At last, 23 years after the original project and the conditioning of the slopes of the river are completed, from the 1st to the 8th of August, the “Proyecto Víbora II” will be reactivated in Elche. An environment, the rivers, which has always been the heart of the city of palm trees and will received multiple plastic artists, graffiti artists and collectives who will collaborate on a mural that will break records (2.800 km long and 14.5 of width).
Elche, a city that has always been committed to the art and culture, will turn to the initiative. So much that according to laverdad.com “It is estimated that at least a hundred participants will shape the new mural, which will look similar to the scheme of 1991. The itinerary is divided into plots and each will have their own design and a group assigned for realization” Definitely, this is a great social movement in art and cultural sustainability of the municipality of Elche.
“During the summer of 1991, Artists from Elche, other parts of Spain and even foreigners, with remarkable presence of members of the Danish group for Livet-Kunst, answered the call of Esbart Zero (Casto Mendiola, Andreu Castillejos, both deceased, and Juan Llorens) to fill with colour the riverbed in its channeled urban section.
That was then denominated “Proyecto Víbora” due to the sinuous path which simulated a snake, this project brought together over one hundred participants, who recorded, on both sides of the central canal, varied colorful scenes, which are today nearly imperceptible. But that will change this summer, because the “Víbora II” is already underway, which urban graffiti artists will materialize from the1st to the 8th of August.”
“For the first time in the history of the local paint, we placed in the open, with ephemeral nature, a collective work of gigantic proportions (which will be embodied in the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the world’s largest Mural’), 1,200 meters long and 14,5 wide and performed throughout the multicultural spectrum that could be presented: from the muralists form all around the world, through easel painters, up to the participation of housewives and children. An art monument inclusive in times of globalization” Juan Llorens explained in August 2010, after several attempts to repeat this artistic and cultural initiative in the bed of the river Vinalopó.
It seemed that this year, due to the commemoration of the birth of the poet Miguel Hernández, was going to be conclusive for the “Vïbora II” coordinated European estates being prepared with aid in the form of grants, city hall, paint companies, sponsors and especially multiple artists excited with the ambitious project.
But yet immersed in issues such as the thematic link with the commemoration of the poet, wanting to beat the record of the Guinness Book, the division of the surface into parcels, or coordinating “the participation of all the living forces: children, amateur painters, theatre and plastic artists, musicians, graffiti writers, poets and people in general “; problems arose.
At the time, an organization of a competition for action on the slopes of the river is approved, “El valle trenzado” was chosen, a scenic performance proposed by “Grupo Aranea”. Performance which was going to respect the dry riverbed (owned by the “Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar”), but would obstruct and would preclude the artistic action due to the need to fence the perimeter of the river banning the pedestrian access and due to the traffic and the heavy machinery on the surface dedicated to the project, “weather it was painted or not.”
Finally, the project comes out ahead and will add its character to the delicacy of the project developed by “Aranea”, winner this year of the FAD prize category and city landscape. Undoubtedly, a great, cultural and architectural legacy for the city of Elche.
If you would like participate, just fill out the form you’ll find on the official website of the event.