Tenerife Exhibition Explores Pop Culture and Urban Art Through Pokémon
Tenerife’s TEA Espacio de las Artes is hosting 'Graffiti + Pokémon,' a free exhibition by artist Sergio Torres that explores the intersection of childhood pop culture and modern urban aesthetics.
Tenerife is currently hosting a unique exhibition that blends late 20th-century pop culture with modern art. The Youth Information Center (CIJ), located at TEA Tenerife Espacio de las Artes, is presenting 'Graffiti + Pokémon' until August 28th. The exhibition explores how iconic symbols from our childhood continue to influence urban aesthetics today.
Created by 23-year-old artist Sergio Torres—known as 'Ayer vi un erizo'—the project goes beyond a simple art display. It invites viewers to reflect on why we hold onto playful references as we grow up. Drawing from his background in skate culture and muralism, Torres uses the famous Pokémon franchise to explore themes of identity and collective memory, arguing that imagination is a valuable asset that shouldn't be left behind in childhood.
This exhibition is part of the 'CIJ Enseña' program, which helps emerging local artists gain visibility. By hosting this non-profit show at a major venue like TEA, the Island Council is helping to bring urban art out of the streets and into a formal setting, supporting the island’s young creative community.
'Graffiti + Pokémon' is free to attend and open to the public Monday through Friday, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Through this project, the CIJ is highlighting the importance of including modern, digital-age influences in the local art scene.