Street Sculpture Route I: 12. Solidarity

Santa Cruz de Tenerife · Category: Route · Subcategory: Street sculpture I · Year: 1973 · Authors: Mark Macken

This interesting work was created in 1973 by Belgian artist Mark Macken (1913-1977) for the I Exhibition of Street Sculpture. Located in a different, though nearby, place from the original site, right in Parque García Sanabria, it forms a sculptural group of great personality. 

A central body formed by two irregular prisms joined together, following an archaic proposition, appears surrounded by twelve cubes pierced by a thick blued iron chain. These elements configured around the central body can be moved, inviting reorganisation and seating. 

The two central prisms shaped like pincers are very solid and their weight balances the whole. The forms scattered like satellites orbiting around it present us with a dramatic scenography in which the iron chain prevents them from being freed from the group. It is something related to human anguish and the moments of tragedy experienced during World War II by the artist himself.

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