Weird art

Posted byDerbyshire GalPosted inCanary IslandsTags:

If it’s weird, wacky or just amusing, count me in! Hence the reason we pull up to explore this roadside sculpture gallery!

A sculpture of a woman with long hair and a bare bust stands above a smaller statue of a child with a sign in front that has abstract mosaic patterns.
Two white plaster statues of human figures with raised arms, surrounded by greenery and scattered flowers.
A collection of white sculptures featuring human figures in various poses, positioned in front of a textured building with green windows under a cloudy sky.
Two weathered mannequins dressed in tattered clothing, set against a cloudy sky. One mannequin appears to be holding something while the other leans slightly, displaying signs of age and wear.
A white, abstract sculpture of a man waving and a woman in traditional attire, surrounded by small stone structures and vegetation. Two mosaic signs are positioned at their feet.
A white sculpture of a woman with raised arms and a goat next to a stone pedestal, set in a garden with trees.
A white stone sculpture of a figure with raised arms, surrounded by greenery and rocks.
White statues of human figures in an outdoor setting, with one figure appearing to salute, surrounded by several other abstract sculptures and vegetation.

The Museo Mara Mao was created by the self-taught artist José García Martín (1932-2019), popularly known as Pillimpo.

This unique artistic space represents one of the most outstanding examples of outsider art or art brut in the Canary archipelago.

A sculpture of a female figure standing in a field with green plants in the foreground and houses in the background.
White sculptures of human figures in a garden setting, with cloudy skies in the background.
A white statue of a standing figure with an outstretched arm, wearing a long coat and hat, set against a cloudy sky.
A man standing beside two large, white, lion sculptures on a street.
Two colorful statues standing on a white stone wall, with one statue in a brown coat and the other in a traditional outfit. The setting includes greenery in the background.
A white stone statue of a woman standing in a field with flowers, set against a backdrop of white buildings and hills.
Colorful sculptures of human figures standing in front of a white wall surrounded by palm trees and shrubs.
Two sculptures of figures, one with hands on their head and the other standing beside, set against a backdrop of palm trees and a white wall.
A white stone statue of a lion, featuring intricate details on its mane and body, displayed outdoors with green plants in the background and cloudy skies above.

The museum is the artist’s garden, transformed over several decades into a world of fantastical sculptures created from recycled materials.

The origin of this name came from a lyrical phrase he himself devised: “Mara Mao, ravine of sweet, enamored tears ,” to which he was particularly attached and which may have been part of one of his poems or songs.

View of a sculpture garden featuring abstract white sculptures among tall cacti under a cloudy sky.
A white statue of a male figure with one hand raised to its head, standing against a cloudy sky.
A white sculpture of a figure on a cross with a stern expression, while another smaller figure stands above, waving. The background is a textured wall made of white stones.
A white sculpture of an angel with outstretched arms, surrounded by other abstract figures and architecture under a cloudy sky.
Two large white sculptures of a woman and a man standing in a garden, surrounded by cacti and rocky terrain.
An outdoor sculpture garden featuring unique white statues, stone structures, and palm trees, under a cloudy sky.

Not all of his neighbours were impressed by the eclectic collection but today, Mara Mao is recognized as a prime example of folk art and a symbol of island inventiveness outside the mainstream.

Published by Derbyshire Gal

World traveller, proud auntie, bit of a liability.

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