Name : César Manrique Cabrera
Dates : April 24,1919 in Puerto Naos, Arrecife (Lanzarote).
Job or Role in Tourism :
Painter, sculptor, architect, landscape, urban designer,
environmentalist.
Achievements/ events :
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THE
SEVEN TOURIST CENTRES
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The
designing of the seven Centres Of Art, Tourism And Culture will perhaps be
the thing for which César Manrique will most be remembered. These centres are
run by the Island Council, which strongly supported César Manrique and which
provided the necessary finance. The centres present the island in a very
unique way to the many tourists.
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Jameos
del Agua
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The
grotto at Jameos del Agua was arguably the most spectacular of the seven
tourist attractions which César Manrique would eventually design for his native
island. Whilst still residing in New York he recorded his ideas on a gigantic
piece of paper which he sent to his friend Pepin Ramirez, head of Lanzarote's
Island Council. Included in the complex is an auditorium set in a volcanic
cavern. Offering comfortable seating for 600 persons, Manrique commenced work
on it in 1976 and it opened the following year. It has attracted
artists from all over the world and is the venue for Lanzarote's annual
international Audio Visual Festival of Ambiental Music.
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Casa
Museo y Monumento al Campesino
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Manrique
felt it of utmost importance to clearly demonstrate the broad details of
traditional Lanzarote architecture. To this end he designed a building in the
style of the typical Lanzarotean farm, the Casa Museo. It has pitched roofs
and patios to catch the precious rain water, a Moorish chimney and a Canarian
balcony. The interior is high-ceilinged to stay cool, the white stonework
reflects the sun and the woodwork is painted in the green of the island's fishing
boats.
When the most fertile area of the island was destroyed during volcanic eruptions, more than 250 years ago, the local farmers discovered that volcanic grains are porous and they used them to cover their fields. Acting as a sponge they soak up the dew which then irrigates the soil. As a tribute to their initiative, Manrique built a monument - Monumento al Campesino - in the geographical centre of Lanzarote using water tanks from abandoned fishing boats. |
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The
Fire Mountains
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The
south-west part of the island is the area which has seen the most devastating
volcanic activity, yet even here, in this most inhospitable of places, he was
able to weave more of his magic. He built a wonderful resaurant overlooking
the Fire Mountains, fittingly called 'The Devil' ('El Diablo'), which blends
in perfectly with the devastated landscape. The restaurant's grill is
constructed over a deep shaft which drops away into the volcanic rock - and
the volcano's heat is used for cooking. This is another situation in which he
has been able to demonstate how man and nature can work together.
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Mirador
del Rio
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The
Mirador was built by Manrique in 1973 . When built it attracted much
attention and was considered by many to be among the four best buildings in
the world to have been completed that year. It looks down from a high vantage
point onto the nearby island of La Graciosa. The site on which it was built
was originally that of gun batteries set up during the war between the United
States and Cuba at the end of the eighteenth century.
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International
Museum Of Contemporary Art
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Standing
at the entrance to Arrecife's harbour, the San José Castle was converted by
César Manrique in 1974 into a beautiful art gallery. It houses the
paintings of many well known artists (including himself). It is one of the
most impressive in the Canary Islands. The project included a restaurant,
which has panoramic sea views, and a large hall used for classical concerts
and conferences.
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Cueva
de los Verdes
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This
cave is a representative section of the seven kilometre long Atlantida
volcanic tunnel, the longest volcanic tunnel in the world. It is renowned for
it's spectacular colours and for a truly amazing optical illusion.
[Lanzarote's inhabitants used to take refuge in this cave when, as often
happened in earlier times, the island was attacked by pirates].
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Cactus
Gardens
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The
gardens are located in Guatiza village on the east coast in an abandoned
stone quarry. This is the seventh and last Tourist Centre which César
Manrique created for Lanzarote. It contains over 10,000 cacti of more than
1,100 different varieties. The gardens stand on 5,000 square metres of land
which had been wasteland for over 150 years. It is possible that Manrique was
once more demonstrating the characteristics of his beloved Lanzarote. Another
demonstration of how a desolate and abandoned piece of land could provide the
setting for something beautiful and unique.
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General Contribution to development
of tourism :
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Manrique's
work on behalf of Lanzarote's environment, and his work as an artist, have
been recognised throughout the world. The following are some of the honours
bestowed upon him:
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Perhaps
the greatest recognition for both César Manrique and Lanzarote was to come
shortly after his death. The island was declared a World Biosphere Reserve in 1993.This exclusive status is
granted to areas of the world where the environment plays a major role when
future development is planned. César Manrique spent his life preparing his
native island for this singular honour and, in stating it's reasons for
including Lanzarote in this programme, UNESCO singled out his ceaseless
efforts on behalf of the local environment.
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Any other important information :
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Famous
and well known people came from all over the world to wonder at his creations
- the King of Jordan, the German Chancellor, a former President of Russia,
the violinist Yehudi Menuhin (who tested the acoustics in the Cueva de los
Verdes - the Green's Cave), Hollywood film stars, Spain's own royal family -
there were too many to mention all of them. They came to wonder at the unique
and beautiful masterpieces which Manriqe had fashioned out of nature's most
unlikely materials.
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On the 25th of September, 1992, at the age of 73, César
Manrique lost his life as the result of a car accident. The accident occurred
as he was leaving the house which he had built in the petrified lava flow,
and which is now the headquarters of the César Manrique Foundation.
Three days of public mourning were declared. A solemn undertaking was made to respect the legacy which he had left - the preservation of Lanzarote's natural state and it's balance with the demands of mankind. |
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The respect which Lanzarote's inhabitants have for the
memory of César Manrique can perhaps best be illustrated by the ban on
advertising hoardings. In 1992, twenty four years after the ban was imposed,
a multi-national car company placed four large advertisements on the streets
of Lanzarote during it's annual sales meeting. Before the authorities had
time to act local citizens demanded their immediate removal, threatening to
do it themselves if necessary.
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The Foundation first opened it's doors just six months
before César Manrique's tragic death. He entrusted it with the task of
perpetuating the message of his work as well as his perception of art and of
nature. The Foundation's headquarters had originally been Manrique's first
home, constructed within five volcanic bubbles. The building is unique in
itself as an architectural masterpiece. It houses a representative collection
of his paintings and other artistic creations.
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"No perception of Lanzarote is complete without
knowing the incalculable contribution of it's most famous native son, César
Manrique. Lanzarote's declaration as a World Biosphere Reserve amid it's
ever-growing popularity as a holiday resort reflects an endorsement of
Manrique's aim to create a mutually beneficial partnership between Man and
Nature. This symbiosis has enhanced the Island's economic development in
harmony with exercising care to preserve it's environment."
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The endeavour to maintain that fine balance between Man and
Nature is, and always will be, a continuous one. César Manrique has,
however,given his fellow islanders a clear example of what can be achieved. I
am sure that they will follow his lead.
Recently, there has been another building boom. Lanzarote's inhabitants have reacted to it in typical style. The Canarian Government, supported by 90% of the islanders, has imposed a ten year moratorium on an increase in the number of tourist beds in Lanzarote. |
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