In Villena, the city council marked a solemn moment of respect for a beloved local figure with the unveiling of a statue in honor of Pedro Marco. The ceremony took place in Santa Maria Square, near the Rabal neighborhood, on a Wednesday afternoon filled with quiet reflection. Neighbors, friends, and family gathered to pay tribute to a man whose artistic legacy left a lasting imprint on the community, carried out in a setting free of music to emphasize the sincerity of the moment.
The bust, created by sculptor Joan Castejon, was brought into public view following the discovery of its significance by the mayor, Fulgencio Cerdán, and the artist’s widow, Eleanor Serrano. The mayor spoke with heartfelt warmth about Pedro Marco, praising him as a person of extraordinary perception who could discern truths that others often overlook. He described Marco as a figure who transcended ordinary vision, noting that his intellect and creative imagination continually inspired those who knew him personally and those who admire his work from afar.
The initial lines of the tribute also touched on the absence felt by the community and the enduring wish to keep Marco’s presence alive through this statue. The mayor expressed a desire that the people would remember him not just for his art, but for the way his gaze invited others to see the world differently. He spoke of a city that remains connected to its cultural memory through the artist’s creations, and of the responsibility to illuminate the darker corners where shadows tend to linger. The moment was framed as a beacon, a reminder of Marco’s boundless creativity and his deep engagement with Villena’s social and cultural life.
The event featured a sequence of interventions that highlighted the life and work of Pedro Marco. José Ayelo, director of the Villena Culture House, spoke about the artist’s enduring influence, placing his figure within the broader context of the town’s cultural landscape. Following him, President José Cabanes Hernández addressed the attendees, underscoring the pride Villena takes in nurturing talents who contribute to the city’s artistic heritage. The Rabal Neighborhood Association was represented by Carlos Perez, the artist’s son-in-law, who spoke on behalf of the family with gratitude and affection for the community that supported Marco throughout his career.
Musician Oscar Albuixech provided a resonant guitar soundtrack that accompanied the proceedings, adding a lyrical note to the afternoon. Although the sculptor could not attend in person due to illness, he left an audio recording that described his process and offered personal recollections of Pedro Marco. The statue now stands proudly at the entrance to the Rabal neighborhood as a tangible reminder of a painter who devoted his life to capturing the social fabric of Villena. As the mayor observed, the monument will always symbolize Marco’s commitment to the city and its residents, a lasting testament to a life spent in art and community service.
Pedro Marco, born in Villena in 1949, passed away in February 2022 at the age of 72. Over a lengthy artistic career, he earned recognition for a prodigious creative output that led to exhibitions across the globe, with a prominent presence in Europe and Latin America. His work earned him numerous awards, including the XXV International Drawing Award Joan Miró. One of his recent contributions to Villena was the 2020 legacy project Ombligos de Patata, a graphite piece created for the Miguel Hernández Library, which is named after the prominent Orihuela poet.
The mayor reflected on the artist’s enduring connection to the city, noting that Marco’s death represented a personal loss as well as a cultural one. He spoke of a friend who shared a deep love for Villena and a keen ability to convey the voice and emotion of its people through pencils and paint. The tribute on that day echoed the sentiment that Pedro Marco’s art will continue to guide and inspire future generations, illuminating the level of skill and humanity that defined his work and his presence in the community.