Emilio Varela, local and universal

Today is an important day for Alicante culture for two reasons. On the one hand, we recognize the figure of one of our main artists, Emilio Varela. On the other hand, we incorporate a new sculpture in our city, and we do it in one of its most emblematic places, the Explanada promenade.

Varela is undoubtedly one of the most prominent Alicante painters of the first half of the 20th century, and we believe he deserves permanent public recognition in a prominent place that he also frequented assiduously. In fact, several of his works were painted from the balcony of the Real Liceo Casino de Alicante, from where he had a privileged view of the promenade and its palm trees. Hence the location of this life-size work that faithfully reproduces the figure of the artist with palette in hand ready to capture his particular vision of the local which, in his hands, transcended to the universal.

The Alicante native lived for and by painting and focused practically all his work, except for his long series of self-portraits, portraits, and still lifes, on capturing the corners of Alicante and its orchard. He learned from a master of light, Joaquín Sorolla, and reproduced typical Alicante landscapes, streets, and squares in a prolific work that is mostly in private hands.

Perhaps because of this more pronounced presence in private homes than in museums, his figure has not transcended as it should outside our borders although his recognition by the public and critics is unanimous.

As a public administration, our commitment is to disseminate and promote culture. With this recognition, we contribute to it from the City Council since the thousands of passersby who walk along the Explanada will stop to admire this work and we will awaken their interest to delve into Emilio Varela's work or approach it if they do not know it.

This sculpture, made in bronze, adds to that of another of our illustrious painters, Gastón Castelló, located in the Central Market and aims to value the artists of our land with the objective of giving them the recognition they deserve while preventing new generations from forgetting them.