The citizens of Valencia will soon have a monument dedicated to the solidarity that emerged after the DANA of October 29, 2024. The sculpture, by renowned Valencian cartoonist Paco Roca, is already in Alcantarilla (Murcia) for bronze casting. The aim is for the piece to be installed in the Plaza de la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Gracia, in the La Torre neighborhood, coinciding with the second anniversary of the tragedy.
The Plaza de La Torre was a key point in the recovery efforts after the catastrophe, becoming a coordination center for the large number of volunteers who came to provide aid to the most affected areas. The new 2.20-meter-high sculpture seeks to perpetuate the memory of that citizen mobilization.
The Valencia City Council awarded the contract for the design, production, and installation of the monument to Paco Roca on July 1st, with a budget of 50,600 euros and a three-month execution period. The initiative arose from the participatory budgets 'VLC Participa'.
The work will reproduce in bronze the mural that Roca created on the facade of La Rambleta. The image depicts a young female volunteer covered in mud, advancing resolutely with a basin and a broom. This image became one of the symbols of the solidarity movement that emerged after the DANA.
“"If there was anything positive in that disaster, it was undoubtedly the spontaneous solidarity movement that helped the affected so much in one of the worst moments in the history of the Valencian Community. I wanted that citizen movement not to be forgotten, so I created that illustration."
Paco Roca highlighted the importance of that mobilization, recalling that the drawing showed one of the thousands of volunteers who offered selfless help. The 'tide of solidarity', which included participants from all over the country and abroad, was fundamental for the recovery of the affected areas.
The transformation of the mural into a monumental sculpture has been carried out by sculptors Ángel de Fabero and José Ramón Puchades, from the 5PUNTO1 studio. The process included the creation of a small-scale model and subsequently a definitive 2.20-meter model, using an iron and wood structure.
On July 20th, technicians from the municipal Historical and Artistic Heritage Service checked in Riba-roja de Túria that the full-size model was finished and ready to begin casting. The final patina tone of the sculpture was also defined.
The piece is now in Alcantarilla for bronze casting at approximately 1,100 degrees Celsius. The process includes mold creation, wax reproduction, refractory molding, demolding, polishing, and manual chiseling. Finally, a chemical patina will be applied to protect it from oxidation.
Roca emphasized that the image of the volunteer acquired great symbolic value after the catastrophe, becoming popular on social media and appearing on posters. The choice of the drawing aims to be a tribute to the victims, the solidarity movement, and the values it represented.
If the deadlines are met, the figure of the young volunteer will occupy a permanent place in La Torre, coinciding with the second anniversary of the DANA, as a reminder of the victims and recognition of the work of thousands of people.
