As part of our commitment to promote the training of young people, Fundación Iberdrola España, Fundación Iberdrola México and the Museo Nacional del Prado worked in concert so that a Mexican restorer could have the opportunity to gain knowledge and improve her technique at the Restoration Workshop given by the museum in Spain.
Silvia Ixchel García, who currently works at the National Center for the Conservation and Registry of Movable Artistic Heritage (CENCROPAM), which belongs to the National Institute of Fine Arts, was chosen among several Mexican professionals to take part in the workshop.
It is worth to mention that this is the first time that the call was opened to art and culture professionals in Mexico. The program will allow Silvia to gain proficiencies and technical skills at one of the most prestigious conservation and restoration institutions in the world.
But do you know what is the work of a restorer?
Silvia Ixchel explains us: “We are professionals who study human beings through their cultural productions, i.e., we use objects as a reference to study the evolution of human beings and their interaction with their environment”.
Now, you will surely wonder how this study is done; the winner explains: “We analyze the object, observe it, investigate its context, technology and resources. We use our eyes, touch, and smell, which are our best tool. We are its private investigators, like a CSI. Then, we become its physicians, we look for any pains, on which foot it limps and why, and if there is something, we can do to extend its existence”.
According to the foregoing, clearly the Museo del Prado is the best place for young restorers. More than 200 years old and with nearly 988 catalogued paintings, including Las Meninas by Diego Velázquez, the museum opens its doors to a Mexican woman, who, by the hand of experts, will contribute to the conservation of Mexico’s cultural heritage. This will translate into an investment of time and effort that will benefit future generations.
Additionally, programs like this contribute directly to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): quality education (4), decent work and economic growth (8), and sustainable communities and cities (11).
We wish Silvia Ixchel the best of success in this experience, which will certainly add to her personal and professional training.
