Santander World: A Global Celebration of Art and Diversity

Jose Angel Cicero and SW Artists Transform Santander with Urban Sculptures

The inspiration behind Santander World was to involve the city of Santander, Spain, with artwork on a global scale, similar to projects like the Cow Parade. The project's spirit was to create a tangible representation of the city's openness and acceptance of all people, regardless of race, sex, origin, or condition.

The sculptures, each measuring 3.6 meters in height with a base of 2.5 m radius, are made of a steel structure treated for outdoor environments and covered with painted steel. Each sculpture conceptually represents one of the five continents, and each artist worked with different aesthetic ideas and artistic techniques to represent the diversity of cultures around the world.

The sculptures are made of 3mm thick steel sheet, protected by two coats of polyurethane paint and one coat of epoxy anti-humidity paint. This solution is optimal for the protection of steel sculptures in adverse weather conditions. The inner assembly is designed to withstand wind currents in extreme conditions.

The project faced several challenges, including the development of an ambitious and innovative art project in a city unaccustomed to urban art, the transportation of the sculptures due to their height and weight, and managing a complex and innovative project with the municipal authorities. Despite these challenges, the project was a success, with 700,000 people visiting the sculptures during September, and thousands of people photographed with the sculptures.

Santander World was awarded Platinum in A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award in 2015. The award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism, genius, and contribute to societal wellbeing. The project is now recognized as an icon of the city, symbolizing Santander's openness and acceptance of cultural diversity.