OIDFA Lanzarote 2027 Competition: Lace, César Manrique and Landscape

An idea for traveling from paper to thread

bases published by OIDFA Spain They allow freedom in style, technique, and dimensions. They also welcome mixed-media works. This openness allows participation with bobbin lace, needlework, or a combination of techniques, as long as the work maintains a clear relationship with the theme and the artist's personal style.

The call for entries doesn't ask for a postcard-perfect landscape. A texture reminiscent of volcanic stone, a composition inspired by Manrique's organic forms, or a reflection on the coexistence of architecture and nature can suffice. Lace offers many ways to express this balance: a light net to suggest air, a dark border to evoke lava, or a wide void that allows light to enter.

The deadline starts before the bobbins are taken out.

Those who wish to participate must submit the form with the project idea before the 30th October 2026The finished work must arrive at the Lanzarote Island Council's address in Arrecife before March 1, 2027. The guidelines require that the piece be well protected, avoiding glass frames, and that an envelope be included with the artist's information, return address, and a photograph for identification.

This schedule requires a deliberate approach. First, the theme is considered, then the scale is tested, and finally, the materials that best convey the idea are chosen. In lacemaking, a good intention needs to be transformed into a sequence of crossings, turns, joins, and tensions. The preparation time is part of the work, even if it's not on display.

A jury with different perspectives

The works will be judged by an international jury composed of lacemakers, artists from other disciplines, and representatives from various institutions. This diverse group can enrich the interpretation of each piece. A technical specialist will focus on construction and precision; an artist might pay more attention to rhythm, materials, or the relationship between volume and space.

All participating works will be exhibited during the OIDFA Lanzarote 2027 Congress. conference program It includes exhibitions, conferences, courses, and a fashion and jewelry show featuring lace. The piece created for the competition will be displayed alongside works by artisans and visitors from various countries.

The legacy of César Manrique

The call proposes to approach the figure of César Manrique Cabrera, an artist born in Arrecife in 1919. His work is an unavoidable reference when thinking of Lanzarote: white houses, curved shapes, black stone, gardens and spaces that seek to coexist with the land instead of erasing it.

For a lacemaker, that perspective can translate into very concrete decisions. What happens if a net leaves areas of silence around a motif? How does a metallic thread behave next to a matte fiber? Can an irregular edge evoke the profile of a lava flow? The competition doesn't offer a single answer; it opens up a territory for each participant to find their own.

An island for learning by watching

The congress also features activities dedicated to the Roseta de Canarias lace, drawn thread work, and other textile traditions of the islands. Visiting Lanzarote during these days will offer the opportunity to discover local techniques and see that lace is not an isolated art form: it interacts with basketry, architecture, fashion, and everyday crafts.

Participating in or viewing the works will be a way to travel with attentive eyes. A small piece can hold the memory of a mountain, the shape of a shadow, or the color of an afternoon by the Atlantic. In Lanzarote, the thread will encounter a different landscape, and the landscape will receive a new way of being told.