A life tied to the brush
Rufina Santana, artist highlighted the national scene, opens the doors of his house
to display the objects that reveal a long path between gardens and paintings
In one of those white houses many features of the island of Lanzarote , was annexed a modest
volcano stone room with a large window behind which lie some of
the artistic treasures of culture in the Canary Islands. The walls are clad tables and the table
include a pitcher of water and some cups hand painted glass. The atmosphere is full color.
The architect of the museum hidden in the homogeneity of the urban landscape island is nothing but
Rufina Santana.
born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1960 and claims to draw and paint set
some of his earliest memories and always knew his destiny was to become an artist. He worked at the School
Luján Pérez, in his native island, then go to Barcelona to complete his training,
degree in Fine Arts. When it opened its first exhibition
had only nineteen. From that moment began a long journey which would happen many
exhibitions, first in the Canary Islands and then make their way to Madrid, Barcelona and other European capitals as Manchester
, even to Tokyo. The girl who drew
home to the acclaimed artist whose work exposes the Instituto Cervantes outside our borders have
past few decades, but have been years of profound change for her.
Rufina Santana, despite being known primarily as a painter on stage, it is considered
a multidisciplinary artist. In its artistic haven saved countless books and albums in which
are collected all his works. In his paintings you can see changes in stroke
, wavy lines and experimenting with new materials such as wine and coffee. So it has developed
tablecloths, ties, necklaces, and home furnishings with his personal seal, incurring
in decorative art. He also holds a lifetime job, Archaeology of
garden, which is the assembly of natural elements, approaching the sculpture.
However, despite the variety of qualitative and quantitative work can be
find a common denominator: the nature as a proxy. Santana says:
"My vision, say philosophical, life is a pantheistic vision in which nature is the guide and
the source of all my sleepless nights painting and art." Says it has always been concerned about environmental conservation
and perhaps this was the result of his trips to Germany
years eighties, when the environmental movement brewing. Regarding this issue, quoted
Beuys and confessed admirer of the artist recalling his conscience urged Germany to conduct a revolution
Nature.
The artist is also founder of the Escuela del Sol, a place of convergence of art, science and spirituality
where various activities are held. In the beginning, in the year
1991, was to give art classes to children through games, Santana recalls, "became
different activities each Saturday a completely different activity in which they learned that art was not
something just museums, but it was something for life. " However, at the same time
was becoming a name in the national art scene and increased the frequency of trips
, Sol School became itinerant. Thus, Rufina Santana says: "Then, after four years of work
, because of my travels and infrastructure also decided that the Sun was
School where I was." Since then there are courses and conferences for the
adult groups in different parts of the world.
The artist, a woman concerned and always immersed in projects also has the editorial
Hara, where he works in the book of artists shaping his prints on paper, in
line with those of her husband, the sculptor Paco Curbelo, whose works also share space in the small museum
who have built beside his home.
When you have to mention any work that you feel especially proud
brow furrows and recall, to finally be noted with a smile that made custom for
Blancafort Spa in Barcelona: "It is a mural that measures 40m2. It was a commissioned work, I asked for yesterday
well. So there you've got to prove you're a preparation, which
handle some tools, you have a team. "
now submerged in the Canary Islands, landscape intimate, a project closely with the photographer Poldo
Cebrián. This artistic duo ponders the Canarian landscape from a universal standpoint
in the search for common elements, such that a priori seem
hallmarks of an island and that, however, unexpectedly, can be found elsewhere.
Rufina Santana, open, versatile and travel, says that living on an island
promotes work, meditation and contemplation. However, comments: "It is very limited. You look
always go out to the sea. " The artist, sometimes absorbed in the surrounding environment and other
embarked on the search for the other side, find the same in the distant, and captivates
contemplating nature to do some work with a personal style.
is December. The soft afternoon sun reflects the shadows of the palms on the stone surface
the room where the painter. The door is wide open.
Sitting in a colorful chairs, Santana talk animatedly with the tourists and curious people of the island
been found in that little nook a haven for recreation of the senses.
