'The strength of the ephemeral' reveals the keys to the sand nativity scene in the capital of Gran Canaria

One of the artists, in full development of the sand nativity scene that could be seen last Christmas on Las Canteras beach. / COBER

The volume, edited and coordinated by Miguel Rodríguez Pérez, the project's alma mater, will be presented this Monday, at 7:00 p.m., at the Casa de Colón

The sand nativity scene on Las Canteras beach in the capital of Gran Canaria has become the main attraction of the most populated city in the archipelago during the Christmas period. And like all the bets that change the course, it has its history. Some ins and outs that the book now tells
'The strength of the ephemeral', coordinated, edited and largely written by Miguel Rodríguez Pérezalma mater of this sculptural project that each year captures the attention of more people.

This Monday, starting at
19.00 hourswith free admission until full capacity is reached, this volume is presented at the
Columbus House, in the neighborhood of Vegueta.

«The sand nativity scene has become a massive phenomenon that identifies Christmas on the beach, which in turn is an icon of our capital and which is the great park that summons us for great occasions.
A warm, close, endearing Christmas such as Canarian Christmas is no longer conceivable without this nativity scene that it has components of our nature and that it is as recognizable as those others that our grandparents traditionally rode and that were full of our rural references", Miguel Rodríguez Pérez points out in the preface of 'La fortaleza de lo efimero'.

This promoter of the island's cultural life is clear that they are
three factors that have determined the success of this initiative. The first is due to the chosen location, on Las Canteras beach, already reaching La Puntilla. Added to this is the fact that it is exhibited at Christmas and, finally, "the diversity of the theme that brings together artists from all over the world and that generates sympathy and complicity in very different environments."

Miguel Rodríguez also attributes an essential value to the success of the proposal that is exhibited "in an open space". «It is done in a common space, which each of us individually considers ours.
It does not have the doors or steps of museums, which are always psychological barriers for many», to which is added the fact of being able to see the creation process from the beginning with the preliminary sand movements, several weeks before
its inauguration 16 years ago».

Miguel Rodríguez Pérez underlines the importance of the participating artists in each edition, as well as the major boost he received from the sculptor Etual Ojeda and his brother Bentejuí Ojeda to lead the project that is today the sand nativity scene in the capital of Gran Canaria.

By reading 'The fortress of the ephemeral', one discovers the large number of artists who have participated in the different editions of this sand nativity scene, with origins as diverse and distant as Canada, Belgium, Denmark, France, Holland, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Russia, Turkey, the United States and different provinces of the peninsula.