Gran Canaria, January 2023.
The event, which opened on December 2nd, has paid tribute to Canarian artists, youth and peace, a value that is especially significant in the current context marked by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, countries represented in this edition by two of the participating sculptors.
With ten guest artists and ten Christmas stages, we also celebrated the return to pre-pandemic attendance figures with 151,207 visitors. The proceeds, also on the rise, once again had a charitable focus, with a total of €18,077 donated to four soup kitchens and the Youth Rescue Association.
The Christmas display invited us to immerse ourselves in a universe of tradition, art, and symbolism. From the opening scene by Ukrainian artist Oleksyi Poda, inspired by Giotto and Alfred Sisley, which portrays the caretaker of animals and crops with poignant realism, to the delicate washerwomen by Dutch artist Johannes Christoffel Hogenbrink, inspired by Pedro de Guezala from Tenerife, each work offers a unique perspective on the Christmas spirit. The central fountain, created by Paco Arana and Bentejuí Ojeda, symbolizes life and the flow of emotions. The display is further enhanced by sculptures from Canadian artist Guy-Olivier Deveau and Russian artist Aleksey Shchitov, which evoke human endeavor and a commitment to peace, as well as a nod to the legacy of Néstor Martín-Fernández de la Torre. Among the most admired scenes are the Three Kings resting, by the American Gresham Glover, the popular joy of the Canadian Karen Fralich, inspired by Félix Reyes, and the representation of daily life with the vendor of festive products, a tribute to the wisdom of the older generations.
The journey culminates with three highly symbolic works: the Star of Bethlehem and the Angel of the Dunes, by Irish artist Fergus Mulvany, and the Nativity scene by American artist Sue McGrew, inspired by Raphael. Beside them, a second fountain, also by Arana and Ojeda, radiates serenity with flowers sculpted individually from sand. Undoubtedly, one of the most moving moments of this year's exhibition took place in front of the Angel of the Dunes, when the artist Pepe Dámaso visited the Nativity scene and posed before the sculpture, his presence sealing the encounter between ephemeral art and the eternal soul of Canarian culture.
According to the directors of the Nativity scene, Miguel and Aday Rodríguez, the team is now focusing on the next edition, which will mark the event's coming of age. This special occasion is already shaping up to be full of surprises and creative challenges.
