, they contain encrypted messages and heretical symbols among seemingly traditional scenes. Through these guided tours, the public will have access to on-site explanations that foster a direct connection with the scale and expressive power of the works."
This initiative highlights the importance of careful observation and the value of cultural heritage in a context of rapid visual consumption. It is an “act of poetic justice” that invites citizens to reconnect with these great pictorial narratives which, from the walls of public buildings, tell the story of Canarias' identity and collective memory.
