The Curro statue, installed a month ago in the Glorieta de la Barqueta, has been found vandalised in the vicinity. The Seville City Council has already recovered it for restoration.
The figure of Curro, the iconic mascot of Expo 92, was found this Sunday in the vicinity of the Glorieta de la Barqueta in a state of evident vandalism. Municipal sources confirmed that the statue, which disappeared during the early hours, is now in the Seville City Council's premises for restoration.
The disappearance occurred between midnight on Saturday and the early hours of Sunday. According to witnesses, the figure was still in its place around midnight, but by dawn there was no trace left. The stone bench where it was anchored showed signs of struggle and remnants of the torn base.
A tribute that lasted only a month
The Seville City Council installed the Curro statue on June 11, coinciding with the completion of the reurbanisation works in Cartuja. The figure, seated on a stone bench, was intended to be a tribute to the Universal Exhibition of 1992 and a welcoming symbol for visitors to the area. However, just a month later, the residents of Seville have been confronted with the image of an empty bench and a mistreated statue.
The Instagram account Lost In Seville (@losti_oficial) shared images of the empty bench and the remnants of the anchoring on Sunday. This same account was responsible for informing that the artwork was found in a nearby dry fountain, which allowed for its quick recovery.
The legacy of Expo 92 back in the spotlight
The sculpture was part of a municipal plan to renew an area that had suffered significant urban deterioration for years. The initiative also included the recovery of the ornamental fountains built for Expo 92 and the restoration of the mural Verbo América, by Chilean artist Roberto Matta. Now, the vandalistic act has once again brought the debate about the preservation of the legacy of the universal exhibition to the forefront.
For the people of Seville, Curro is not just a mascot; it is a sentimental symbol of an era that marked the city's history. Its installation had been received with enthusiasm, especially among those who experienced Expo 92. Now, the City Council must decide whether to replace it in the same location or find a safer spot.
Meanwhile, the figure is already in the hands of municipal restorers. It is expected that in the coming days the extent of the damage and the time needed to return Curro to its place will be known. The question many are asking is whether, when it returns, it will do so with a smile or with a black eye.
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