the university of alicante celebrated this thursday the delivery of the maisonnave prize for the year 2022, a ceremony that took place at club atlético montemar this edition. at the same event, slated to take place at the ua alicante city center on san fernando street at 19:00, one of the artist’s works was presented to the university in a tribute to louis de castro, an artist who received the maisonnave prize in 2016 and who passed away in 2020. the maisonnave art collection, hosted at the headquarters, serves as a living archive that connects contemporary creation with the university’s cultural programming and the city’s artistic life. the prize ceremony reflects the institution’s ongoing commitment to fostering artistic exchange and recognizing outstanding contributions in the arts.
in october the university commissioned a work from a prominent alicante-based artist, a photographer and writer, to honor the director of the alicante main theater for the last two decades of the previous century. this gesture follows a tradition of similar tributes to past winners in previous years, including jose diaz azorín, maría dolores mulá, luisa pastor, olga diego, and miguel bañuls, among others. the commission underscores the university’s recognition of theatrical leadership and its impact on the region’s cultural landscape, while also highlighting the intertwined histories of alicante’s performing arts scene and its academic institutions. the commitment to this form of homage showcases a sustained interest in preserving and celebrating the city’s cultural memory through contemporary artistic practice.
“although there is no personal relationship with louis de castro, the breadth of his career in alicante is well known. in the early seventies, the alba theater group emerged, and the artist recalls visits to rehearsal spaces in an apartment on paseo de gadea, invited by friends who were part of the group, including marisa cremades, roberto darbonnes, and mariví serrano. through this work, de castro emerged as a prominent figure who began to touch the media landscape of alicante society. his long tenure as the director of the teatro director in the city, and his lasting influence on the local cultural infrastructure, are cited as key reasons for honoring his memory at this event, which also reflects the broader historical arc of theatrical culture in the region,” explains the curator and organizer. the remark situates de castro within a network of cultural actors who shaped the city’s stage life and institutional leadership, emphasizing the symbolic significance of this dedication within the university’s arts ecosystem.
the artist describes the project as a digital photograph that frames a stage emerging from which a performance unfolds. the composition features reddish leaves in the foreground and silhouettes of performers on stage, arousing a sense of vibrant audience energy. the image aims to capture a moment of collective attention, with the backstory of the theater and its performers enriching the viewer’s interpretation. to ensure long-term stability, the artist chose printing on cotton paper, a technique noted for its durability. this choice aligns with conservation practices observed by major institutions such as the tate modern in london, which has long championed archival quality materials for works destined to endure. the resulting piece serves as a visual testament to the interplay between stagecraft, memory, and the passage of time, inviting viewers to reflect on the intimate connection between performance and place.
the maisonnave prize ceremony will be hosted in the conference hall. it will also be available to audiences in real time from the ua headquarters in alicante, located at san fernando 40, and through streaming platforms that broadcast the event to a broader public. the simultaneous in-person and online format reinforces the university’s goal of widening access to artistic dialogue and ensuring that the celebration of talent resonates beyond the immediate venue, inviting participation from students, scholars, artists, and community members who share an interest in contemporary visual and performance art. this approach mirrors a growing trend in cultural institutions to embrace hybrid formats, expanding opportunities for engagement across geographic boundaries and reinforcing the role of the university as a hub for cultural exchange and public discourse.