A new sculpture representing La Graciosa has been unveiled at the entrance of the Canarian Parliament, crafted by Lanzarote artist Paco Curbelo. This piece joins an existing collection by José Abad that already featured the other seven islands of the archipelago.
During the unveiling, Parliament President Astrid Pérez highlighted the significance of the new addition. “Today, La Graciosa finally has its own permanent presence in the home of all Canarians,” she stated, emphasising that recognition means having a place, and now La Graciosa does.
The sculpture, designed to complement Abad’s work, incorporates elements reflecting La Graciosa’s identity and landscape, such as the local burgado plant. It aims to capture the island and its community’s essence in stone.
Pérez noted that the Canary Islands’ Statute of Autonomy, reformed in 2018, officially recognises La Graciosa as part of the autonomous community, though it remains administratively linked to Lanzarote.
“This sculpture isn’t just filling a void; it completes something that should have been here,” Pérez remarked, praising La Graciosa’s unique identity and its historical connection to the other islands.
The choice of Paco Curbelo for this project was particularly significant to Pérez, who believes his deep understanding of Lanzarote and its materials has ensured respect for the existing artwork. “Paco knows how to listen to stone, and it shows in his work,” she added, explaining that Curbelo aimed not for a literal representation of La Graciosa but to convey its character, landscape, and memory.
Curbelo himself stated that while choosing the basalt material for the sculpture was straightforward, integrating it within Abad’s collection proved challenging.
At the inauguration, children from a local school and community representatives expressed their joy at finally seeing La Graciosa represented in the parliament. Pérez also remembered Abad’s connection to the island, noting his work “La Puerta de la Isla de La Graciosa” located in Caleta del Sebo. She insisted that the new sculpture aims to continue the artistic dialogue initiated by Abad, rather than alter his original creation.
As a representative of La Graciosa, Pérez remarked that the incorporation of the island carries special emotional weight for those connected to Lanzarote. “La Graciosa is not merely across the sea; it is part of our history, memory, and life,” she stated.
The new sculpture now stands alongside representations of the other islands in the Parliament’s foyer, symbolising both diversity and unity within the archipelago.
About Paco Curbelo
Paco Curbelo, born in Lanzarote in 1956, studied at the Escuela Superior de Bellas Artes in Las Palmas and later completed his degree in Fine Arts in Barcelona in 1980. He returned to Lanzarote after finishing his studies and became an influential teacher at the Pancho Lasso Art School until 2016, while also building his career as a professional sculptor. His work often reflects a deep understanding of materials such as basalt, marble, and onyx.
