The Local Government Board has accepted the free and temporary loan of the monumental sculpture by Manolo Valdés, measuring 20 meters and weighing 10 tons, which will be located at the entrance to Parc Central via Calle Filipines.
The city of Valencia will have a new monumental piece of contemporary art. The City Council has accepted the free and temporary loan of 'El Monolito', the sculpture by Manolo Valdés, which will be installed in the esplanade of Parc Central, next to the entrance via Calle Filipines. The agreement was made during the meeting of the Local Government Board this Friday.
The loan has been formalised for an initial period of ten years, during which Studio Manolo Valdés LLC will retain ownership of the work. The council will cover the costs of transport, assembly, and installation, as well as the ordinary maintenance of the piece during the exhibition period. The assembly work will be carried out using the technical and professional resources designated by the artist's studio.
The sculpture, created in 2026, measures 20 meters in height and weighs around 10 tons. It is made of stainless steel, corten steel, and laminated glass, and has been valued for insurance purposes at three million euros. Its location at the main entrance of Parc Central was chosen after analysing criteria such as visibility, urban integration, technical feasibility, safety, and accessibility, and has the relevant municipal and sectoral reports.
The installation of 'El Monolito' is part of the project to create the Espai Manolo Valdés, an exhibition space dedicated to the Valencian artist at Dock 3 of Parc Central. In early July, the City Council awarded the drafting of the adaptation project for that space to Vetges Tu i Mediterrània SLP, for an amount of €79,194.78. The new sculpture will thus add to the artist's presence in his hometown.
A pedestal designed for the work
In addition to accepting the loan, the Local Government Board has given the green light for the construction of the pedestal that will serve as the base for 'El Monolito'. The work will be carried out according to the approved technical foundation project by municipal services, with an investment of €95,557.24.
The foundation project is designed to respect existing infrastructures, pedestrian pathways, and emergency service access to the park. In this way, the placement of the sculpture combines its role as a visual landmark with the operational and safety needs of the site.
The arrival of 'El Monolito' reinforces the City Council's commitment to incorporating contemporary art into the city's public spaces. For the local residents, the work will become a new point of reference at the entrance to Parc Central, one of Valencia's green lungs, and will help enrich the urban landscape of the area.
The ten-year loan period can be extended if both parties agree. Meanwhile, citizens will be able to view the piece once the pedestal works are completed and the assembly is finished, for which no specific date has yet been provided.
With this initiative, Valencia adds a new large-format work to its public art catalogue, at a time when the city seeks to consolidate its cultural offerings and attract visitors interested in contemporary art. Valdés' sculpture, internationally recognised, joins other pieces by the artist located around the world, such as those in New York and Madrid.
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