"The pleasure I derive from my way of life and work has its origins in the great wisdom of nature itself."

César Manrique

César Manrique
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Who was César Manrique? To say he was an artist is a bit like saying Leonardo da Vinci was good at colouring in. To say César was also a sculptor, architect and landscape designer, ecologist, and radical thorn in the establishment's side gives you a feel for his eclectic interests.

Born and bred on Lanzarote he returned to live there permanently in 1968 after studying in Madrid and a three year spell in New York hanging out with the likes of Andy Warhol. It was the mystical attraction of this magical island where fire meets water and all life is constantly renewed that drew him back. He forged his own vision of the mystery of life and the glory of man's creativity - a symbiosis which he called Art-Nature | Nature-Art. "My new concept is the combination of the study of nature with art where painting, sculpture, drawing, architecture, design, texture and colour come together." The results can be seen in Mirador del Rio, Jameos del Agua, La Fundacion and his other public spaces which form the backcloth to Wildest Dreams.

Even though I visited Lanzarote numerous times before his death in 1992 I never met the man. It is Manrique's total devotion to his life's passion that is my inspiration for Wildest Dreams - where you discover or recover your highest calling. He is buried in the graveyard on the edge of Haria with a palm tree at his head and a cactus at his feet.

For those interested in his life and work a biographical DVD and books will be accessible at La Fuentecilla.