Manrique on art and nature: Born in 1919 and native to Lanzarote, Manrique was a true visionary. A multidisciplinary artist, he worked across painting, ceramics, sculpture, and architecture. He placed no limits on his creativity and was deeply conscious of his impact on the environment.

Lanzarote is the fourth biggest island in the Canary archipelago, known for its rugged landscapes and unique sights. The bold contrasts of burnt red earth peppered with white villages, highlighted by the surrounding blue sea gives the island an almost extraterrestrial quality. 

What moved me most was how deeply his work was shaped by nature. Organic forms inspired and guided his life’s work. He even established strict building codes to preserve what makes Lanzarote so authentic: the volcanic shapes, fluid lines, natural light. His home is carved into lava bubbles. The architecture doesn’t dominate the landscape, but respectfully blends with it — a feat made possible thanks to his immense sensitivity to the surrounding nature. Manrique transformed Lanzarote into a model of sustainable tourism, discarding high-rise hotels and the platoons of tourists for the island’s natural beauty, which is more than capable of providing a high-value experience to the right kind of tourist.

My outfit: Matching Lanzarote for a day

I wore an earthy-toned look that felt right for the setting: grounded, soft, simple. I styled my Blue Fly Away Paisley scarf as a triangular belt tie — a favourite detail right now. It added just the right amount of colour and movement to the look. The yellow border catches the light with every step, while the paisley pattern takes the eye directly to the waist. It’s playful, sculptural, and flattering. This proves that the right scarf can shift the entire rhythm of a look by anchoring and accenting a base outfit. My blue bag and footwear tied the look nicely, harmonising with the blues of the scarf.

In other words, it’s a very Lanzarote-inspired look! 

The César Manrique foundation: The visit left me quietly inspired. Nature has a force of its own and infinite ways to speak to us. Manrique knew this. His work invites you to feel peaceful, connected, and aware of the nature around you.

The César Manrique Foundation was established just a few months before the artist’s untimely death in a car accident. Housed in his former volcanic-lava home in Taro de Tahiche, it stands as a living extension of his vision: to create a deep harmony between human creativity and the natural world.

It promotes contemporary art, curates exhibitions, and supports environmental awareness, reminding us that beauty, too, is a kind of responsibility. Creativity works best alongside nature, don’t you think?

In Manrique’s world, lava flows become walls, windows frame cacti like paintings, and the quiet co-existence with nature is part of the composition.