The model presented by the sculptor Juan Francisco Martínez Gómez from Albacete has been selected as the best work of the I Villa de Calpe 2024 Sculpture Competition. This was decided a few days ago by the jury appointed to evaluate the participating works composed of Guillermo Sendra Guardiola (Councillor for Culture), Antonio Cervera Fontenla (Gallery owner and Cultural Manager), David Trujillo Ruiz (Professor of Fine Arts at the University Miguel Hernández) and Javier Ruiz Cenzano (Painter and sculptor).
A total of 25 artists participated in the competition with 50 works submitted, of which, as indicated in the rules, 21 works were selected and the final winner was ‘Gota Ilíaca’, (Iliac Drop) by Juan Francisco Martínez Gómez. The jury decided to give a special mention, with no prize money, to the following winners: María José Zanón Cuenca with her work ‘A solas con la soledad III’ and Georgie Poulariani with her work ‘Explosión’.
The prize is worth €7,000. The winner now has a period of three months to make the model a reality with the measurements established in the competition rules, also taking into account that the sculpture will be located outdoors and must use materials that will not deteriorate in the long term and resist exposure to the outdoors.
With this competition the Department of Culture aims to encourage and promote the work of artists and sculptors and at the same time, given that the winning sculpture will be located in a space in the historic centre, it will promote the beautification of the old town. The winning work will become the property of Calpe Town Council, forming part of its heritage, and it will be the Department of Culture that will indicate the final location of the work.