La Mancha artist Antonio Lopez said yesterday in the Condestables Chapel of Burgos Cathedral that the new bronze doors created for the main facade of the temple “will be better in the place for which they were designed than in … “Museum”, considering that its mission is “to be seen from the street.” He did this during a public conversation with the general coordinator of the project, Gonzalo Jiménez, as part of the presentation of the new doors of the Burgos Cathedral.
Lopez stressed that the commission was an “extraordinary and difficult task” that took him six years, from initial sketches to the final bronze casting. “I’ve never done anything like this before. “It’s been a six-year journey.” He remarked, before expressly thanking the “fantastic joint work” of the technical technical team coordinated by Consuelo de la Cuadra.
During the conversation, the sculptor reviewed the long creative process: from clay models and 3D enlargements to the lost-wax technique used in casting, and stressed that the final work is inseparable from a collective effort. He explained, “The project was a garden and a sacred courtyard in which there was a presence,” referring to the Virgin, God the Father, Adam, Eve, and the child Jesus as the group’s heroes.
Regarding the symbolism of the three doors, he explained that the door dedicated to the Virgin Mary seeks “dignity, emotional strength, and sculptural beauty,” describing it as “the new Eve” and “the new creation.” At the door of the Child Jesus, he realizes that a more everyday look appears: “I can see my grandson Andres in the Child Jesus. We Spaniards know a lot about finding beauty in everyday life. The central door, dedicated to God the Father, on the other hand, has been defined as “impressive and leaves no trace of daily life” and is partly inspired by the Song of Songs, Ekal reports.
Although he confirmed, amid laughter from the audience, that he no longer remembers all the symbols. Because “six years had passed,” he insisted that the idea of the Virgin and the character of God had been present from the beginning. “Consuelo’s team created many icons,” he noted.
As for his final location, Lopez was clear. “The idea might be worse than it is now, but I think they would be better in the cathedral than they were in the museum. He said sarcastically before adding: “Tomorrow I will return to Madrid and you can do whatever you want.”
The artist indicated that starting Saturday, the public will be able to see the new doors up close, and stressed that the reception will depend on each visitor. “Art is ours, but religion is bigger than us. He concluded by saying: “Opinions will be personal.”