The delegate of Culture, Tourism and Sports, Marta Rivera de la Cruz, and the councilor of Carabanchel, Carlos Izquierdo, have participated today in the inauguration of a mural in tribute to the cartoonist Francisco Ibáñez in this district, on the occasion of the commemoration of the I Official Day of Francisco Ibáñez. This artistic intervention, which has had the collaboration of the municipal board, represents the iconic building of the comic strip ’13, Rue del Percebe’ and has been promoted by the Bruguera label, from Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, where the author of characters such as Mortadelo and Filemón, El botones Sacarino or Pepe Gotera y Otilio published his works.
During the presentation, Rivera de la Cruz has emphasized that «this mural allows us not only to pay tribute to the figure of Ibáñez, but also to remember the many hours that his readers have spent among that universe of unforgettable characters that have marked several generations.» For his part, Izquierdo has stated that «Ibáñez captured like no one else the stories that intersect among neighbors and the entanglements of daily life» and has thanked that Carabanchel has been chosen, since «it is an example of the traditional neighborhoods that represent the values of the author’s work.» The event has also been attended by the author’s daughter, Nuria Ibáñez, and the literary director of Bruguera, Isabel Sbert.
The mural, created by the artists NSN997 and Kerudekolorz and inspired by urban art from the 80s and 90s, covers the facade of the building at 46 General Ricardos Street. In that location, tomorrow March 15, the author’s birthdate, a space will be set up with activities for readers and for the youngest to get to know Ibáñez. An event organized to pay tribute to the master of comics when the I Official Day of Francisco Ibáñez is celebrated, which coincides closely with the International Comic and Cartoon Day, on March 17.
This enclave, a meeting point for comic lovers, will be part of the upcoming ‘Art Route of Carabanchel’, a project of the municipal board with which, this year, aims to create a route through the most significant sculptures and murals of the district, to turn it into a pilgrimage route for art lovers. The initiative is part of District 11, which seeks to make Carabanchel the cultural reference of Madrid, betting on different artistic expressions. /
