Made by Noboru Takahashi, it projects the colors of San Agustín Beach on which the figure of James Brown emerges
The festival, declared by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council of general and tourist interest, is celebrated from July 29 to 31
The sixth edition of the Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival, which will return from July 29 to 31, 2022 , now has its official poster, designed by Gran Canaria artist Noboru Takahashi Ramos, who drew inspiration this time from the legendary James Brown. Organized by the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, the festival will return after a two-year hiatus with a musical lineup featuring the best soul and rhythm & blues artists . The festival, whose approval was granted at the last plenary session of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, has been declared of general interest with local impact and of tourist interest.
The author of the poster pointed out some of the elements that inspired the creation of this piece, which he created “through the color palette represented in the iconic location of the festival, San Agustín Beach.” In that sense, Takahashi opted for the choice of “ocher, yellow, brown and pastel colors, inspired by its rocks, its sand and its sunsets, forming the set to accompany the powerful image of James Brown and everything he represents.” .
Takahashi was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 1975, although his name refers to Japan. He defines himself as “more canarian than gofio”, although the cultural echoes of Japan are part of his DNA. He studied Marketing and Advertising at the Spanish Center for New Professions in Madrid. Later he returned to Gran Canaria and began to work and collaborate in agencies, photography and design studios, and in publishing houses in the city, such as Trama Art Design, Cromática, Creativa, Contraseña, Emonet or Mixtura. After 20 years in the profession, he considers his work as a “pragmatic process”, based on objectives rather than aesthetics. “Design must fulfill a function,” he defends.
Elena Espino, Councilor for Culture of the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council, wanted to highlight the range of colors contained in the poster of this edition, which alludes to the joy that, finally, after two years, will once again flood the Playa de San Agustin. “There are many people who are looking forward to the month of July to enjoy a festival with its own soul.”
Dania Dévora, director of DD&Company Producciones, added that it is a poster that “transmits optimism, something we all need after two years without a festival” and that coincides with the feelings that “implicit in soul, a music that invites dancing and meeting". Dévora also wanted to transfer the “work we are already doing to design a great artistic poster that compensates for these two years of absence.”
The last edition held dates back to the summer of 2019, in which tribute was paid to the legendary figure of Aretha Franklin during three days that took place on San Agustín Beach, a place that has hosted all editions of the festival so far.
The organization of the Maspalomas Costa Canaria Soul Festival is already working to ensure that in this new edition authentic legends of the genre once again shine on the Gran Canaria stage, something that years ago was done in close collaboration with the Porretta Soul Festival, which is held in the town. Italian from Bologna for more than 30 years. Quite an event for Gran Canaria, as witnessed by the more than 15.000 people who usually gather at each edition of the festival.