Today, the day after the unveiling of my sculpture "Somos abrazo" at the Puerta de Madrid in Alcalá de Henares, I have been able to assimilate what happened on a day full of emotions, of reunions, of memories, of hope.

It wasa simple act, introduced by the music of a piece with the sound of the cello that reinforced the solemnity of this tribute to all those who died in this pandemic. The mayor's speech, close, generous and emotional with the memory of the hardest moments of uncertainty and pain, with the recognition of all those who gave everything in the most difficult moments and his words of hope after overcoming together the difficulties that covid19 has presented us with, made all those present feel reflected in his words. 

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I could feel that act as the emotion that I wanted to capture in this sculpture connected with the audience, as this universal embrace that defines who we are as human beings was present. It is really difficult for me to express what I felt yesterday, I think I could say that it is a deep gratitude for the opportunity to share this emotion that made me create "We are embrace" with those who come to it. I am very grateful for the trust of the City Council of Alcalá de Henares in commissioning me to create this work, which is related to the one I did for the Garden Cemetery of this beautiful city, which Funemadrid commissioned me to create. Two different embraces that complete the emotions we experience and the need to share them in order to move forward, to believe in our humanity, in the solidarity that has made us advance as a society.

In addition to the inauguration ceremony where I met up with friends, where I was accompanied by my family, where those who follow my career and enjoy some of my work were also present, I received incredible messages throughout the day congratulating me and thanking me for having made this sculpture. Thank you all. It means a lot to me to see that my work connects and those words help me to continue creating and sharing what I feel. Telemadrid also gave me the opportunity to explain this work and here I share the report that was broadcasted on the news.

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At the event I was also accompanied by Peter James and his family, the dancer with whom together with Emily Chamberlin we have created the Art & Dance project that takes the name of this cheese sculpture has connected to bring the emotion we feel around the world: "Somos Abrazo. Art & Dance" and that I invite you to get to know and be part of through its own website: somosabrazo.com

But the emotions of the day didn't end there, in the afternoon I went to the airport to meet Emily who was travelling from New York, after working for a few days in France in an artist residency, to create with Peter the choreography that they are creating together with my sculpture. Today the three of us had our first meeting together to advance this marvellous project that we will present at a press conference on 5 April in Alcalá de Henares, which is lending us several spaces to record a video that will keep this homage alive.

Today has also been an intense day, it's not easy to assimilate so many emotions...

I really thank you for being there giving value to what art means to me, to us, it is what gives meaning to who we are. Art to live, that is my motto and what unites us, and I hope that you too will continue to enjoy this universal language.

Don't miss out on what's to come... A hug!

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