Fajalauza Granada is a work of art and its beautiful drawings and shapes do not go unnoticed, becoming a characteristic feature of this city. However, there are cities in Europe and Spain where these ceramics are even part of the urban fabric large urban murals that reflect the beauty of these ceramic elements present in almost all homes in Granada.
The artist from Cádiz Manolo Mesa, who developed his artistic expression now focusing on popular traditions, developed large-scale works in various regions of Spain and Europe from the “Anonymous House” series, in which he reproduces large murals on the party walls of buildings and facades where you can see the plates , oil cans, or vessels from Fajalauza in the area Scotland, France and last but not least, DenmarkAIR CONDITIONING.
The author himself explains on his social networks, where he details the process and the work achieved, that he developed this series by reproducing traditional works found in Fajalauza Granada “in one of the anonymous houses full of ceramic pieces that for some reason, like inheritance, gift or simple journey, they got there”.
Therefore, he created a mural with these works in Scotland (England), where he reproduced two vessels, a bowl and a fountain at Fajalauza in a range of blues and greens; in Lille (France), where he made plates and oil cans among other pieces; and most recently in Aalborg, Denmark, where he reproduced original jugs in an urban art project. “On this occasion I found this Fajalauza jug in my family’s anonymous house,” he explained on his network about his latest work.
In addition, he has other works in which he painted murals with Fajalauza elements in Puente de la Reina (Navarra) and in Bizkaia.
Others ‘fell in love’ with Fajalauza
This is not the first time that Granada ceramics from Fajalauza have been protagonists of collections or artistic representation. Last year, Inditex itself released a collection made from Granada ceramics by selling a limited collection of works created in Cecilio Morales’ workshopa craftsman who passed away in May 2022 and this ceramics alma mater.
Zara home edited 2,200 pieces for kitchen and bathroom with his collection, which, as highlighted on his website, “restores a popular but minority tradition.” “A cut that is the result of a collaboration of centuries-old knowledge and innovation, with great respect for the historical techniques of Granada.” This is how this collaboration turned out in part Made by Craftsmen.
In addition, this year, as part of the campaign to save the factory in Granada which was badly damaged due to its age, a patronage campaign was activated together with the Hispania Nostra association, which raised 20,000 euros to restore the historic roof. factory workshop, and no mess. To celebrate, a meeting was held at the factory with concerts, workshops the introduction of traditional pottery as part of a European-scale project, and the screening of the documentary ‘Fajalauza, 500 years of ceramic tradition’.
Commitment to help factories
The previous PSOE government team, with Paco Cuenca as mayor, announced in January this year that they were looking for a way to rehabilitate the old Fajalauza factory and its conversion into a craft space of reference both in Granada and in Europe as a hallmark of the city’s cultural identity.
“Fajalauza ceramics are a historical, patrimonial and cultural heritage of Granada of incalculable value; It is a symbol of the city that we must care for and preserve to guarantee its continuity in the future and be able to keep production alive,” Cuenca said at the time, stressing that it was an effort. the city’s symbolic place built in 1517 and in his factory he had all the necessary technology to continue making ceramics with the same techniques that had been used since the Middle Ages.
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