Santiago Santana Díaz

Santiago Santana was born in Arucas and moved with his family to Moya during childhood. In 1921 he entered the newly created Escuela de Artes Decorativas Luján Pérez, alongside Felo Monzón, Jorge Oramas, Plácido Fleitas and Eduardo Gregorio. The school remained decisive throughout his life: he became teacher and director from 1947, promoted its moves between premises and remained linked to its governing board.

A grant from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the municipalities of Moya and Arucas enabled him to continue studies in Paris and Barcelona between 1932 and 1933. His international training reinforced the formal freedom of work associated with indigenism and magic realism while remaining open to influences from the School of Paris. Landscapes, popular architecture and the female figure held a lasting place in his painting.

From 1940 onward, he combined artistic creation with drafting, design, restoration and cultural advisory work. He worked with Miguel Martín-Fernández de la Torre and participated in interventions connected with Casa de Colón, Pueblo Canario, Jardín Canario and other spaces in Gran Canaria. In 1994 he received the Medalla de Oro de Canarias, whose official award recognised work present throughout the islands and his contribution to cultural symbols of Gran Canaria.