Everything you need to know about César Manrique

César Manrique is much more than a Spanish artist, painter, and sculptor. César Manrique was and is the benchmark of modern Canarian art. Lanzarote, his native island, was his greatest inspiration and canvas where the artist left much of his mark. 

Who was César Manrique?

César Manrique Cabrera was born in Arrecife (Lanzarote) on April 24, 1919. Throughout his life he was a painter, sculptor and artist, but he was also passionate about nature. In fact, it was precisely the combination of both passions that marked a new artistic current at the time. 

In his works was always present the defense of environmental values, the preservation of the Canarian nature and the highlighting of the beauty of the landscapes of the archipelago. Always seeking harmony between nature and art, César Manrique managed to mark a new style and art movement. 

The result of this combination were artistic works with their own character, with a very characteristic sign of identity that only belonged to him, to César Manrique. 

Where was César Manrique born?

César Manrique was born in Arrecife into a middle-class family, with a trade representative father and a grandfather who was a notary. His parents were Gumersindo Manrique and Francisca Cabrera, a married couple who had a total of three children: César and his twin sister Amparo, Carlos, and Juana.

From a very young age César Manrique already demonstrated his artistic gifts and his admiration for great artists such as Matisse or Picasso. In fact, his first designs and sketches were inspired by La Caleta and Famara beach, where the Manrique family had a house by the sea. 

 Why is Cesar Manrique so important in Lanzarote?

César Manrique was much more than a Canarian artist. Sculptor, architect and painter. Manrique proved to be a multidisciplinary artist influenced by large cities such as Madrid or New York, places where he lived and received training. 

After expanding his artistic knowledge abroad, he returns to Lanzarote to begin his most ambitious and personal project. It is then that the island of Lanzarote becomes his greatest canvas, but also his greatest inspiration. 

The love he felt for his land was present in each one of his works, but always with a common goal: to respect the natural environment and the Canarian tradition.  In fact, such was the relevance of his environment related works that in 1978 he was awarded the World Prize for Ecology and Tourism.

Who designed Lanzarote?

It can be said that much of the island of Lanzarote was designed by César Manrique. However, this would not be a completely true statement, since the artist highlighted the beauty of the island with his works, but it was the landscape and the environment that Lanzarote already had that allowed him to achieve it. 

Manrique’s works in the Canary Islands stand out for their innovation, always seeking the integration of the natural environment. Therefore, in Lanzarote you can find viewpoints, gardens and landscapes created by the artist, all of which convey originality, modernity and respect for nature. And although Lanzarote is the island with the largest number of works by the artist, you will also find Manrique’s footprint in Fuerteventura, Tenerife, La Gomera and El Hierro.

What kind of art does César Manrique do?

There is no doubt that César Manrique was one of the great pioneers of abstract art in Spain. In fact, the rise of surrealism (in the 1950s) coincided with his first solo exhibition in Arrecife, a fact that made Manrique’s works even more acclaimed. 

His exceptionality, aesthetics and his global art made him one of the most outstanding people in twentieth-century art.  And although we can find his artistic heritage in several parts of Spain, it was on his native island (Lanzarote) where the artist left most of his works. The aesthetics of his works and his passion for the environment made him become, little by little, one of the great icons of contemporary art. 

The artist combined the forces of nature (earth, wind, and fire) with the environment to create avant-garde and unique artistic proposals. In fact, the popularity of the island of Lanzarote is, in part, thanks to all the heritage that César Manrique left in his homeland. 

Works by Cesar Manrique in Lanzarote

If you want to know the art of César Manrique, the best option is to come to Lanzarote! The Canary Island was not only his homeland and the place where he spent the most time, it was also the place where he created and left the greatest number of works. 

In Lanzarote you will be able to visit:

The Jameos del Agua

It is one of the clear examples of how César Manrique managed to create a perfect harmony between nature and art. Already at the beginning of the visit you can see how Manrique took advantage of the interior of a volcanic tunnel to create a natural auditorio, a lake, a restaurant, and a beautiful garden with palm trees. It is a magical place. 

