Muelle at Montera

Preservation

It's important to clarify that the gaffiti in Montera Street has never been a protected art piece, which is even more important; it's a piece that was kept for respect, in the first place, from the building owners that have allowed its permanence for almost thirty-five years, then from the institutions that have facilitated the means for its recovery and, finally and most importantly, from the citizens that have requested its preservation.

In 2010 there was an advancement in the battle to reclaim Muelle's leading figure by restoring and preserving this unique signature that still remained in the center of Madrid. Fernando Figueroa Saavedra, Dr. in Art History and Elena García Gayo, Curator-Restorer, took the first steps by requesting its protection as an Asset of Cultural Interest through a civic platform and the collection of signatures from the culture sector, museums and followers.

During the summer of 2013, the call "Objective Muelle" from the Urban Art's Observatory allowed the collaboration with artists that made a version of his signature and made possible an exhibition in Plaza de la Cebada. Musicians, artists, art historians and curators-restorers came together with a common goal, the recognition of Muelle's leading figure.

In 2016, the Monitoring Committee of the National XX Century Cultural Heritage Conservation Plan, that belongs to the Ministry of Culture, was the last support sent to Madrid City Hall and they finally gave a grant to start restoring the signature at Montera, a work that took place between December 2016 and February 2017 by intern students and the teacher's technical direction from the School of Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Assets of Madrid.