César Manrique

César Manrique was an award winning Lanzarotean Artist who lost his life 10 years ago.

Cesar Manrique

Without Manrique Lanzarote would not be the perfect blend of man and nature that it is today. The dazzling low rise buildings with green shutters and vegetation, set against the black, volcanic rock of the island has inspired many artists... especially Cesar Manrique.

César Manrique was born into a middle class family on the 24th April 1919. During his early years he lived in the north of Lanzarote, in a small village called Famara. His parents built their house on a plot of land they bought nearby.

Manrique attended school in Lanzarote, which was followed by attendance of La Laguna University in Tenerife to study quantity surveying. In 1945 he left for Madrid and the San Fernando School of Fine art. He graduated in 1950 with a teaching diploma in drawing and painting.

During his early years as an adult, Manriques passion was art and painting. He held an exhibition in Arrecife, arranged by family friend, Pepin Ramirez. It was Ramirez who went on to support Cesar with creating the islands tourist attractions.

With a fast, growing reputation as an artist, Manrique was invited to America by Nelson Rockefeller, who had previously purchased some of his art work. Whilst in the United States Manrique exhibited his work in various galleries.

On returning to Lanzarote, Manrique then set about building his house which is now the home of the César Manrique Foundation. The house is built out of 5 interconnecting Lava Bubbles. Manrique saw this as the perfect way of making something good out of what others might consider worthless.

It was then he set about taking an interest in the current architecture of the island. Manrique didn't want to see commercialised modernisation of properties. Instead he encouraged home owners to renovate and retain the style and character of their existing houses.

As tourism started to boom in the 1980s, Manriques efforts to resist commercialism were put to the test, however, he persuaded the authorities to introduce strict planning regulations to limit development.

Tourist Attractions

Manrique was also the brain child behind seven of the tourist attractions on Lanzarote. The seven tourist centres are:

The end of an era

Manrique tragically lost his life on the 25th September 1992 in a car accident. He was leaving the house he had previously built in the lava bubbles. This building is now the home of the César Manrique Foundation where his art and passion is on show for visitors to the island.

Manrique will be forever remembered for the preservation of Lanzarote's natural state, balancing mankind with nature itself.