Outdoor Art Transforms Benidorm Into a Living Gallery
A new photographic proposal titled A Walk in Life by Cuco de Frutos opens this Friday across four Espais d’Art Urbà, marking the kickoff of Benidorm Expone’s summer season. The exhibit presents 30 photographs designed to be absorbed as viewers move through the spaces, inviting interpretation through the photographer’s deft use of light and reflections.
The announcement came with a selection of images displayed at l’Espai, delivered by Historical and Cultural Heritage Councilor Ana Pellicer, the city’s mayor, Toni Pérez, and Cuco de Frutos. Additional works appear in venues at El Campo, Hispanitat, and Pont within the Espais d’Art Urbà de Ponent network. During the tour, the artist described the Benidorm show as an honor, expressing affection for the country and gratitude for the warmth shown since his arrival.
In this edition, outdoor works convert Benidorm into a open-air museum, a concept described by the organizers as a chance for residents and visitors to engage with contemporary photography in public spaces. The mayor highlighted the city’s evolving cultural landscape, noting previous exhibitions in galleries across New York, Madrid, and other parts of Spain. Cuco de Frutos’s work travels to Benidorm thanks to the efforts of Azahar Maris and Antonio Magraner, who emphasize that the city benefits from close artistic connections and a welcoming community of creators who lend their best pieces for public viewing.
The mayor also commented on the photographer’s craft, saying that the power of a single image lies in the moment it captures and the years of practice behind it. The display includes a photograph taken at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway in New York, captured on a day when a race temporarily cleared traffic. The image demonstrates the balance between chance and composition, a hallmark of the artist’s method that can reveal how light and rhythm interact in a busy urban setting.
Benidorm continues expanding its outdoor art spaces with two newly added locations. The city’s leadership described the expansion as a central pillar of a broader cultural project that blends public space with high-quality artistic experiences. They emphasized that the move was made possible by thoughtful planning and a commitment to making art accessible to passersby in daily life. The pandemic era is referenced as a reminder of the value of public art and the importance of sustaining cultural initiatives that invite people to pause, observe, and reflect. Cuco de Frutos’s summer proposal is the opening act in Benidorm Expone, with more artists scheduled to participate in the Espais d’Art Urbà throughout the season. The plan is to grow the program in the weeks ahead, welcoming additional voices and expanding the city’s cultural itinerary without crowding the same spaces.