The bay, sustenance, refuge and memory,
It is the soul that travels through the daily life of the city of Santander.
“Alma” is the result of two years of work in which the aim was to create a piece that visually connects the port and the city, which have always maintained an intimate but distant relationship.
RECONNECT THE PORT WITH THE CITY
One of the main premises from the initial conception of this project has been the reconnection of the city with its port. Two close yet distinct environments that, over time, have become perceived as more distant, each with its own independent meaning. Nevertheless, this close relationship still remains, although perhaps on a more subtle level, only a part of everyday life for a minority of Santander's population.
Therefore, the choice of the port (specifically the large silos) aims to highlight this link and honor it with a message that, in some way, is the city's own portrait on the port as a canvas.
A dialogue that not only activates the physical space, but also the shared memory, awakening a more conscious view of what defines the collective identity of those who inhabit the city.
TO CREATE A WORK THAT BELONGS TO THOSE WHO INHABIT IT
We approached this project with the desire to incorporate social diversity into the conceptualization of the proposals. The intention is to create a work with history and roots from its inception. A work that reflects the diverse perspectives that have contributed their stories and points of view.
We aim to strengthen bonds, foster networking, and benefit from collective contributions at every stage of the project. For us, it's essential not only to understand the physical space but also to connect with the people who live there.
We seek to design coherent proposals based on something real: a keyword, a feeling, a story, or some concept that represents Santander and its sea.
A meeting was held with 71 people of diverse backgrounds and ages residing in Santander to gather useful information for developing project proposals. A participatory painting activity was conducted on a large-format sheet of paper, along with a brief survey featuring questions focused on the port-city context and color.
“What does the sea mean to Santander?”
This question was the starting point of the work.
CITIZEN VOTE
The work was chosen in a virtual vote in which more than a thousand residents of the city participated.
ALMA
The sea is not just in the background: it is everywhere.
It sets the rhythm of Santander, surrounds it and gives it identity.
Without the sea, the city would lose part of its essence. The bay has always been sustenance, refuge, and a source of memories. It is at the beginning and end of each day, ever-present, accompanying daily life.
That's why, more than just a horizon, the sea is part of who we are.
We start with the word SOUL, tripled and superimposed, applying a transparency effect that allows the colors to interact with each other. We slightly shift each letter horizontally.
We used a combination of turquoise, ochre, and yellow tones. We incorporated the metal surface of the silo as an additional background color in the palette.
Outline of the graphic and chromatic development of the work
+ INFO
+ Intervention of approximately 1550 m2
+ Enamel paint on metal sheet
+ Project led by Art Time
+ Powered by Cantabria Labs
+ Sponsored by Port of Santander, State Ports, Government of Cantabria (Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport), Regional Society for Education, Culture and Sport of Cantabria, Culture of Cantabria y Santander City Council.
+ With the collaboration of GOF Group, Botín Center, International University of La Rioja (UNIR), University of Cantabria, European University of the Atlantic y Ponce + Robles Gallery
+ Execution team: Javier Ballesteros and Jorge Muñoz
+ Support from the studio: Jaime Perez and Camila Dorado
+ Photos by Boa Mistura and Cantabria Labs
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