The new piece, by Lanzarote-born artist Paco Curbelo, joins the original sculptural ensemble by José Abad, which until now represented the remaining seven islands. The President of the Parliament, Astrid Pérez, highlighted that the incorporation of La Graciosa's sculpture signifies recognition of its own permanent presence within the institution.
The sculpture engages in a dialogue with José Abad's pre-existing works, incorporating elements such as the burgado (whelk), linked to La Graciosa's identity and landscape. Astrid Pérez recalled that the Canary Islands' Statute of Autonomy, reformed in 2018, expressly recognizes La Graciosa as an island within the territorial scope of the Autonomous Community, despite its administrative ties to Lanzarote.
The President emphasized that the artwork not only fills an empty space but "puts in its place an island that needed to be here," valuing La Graciosa's distinct identity and its historical and social connection with the rest of the Archipelago. She highlighted the choice of Paco Curbelo for his career and deep understanding of the Canarian landscape, allowing the commission to be approached with respect for the existing work.
Pérez quoted the sculptor Paco Curbelo, who stated that "making this sculpture was easy because I knew the material had to be basalt and it had to represent the island with the burgado; the difficult part was integrating the work into José Abad's sculptural ensemble." The artist aimed to translate the island's character, landscape, and memory, its fragility and strength, into stone.
Children from the Ignacio Aldecoa school in La Graciosa and neighborhood representatives attended the inauguration ceremony, expressing their emotion at finally seeing their island represented in the Parliament of the Canary Islands. Astrid Pérez also recalled José Abad's connection to La Graciosa with his work "La Puerta de la Isla" (The Island's Gate), stressing that the new addition seeks to continue the artistic dialogue initiated by Abad.
The new sculpture is installed in the entrance hall of the Parliament of the Canary Islands, alongside the pieces representing the other islands, symbolizing the diversity and unity of the Archipelago. Paco Curbelo, born in Lanzarote in 1956, is a sculptor who has also had a significant teaching career. His work is characterized by a profound knowledge and manipulation of materials, particularly stone.
