The neighbourhood of Canido (Ferrol) has made an announcement inviting the internationally famous urban artist to join a cultural and artistic project that already has over 250 versions of Velázquez’s painting and create his first official piece in Spain.
This artistic movement, which this Galician neighbourhood brings to life thanks to artists’ personal interpretations, has the support of 1906 that has sent out various messages in international media in order to attract Banky’s attention.
Canido, a neighbourhood on the outskirts of Ferrol, where every year different artists get together to offer their most personal interpretation of “Las Meninas” in its streets, calls on Banksy to join this unique cultural project, declared a cultural route in Galicia by the UNESCO.
The neighbourhood of Canido has reserved a space for Banksy, the emblematic elusive artist to whom internationally recognized works of urban art have been attributed, in order to celebrate this annual event. This invitation is made so the artist can offer his interpretation of Velázquez’s most emblematic work.
Should Banksy take up the offer, this would be his first official piece in Spain, as the one discovered in San Sebastián was removed and the artist was never confirmed.
An annual event to celebrate urban art, since 2008
On the first weekend of September, which this year will be the 2nd and 3rd, artists, musicians, writers, sculptors and photographers gather to create new pieces and continue to transform the neighbourhood into the cultural centre it aspires to be. Since it was started in 2008 by the local artist Eduardo Hermida, 1,200 artists, not only from Spain but from all over the world, have left their mark in the neighbourhood and have helped to project Canido to the world.
Currently, there are over 250 paintings by artists such as Antón Patiño, Menchu Lamas, César Lombera, Moncho Borrajo, Víctor Coyote and Jorge Llorca, among others, who have made the walls of this area of Ferrol their canvas where to leave their personal vision of Diego Velázquez’s most famous work.
“The neighbourhood has been completely transformed from an urban perspective, and especially from the neighbours’ perspective. What was once a neighbourhood that had no pride in itself, that was just a part of a decadent city, is now a proud neighbourhood, strong and envied,” says Eduardo Hermida, creator of this cultural initiative.
1906, with the most personal interpretation of “Las Meninas”
As part of its constant support of artistic and cultural initiatives, the 1906 beer family, fruit of our master brewers’ most personal interpretation, backs this project and will also help with this invitation to Banksy.
1906 is promoting the publication of different pieces on outdoor advertising in the UK, and messages to Banksy in European newspapers such The Times, The Daily Telegraph, La Repubblica, Le Parisien and The Guardian.
With this initiative, the brand wants to raise awareness of, and add value to, this picturesque Galician neighbourhood that shares the brand’s philosophy, and is brought back to life through different artists’ personal interpretations of one of the most important works in art history.