 

César Manrique Foundation

His own home has also become one of the biggest tourist spots on the island of Lanzarote. For many years the artist lived in this house that he completely reconverted and created from scratch in a set of volcanic bubbles. Today it is the headquarters of the foundation that bears his name and its interior can be known. Undoubtedly, it is one of the best ways to delve into the personality and thought of the artist from Lanzarote. 

 

Cactus Garden

The Cactus Garden is another of the public works that César Manrique left on the island of Lanzarote. It is a beautiful and harmonious park where you can find more than 450 specimens of cacti from all over the world. It is located in Guatiza and, today, is one of the most admired tourist spots.

 

Mirador del Río

It is located north of Lanzarote, at almost 500 meters of altitude. In the middle of the cliff, César Manrique built this viewpoint from which you can observe the immensity of the Atlantic Ocean and enjoy unparalleled views of the Chinijo archipelago.  It is another of the great artistic works of Lanzarote that, being built with volcanic rock, is totally camouflaged with the environment. 

 

House-Museum of the Peasant

In the center of Lanzarote is the Casa-Museo del Campesino, other than the work of César Manrique. On this occasion, the Lanzarote native wanted to recognize and pay tribute to the efforts of all the peasants of the island with an avant-garde sculpture. In addition, in this place you can also tour the space to learn more about the gastronomy, crafts and typical agriculture of the island. 

Restaurant El Diablo

In the Timanfaya National Park, specifically on the Islet of Hilario, is the restaurant El Diablo. It is a unique place where visitors can enjoy a delicious meal in a unique environment such as Timanfaya. 

El Diablo is a restaurant conceived by Manrique, built in volcanic stone and with a large window that allows you to contemplate much better the landscape immensity of the Timanfaya Park. In addition, the restaurant also stands out for cooking the food on its menu with the natural heat that the volcanic soil gives off. 

Where are Cesar Manrique’s Wind Toys?

Manrique Wind Toys are another great example of how the artist took advantage of the nature of the place to create her works. In this case, the artist took advantage of the force of the Lanzarote air to create a sculpture that stands out when the island’s trade wind comes into action. You can find the Toys of the viento of César Manrique in:

• Phobos: at the roundabout that takes you to the César Manrique Foundation, in Tahiche
• Róbalo: it is located in the surroundings of Los Pocillos Beach, right on Avenida de Las Playas in Puerto del Carmen.
• Veleta: you can find it in Arrieta.

Where did César Manrique die?

The artist César Manrique died on September 25, 1992 in Tahiche, near Arrecife. He was 73 years old when he had a traffic accident that ended his life. 

The accident took place where today one of the most emblematic wind toys of Cesar (Phobos) is located.

What to visit from César Manrique in Lanzarote?

There is no other artist who has contributed more to his homeland than César Manrique did with Lanzarote. If you want to know more about the life, art, and heritage of the artist, we recommend you follow the route that we propose below:

Route of Cesar Manrique in Lanzarote

Just by coming to Lanzarote you will be able to know the heritage that César Manrique left in Lanzarote. In fact, you will probably meet on several occasions with some of their wind toys, since they are located in several roundabouts of Lanzarote. 

If you plan to move around several points of the island, you can not miss this route of César Manrique! 

1. Day 1: Cactus Garden, Jameos del Agua and Mirador del Río, Cesar Manrique House Museum
2. Day 2: El Diablo Restaurant, Monumento al Campesino and Fundaicón César Manrique.

In addition, when walking through Lanzarote you can discover much more about the life and history of the artist. In fact, even the white color of the houses of Lanzarote has to do with Manrique, since, on more than one occasion, he advised that the villages of the island had to look aesthetically beautiful and in line with nature. 
 
 

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