Statue of Mr Enrique González Bethencourt

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Art · Subcategory: Sculpture · Year: 2013 · Authors: Evelina Martín Rodríguez, Francisco Javier Rodríguez de Armas, Ventura Alemán Gutiérrez

This statue, made at the Bronzo Workshops in La Laguna by Evelina Martín Rodríguez, Francisco Rodríguez de Armas and Ventura Alemán Gutiérrez, was inaugurated on 13 May 2013, on the third anniversary of the death of Enrique González Bethencourt, director and founder of the murga Ni Fú-Ni Fá. 

Enrique González Bethencourt (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 23 September 1924 - Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 13 May 2010) can be considered the father of the murgas of the Canary Islands, as well as one of the most important and beloved personalities of the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. From a very young age he was part of the children's murga Los Guanchi and in 1954 he created his first murga: Los Bigotudos. In 1961, the year of the foundation of the Afilarmónica Ni Fú-Ni Fá, he was an active part of the group of people who managed to disguise the carnival as Winter Festivities. The Ni Fú-Ni Fá under his direction won the murga contest between 1961 and 1965; the pressure from the other groups forced them to withdraw from the contest as they were unbeatable. In 1972 Enrique González contributed to the creation of a children's murga contest, as well as to the celebration of the first sardine funerals. 

The sculpture, located opposite the bandstand in Plaza del Príncipe, where Ni Fú-Ni Fá perform every Tuesday and Sunday during carnival piñata, represents Enrique González Bethencourt in bronze casting at life size wearing one of his original costumes. The image holds the murgas' command baton and shows the character with very accomplished realism. 

The sculpture was promoted by the city council and made through contributions from anonymous citizens and companies.

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