Quini would turn 73 this Friday. That day, his birthday, September 23, it was planned that the sculpture that will make his memory eternal will be installed in the surroundings of El Molinón, the place where El Brujo was a legend of the goal for the sportingism. But for Atletico fans to be able to visit Carlos García’s work, they will have to wait… At least for a while. His presentation, initially scheduled for within three days, is postponed until progress is made with the voluntary fundraising ‘crowdfunding’, which is still far from the expected numbers. Garcia’s work, on the other hand, is ready. The monument, completely finished. In July the modeling had been settled: the shirt, the socks, the unforgettable “9” on the back… But now the casting process is over. “Completing the ‘crowdfunding’ would be to make a true tribute to Quini from sportinguismo. And demonstrate once again the mobilization of the affliction. That is why it would be very important to complete this campaign,” explains Adrián Nuñez, president of Unipes.
“Everything is ready and finished for its presentation to the public. It is a great project for Gijón and for Sporting. And I’m looking forward to when it sees the light before and can be placed in the planned place, ”confesses Carlos García in conversation with LA NUEVA ESPAÑA. The finished work has been in a foundry workshop since September, where the sculptor has access. There he has been reviewing and carefully specifying each of the details of the monument for many hours to be able to arrive in time to be presented this Friday: from the legs, through the trunk, arms and head.
Carlos García, a well-known artist on the international scene, has welded each of the pieces –reviewed the welding– and the finish so that the monument, in bronze, has the necessary tones. The process since the modeling was finished in July, explains Carlos, has been very intense, with a lot of work. Because after that phase, a second phase arrived – from mid-July to August – to make the molds. Then the piece was made in wax –until the end of August–. And in September it was sent to the foundry; there it has been welded, revised and finished until it is finished off these days.
“I have worked about 12 hours a day. That is why this work has been done for the date that I had promised when it was commissioned. And, of course, I have also done a preliminary study to prepare the statue. It has taken me a sacrifice of many hours and being separated from my family. I have lost two months of my daughter’s time, who is nine, to be able to arrive on time. The work is ready and would be presented on Friday,” explains the artist from Gijón. In the next few days, Carlos García is scheduled to move the statue of Quini from the foundry to his studio.Now only a new date is pending to be finally exhibited to the public and that the recognition finally sees the light.
