From the Tibi reservoir emerged a project that blends walking with art appreciation. The non-profit Foundation Time Stain, led by the sculptor Eduardo Lastres, has launched its inaugural initiative, art paths. The concept places sculptures along a route from the town toward the nearby swamp and surrounding roads. In doing so, the program aims to transform a landscape tour into a prestigious cultural circuit, reflecting both national and local artistic voices and engaging artists from across Canada, the United States, and Spain in a shared dialogue about nature and culture.
Eduardo Lastres Informational interview
With the goal of turning a long-standing walking tradition into an immersive art circuit, Lastres envisions an activity that offers a fresh cultural experience beyond sun and sea in the province. The initiative shifts tourism away from the coast and brings it inland, presenting Alicante as a sustainable, environmentally respectful option that celebrates the natural environment and its resources.
The foundation, founded by art curator Guillermina Perales, artist Elena Aguilera, and Eduardo Lastres, seeks to draw visitors from within the province and from abroad by inviting creators who highlight nature in their work. “We want people to understand that nature is essential and worthy of protection.” Therefore, the pieces integrated into the Tibi landscape will be non-intrusive, environmentally friendly projects. “The artworks of art paths, when observed, should remind viewers that these works help protect and value the environment. They make that message visible,” Lastres explains.
Progress continues as new sculptural pieces are added gradually. The first work is set at Ull de la Font, near the end of Paseo de la Santa and starting from the Santa María Magdalena hermitage. The sculpture, part of Florentino Diaz’s Sacred areas, non-inhabited areas series, features a stainless steel skeleton with a near transparency that echoes the essential framework of architecture.
“Florentino Díaz is a landmark figure in national art history, and his works resonate with a broad audience. His mythos remains in the Spanish collective imagination,” the sculptor notes in admiration. The association highlighted that inviting him to Alicante and proposing the Senderos project was a breakthrough, sparking excitement at the possibility of him being the first artist showcased.
ambitious project
The thread goes back to 2022, the year the La mácula del Tiempo Foundation was established. It was then that early conversations with the town of Tibi and the City Council began to take shape. The project art paths, in collaboration with the mayor and the Local Development Agency, explored the idea of placing statues along the walkways that connect Tibi reservoir to the town center.
One of the primary aims is to spark greater interest in inland Alicante towns, particularly Tibi, and its cultural heritage. “Among the municipality’s most valuable assets is the world’s oldest reservoir, in operation since 1583,” Lastres notes. He adds that while larger cities host significant cultural events, smaller towns often struggle to reach that scale. The foundation intends to spark curiosity about the region, inviting visitors to explore it in depth and enjoy events that enrich local culture, effectively expanding the town’s cultural calendar by hosting attractions that draw a broader audience. Art paths seeks to create that pull by enriching traditional town life.
La Lonja showcases the recent creation of the most vital Lastres
With a view to broadening the study path, sculptures by plastic artist Núria Fuster Alcoy and sculptor Josep Ginestar from Gata de Gorgos are part of the program. Plans also include inviting other national artists to donate works to the project. Before advancing, the team engaged with local residents to present the concept, receiving warm support from the community.