Exhibition ‘Florituras, adorning life’ unites voices against loneliness in La Laguna

The mayor of La Laguna, Luis Yeray Gutiérrez, accompanied by the first deputy mayor, Fran Hernández, and the councilor for Social Welfare, María Cruz, recently inaugurated the collective exhibition of seniors from the locality «Florituras, adorning life», which can be visited until June 16 at the Casa de los Capitanes. This exhibition showcases the results of painting workshops promoted by the local Service for dynamization and healthy aging, managed by Muvisa, in ten senior associations in the locality, a proposal that aims to give voice to the collective against loneliness and that, through QR codes, links artistic expression with audio recordings of each participating artist.

The mayor emphasized that this proposal «is not only a showcase of the talent and creativity of our seniors, but also a testimony of the countless benefits that artistic activities can offer to a group of people over 60 years old that exceeds 40,000 individuals in La Laguna.»

«Painting is a powerful tool to improve physical and cognitive well-being, but I would like to highlight its proven emotional impact and promotion of social connection. Proposals, like these training workshops, create a supportive and companionable environment that is essential to address unwanted loneliness, a problem that has increased since the pandemic and that we are facing with a wide range of activities, as well as with the imminent implementation of a comprehensive permanent care plan, which will be awarded soon,» added Luis Yeray Gutiérrez.

The exhibition brings together thirty works, made in oil and acrylic, each with a QR code that allows access to the audio explanation by its author, detailing their artistic proposal and the impact that these painting training workshops have had on their well-being and personal development.

The initiative has the participation of Educomex, which has been responsible for training and content digitalization, and of the senior associations La Candelaria de San Román (Barrio de La Candelaria), San Luis Gonzaga (Taco), Isogue de San Juan (Bajamar), Antonio Fostros (Las Gavias), San Bartolomé de Geneto, Universo de Gracia, Penjucote (Tejina), Princesa Yballa (La Cuesta), Dos Hermanos (Punta del Hidalgo) and Las Madres de Padre Anchieta (Casco).

The exhibition can be visited from 10:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 19:00 hours until next Monday (June 16), with a schedule on Saturday from 11:00 to 14:00 hours.

Therapeutic and Emotional Benefits

From the Muvisa Senior Service, they explain that this artistic proposal is not only conceived as a leisure activity, as these painting workshops offer a wide range of therapeutic and social benefits for seniors. Through painting, seniors exercise their memory, stimulate their creativity, and keep their minds active.

In terms of cognitive well-being, it stimulates both the logical and creative sides of the brain, fostering imagination and critical thinking, as this activity impacts memory, coordination, and self-confidence, helping to keep the brain fit. Additionally, it improves manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination. By trying to achieve precise strokes with painting utensils, seniors exercise muscles, bones, and nerves, improving mobility and dexterity.

From an emotional perspective, painting is a form of expression and therapy, helping to release tensions and suppressed emotions, improving mental and emotional health. Furthermore, participating in group painting workshops contributes to fostering social connection, creating a supportive and companionable environment.

The painting workshops for seniors from which this exhibition emanates are part of the extensive activities program of the Senior Service of the Social Welfare Area, managed by Muvisa, which offers a hundred proposals each week in all districts of the municipality.

This annual planning, one of the most comprehensive and extensive in the Islands, has earned La Laguna its designation as an Age-Friendly City for Older Persons by Imserso. With innovative proposals and support for the associationism of the group, which already has 39 entities in the locality, La Laguna is committed to listening and to shared work to address the challenges associated with the aging population.