Martín Chirino, the wind sculptor

The Canarian sculptor Martín Chirino , master of forging and metal, is the protagonist of one of the most ambitious exhibitions that the Centro Atlàntic d'Art Modern (CAAM) of Gran Canaria dedicates as a tribute to him. This exhibition not only reviews his career, but also vindicates his artistic legacy, highlighting his influence on contemporary sculpture.

Born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1925, Chirino turned iron into movement, giving his sculptures a surprising lightness, as if they were propelled by the wind or the waves. His style, unmistakable and deeply rooted in Canarian culture, has transcended borders, consolidating itself as an essential reference in the history of contemporary sculpture.

© EFE/Ángel Medina G

The exhibition, entitled Chronicle of the Century, brings together 74 pieces from private collections and prestigious institutions, such as the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and the Museo d'Art Abstracte de Cuenca. Curated by Fernando Castro Flórez and Jesús María Castaño , the exhibition can be visited until August 31 and is a journey through more than half a century of Chirino's artistic production. The itinerary is divided into different series that explore his creative evolution, including large-format sculptures, drawings, sketches, collages and documents from his personal archive. In addition, as part of this tribute, two audiovisual works created by filmmakers Dácil Manrique de Lara and Miguel G. Morales are also presented, thus offering a contemporary look at his figure and legacy.

© EFE/Ángel Medina G

Often called the sculptor of the wind, some of his most emblematic pieces, such as his spirals, have become icons in public spaces, such as the one that crowns the Parliament of the Canary Islands or El Pensador, located on the central Calle Mayor in Triana. As Castro Flórez points out, “his sculptures break dichotomies, simultaneously evoking the aerial and the aquatic, solitude and the longing for community, Canarian identity and the most lucid cosmopolitanism.”

Beyond making his artistic universe known, the exhibition also wants to recover his memory and his link with the CAAM, of which he was co-founder and first director. Antonio Morales , president of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, has highlighted the importance of this recognition, stating that it is an opportunity to keep his work and his values alive: courage, commitment and passion for art.

© Mass Cultura