The mayor of Seville, José Luis Sanz, accompanied by the delegate of Major Festivities, Manuel Alés, has inaugurated the exhibition «From the Sketch to the Glory: The Journey of Sacred Art», the first show that kicks off the new exhibition space dedicated to this guild and integrated within the San Jorge Castle, an interpretation center of the Inquisition.
For all these reasons, today the reopening of the San Jorge Castle as a new large exhibition space for Sacred Art in Seville has taken place. The event was also attended by the curator of the exhibition, Ramón Vergara, and the president of the guild association, Francisco Carrera Iglesias.
In this sense, Sanz pointed out that «it is a pleasure for me to inaugurate, on this Ash Wednesday, this space dedicated to Sacred Art in Seville. Today we reopen the San Jorge Castle to host within its walls an exhibition of a 100% Sevillian artisan industry that is a pride and emblem of our city: Sacred Art. The city owed to Sacred Art a high-level space where it could showcase its enormous potential, and today we fulfill this with the reopening of the San Jorge Castle and the exhibition «From the Sketch to the Glory: The Journey of Sacred Art».
An exhibition that can be visited for six months, until the next exhibition, from Tuesday to Sunday (from 10 am to 5 pm). All in a historic space in the city such as the San Jorge Castle.
For all these reasons, the mayor emphasized that «this exhibition serves to highlight two fundamental issues: On the one hand, the central role of the artisan workshops in Seville, true guardians of a living heritage, spaces where centuries-old traditions remain dynamic and in constant dialogue with the present. This exhibition invites us to look at Sacred Art with new eyes, appreciating not only the works themselves, but also those who make them possible: the artisans, whose work reflects talent, devotion, and a deep connection with our culture. On the other hand, the importance of the Seville brand as a symbol of identity, culture, and artistic excellence».
«Sevillian Sacred Art is not only part of our Holy Week, known worldwide, but is also a testimony of the historical, cultural, and spiritual impact of our city. This exhibition stands as the epicenter of this extraordinary tradition, showcasing the uniqueness of a discipline that makes Seville a unique reference. I want to thank the work done by the exhibition curator, Ramón Vergara, as well as the whole team that made it possible: Pablo Millán, Grupo Equs, José Manuel Peña, or El Corte Inglés», emphasized Sanz.
Among the exhibited works are the old canopy of La Macarena, from the Caro workshop; the respirators of the canopy of the Virgin of the Desamparados, from San Esteban; a candelabrum from the float of the Queen of All Saints; the hat of the Pastor of Capuchinos, or the diadem of the Virgin of the Estrella, among many others.
For all these reasons, the mayor expressed his gratitude to «the artisans and brotherhoods that exhibit their pieces for the loan of them to compose this extraordinary exhibition. More than 30 brotherhoods not only from the capital of Seville, but also from the province, other points of Andalusia, and even from the rest of Spain; and more than 60 creators, among artisans and workshops that from today show us in this space the best of a 100% Sevillian industry that is a hallmark of our city. Thanks to the exhibition elements acquired by the Seville City Council, today we make a reality the new boost to this Jorge Castle that houses the space dedicated to Sacred Art. The San Jorge Castle will now host exhibitions of sacred art pieces integrated into the discourse of the building itself. A historic space in the city that is a museum in itself and that we now reintegrate into the tourist and cultural offer of the city, maintaining the objective of decentralizing tourism».
«We are a world power in Sacred Art, a treasure that we must take care of as a legacy of centuries and as a distinctive element of Seville, which is a world capital of these crafts. Goldsmiths, embroiderers, sculptors, lace makers, carvers, gilders, trimmers, tanners, restorers, glassmakers, carpenters, designers, or painters have from today a new space to exhibit their handmade work with a modern and integrated discourse in the permanent exhibition that showcases the legacy of this ancient castle that has its origins in the twelfth century. There are many recognitions that Sacred Art, through its Sevillian Guild Association, has been receiving in recent months and that is largely thanks to the work in favor of the dissemination and knowledge of its great work. In a way, this space that we are reopening today is a new recognition that we want to personalize on behalf of all those who make our Holy Week great, the ultimate exponent of Sevillian culture and a genuine expression of popular religiosity worldwide. From the Seville City Council, we do not stop, and we will continue to increase the lines of collaboration between the council and the Sacred Art Guild, the backbone of these workshops», pointed out the mayor who concluded by emphasizing «our unwavering commitment to the culture and business fabric of Seville and, specifically, to these crafts that distinguish us worldwide and that are the Seville Brand. We will continue working on initiatives like these to boost this sector in which we are a world-leading power».
With this, the exhibition curator, Ramón Vergara, stated that «the exhibition will highlight two things: the central role of the artisan workshops in Seville, true guardians of a living heritage, spaces where centuries-old traditions remain dynamic and in constant dialogue with the present. This exhibition, which I will now describe in more detail, invites us to look at Sacred Art with new eyes, appreciating not only the works themselves, but also those who make them possible: the artisans, whose work reflects talent, devotion, and a deep connection with our culture. On the other hand, the relevance of the Seville brand as a symbol of identity, culture, and artistic excellence. Sevillian Sacred Art is not only part of our Holy Week, known worldwide, but is also a testimony of the historical, cultural, and spiritual impact of our city. This exhibition stands as the epicenter of this extraordinary tradition, showcasing the uniqueness of a discipline that makes Seville a unique reference».
The natural route of the venue is dotted with exhibition elements that will host the pieces that were part of the exhibition ‘Masters of the Future: Crafts and Design in Europe’, designed by the architect based in Seville, Pablo Millán. The furniture has been acquired by the Seville City Council to make this new exhibition space for Sacred Art a reality, an investment that has allowed to give an exhibition boost to the space.
