ramón león has transformed the courtyard of the casa de la encomienda into an exhibition that reflects his artistic talent and personal journey of overcoming challenges. his intricate models of landmarks from la solana, other parts of spain, and around the world can be viewed in a display that captivates visitors with its detail and the inspiring story behind each piece.
among the monuments featured in the exhibition are the tower of santa catalina, the bullring, the hermitage of santa quiteria, and the plaza mayor, alongside replicas of the giralda in seville, the basilica del pilar in zaragoza, and the tower bridge in london. each model is crafted with care and remarkable attention to detail, highlighting the dedication of their creator, who lives with parkinson's disease.
despite his trembling hands, león has painstakingly constructed each miniature from simple materials: wood from pallets that he dismantles himself, along with some putty. he cuts the wood into planks and joins them to create towers, chapels, and cathedrals. “while I dismantle, we also exercise,” he explains with ease.
león has never shied away from discussing his condition, which he openly acknowledges. during the official opening of the exhibition, he reiterated a recurring message: this hobby serves as therapy. he recalls a time when he struggled to eat, yet now, his trembling hand is under control. his lesson is clear: “if you want to control the disease, you can.” he encourages others facing similar challenges “not to stay on the sofa, to move and to do things,” insisting that the illness can be managed with effort.
the councillor for culture, ángela notario, praised la solana as “a cradle of artists that surprises us every day,” as exemplified by ramón león. she reminisced about seeing some of his works years ago, such as the tower of santa catalina, and shared how the model of the hermitage of santa quiteria brought back happy childhood memories. “these models have the power to take us back to cherished moments in our lives,” she noted, emphasising the significance of the artist's personal story, which began from scratch to achieve what is now displayed in the courtyard.
notario encouraged león to continue his artistic journey and announced that there will be future exhibitions, as the public is eager to see his next project: the cathedral of santiago de compostela. the exhibition will remain open to the public until 26 november.
