San Felipe Castle Hosts "Encuentros" by International Artists

The San Felipe Castle Cultural Space in Puerto de la Cruz is currently hosting a group art exhibition called "Encuentros." Running until January 29th, the show brings together the work of three international artists who live in the municipality: Else Maj Johansson, Marta von Poroszlay, and Pamela Isabel Echevarría Majul. Their diverse cultural backgrounds, generations, and creative styles are a key theme in their art.

The pieces in "Encuentros" reflect how the artists' cultural roots blend with their current way of life. They share a belief that art is timeless and always in a state of creation.

You can visit the exhibition from Tuesday to Friday, 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and on Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It offers a chance to experience different artistic styles and expressions that interact with each other.

Leopoldo Afonso, the mayor of Puerto de la Cruz, believes that opening significant venues like San Felipe Castle to promote artists who have settled in the area helps strengthen the city's identity as an open and diverse place. It also makes culture more accessible to communities in northern Tenerife.

The Councillor for Culture, Desiré Díaz, emphasized the importance of continuing to create cultural spaces for everyone. She noted that these spaces allow art to become a meeting point for dialogue and community involvement, celebrating the talent present in Puerto de la Cruz.

Else Maj Johansson, born in Sweden in 1935, has had a long and distinguished career since the 1960s. She has held many solo exhibitions across Europe and is featured in several Swedish art books. She is also the author of "Mitt Lufoten," a collection of works inspired by her time in Lofoten, Norway. She has lived in Puerto de la Cruz since 2012.

Marta von Poroszlay, born in 1952 and of Hungarian descent, is a well-known sculptor and multimedia artist based in Tenerife. She has collaborated with various art and culture departments in the Canary Islands and has exhibited her work both locally and in several European cities. Her sculptures can be found in public parks and squares across Tenerife and Gran Canaria.

Pamela Isabel Echevarría Majul, born in 1955, is a Filipino-Spanish artist who has resided in the Canary Islands since 2004. With a well-established artistic career, she continues to exhibit internationally, particularly in the Philippines and the United States, often in partnership with the Philippine Embassy. She has won numerous awards in competitions in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and her portraits are displayed in institutions and museums in Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Madrid, and Manila.

The "Encuentros" exhibition invites visitors to discover how the culture, light, and beauty of Tenerife have influenced the creative journeys of these three international artists. It serves as an expression of their gratitude and connection to the Canary Islands, and especially to Puerto de la Cruz, which they now call home.