The URJC says goodbye to the Aranjuez carnival

Ramon Machuca

The event began at 16:00 p.m. with the costume contest held in the Old Pavia Barracks, located in the facilities of the King Juan Carlos University. Later, from there, the Sardine's journey began until it arrived at the Plaza de la Constitución, where the final touch was put with the burning of the piece.

As has been customary since 2003, the responsibility for the design and preparation of the sardine has fallen to the teachers of the Fine Arts degree at the URJC. The project has been directed by Ana Balboa, Emma García-Castellano and Marta Linaza Iglesias, professors in the Department of Arts and Humanities of the University.

To begin making the sculpture, the students present a specific work on ephemeral sculpture, that is, an artistic action where the art disappears, in this case, in a bonfire. Subsequently, the work that meets the requirements of “colorfulness, originality and creativity” is selected, says Ana Balboa. Once selected, participants attend a seminar in which the Sardina is built to scale and with the help of professors and researchers from the Faculty such as Miguel Sánchez-Moñita, Tomás Zarza, Raquel Sardá, Ruth Remartinezo or Mónica Martínez-Bordiú, It is achieved that the sculpture “is stable, works and can withstand the walk”, as the URJC professor adds.

The co-director of the project also wanted to highlight the involvement of the students in this activity, "they are fundamental, this work is done by and for them, they are involved in the preparation of the sardine and then in the accompaniment." The work of the FAH resulted in a “special, festive, beautiful and very calm day within the framework of the party,” adds the professor from the Rey Juan Carlos University.

The origin of this festival dates back to 1851 when a group of Murcian students organized a funeral procession with a sardine which they finally burned, in this way the beginning of Lent is represented, a time in which fish becomes the usual food.

Photos taken by: Ana Balboa, Miguel Sánchez Moñita and Tomás Zarza