A mural in tribute to the guild of Fallas artists

The Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV) has dedicated a mural to the guild of Fallas artists as part of its 'La Ciència a les Falles' project. Created by Andreu Meseguer Torres and Sofía Delgado Alcíbar, it is located next to the UPV's Fallas clubhouse, on the exterior façade of the Vera Children's Centre.

The mural combines science, fallas, scientific dissemination and equality. In it, the artists depict the interior of a typical fallas workshop, with different scenes that illustrate the various processes involved in bringing a falla to life, such as modelling, papering, and painting. It pays special tribute to female fallas artists.

'Fallas workshops are still spaces occupied mainly by men, although this is gradually changing. And it is this change that we wanted to represent and highlight in this mural, which features two female fallas artists,' say Andreu Meseguer and Sofía Delgado.

Inspired by the winning ninots of “La Ciència a les Falles” awards

The mural is inspired by some of the award-winning ninots and scenes from the two editions of the 'La Ciència a les Falles' competition held to date, in the children's fallas category.

Thus, one of the Fallas artists can be seen painting a ninot reminiscent of Jane Goodall, which was part of the monument with which the Carrera de San Luis-Rafael Albiñana commission won first prize last year, with a Fallas created by the artist Fran Tarazona that highlighted great scientific figures such as Goodall, Valentina Tereshkova and Marie Curie. At the other end of the mural, the second artist is modelling the figure that refers to the ninot of the Polish researcher.

Between them, Andreu Meseguer Torres and Sofía Delgado Alcíbar recreate the endearing and provocative scene from 11F—International Day of Women and Girls in Sciences—with which the Creu i Mislata falla, by Álvaro Guija, won first prize in 2024, featuring a girl scientist in class. And next to it, a fragment of the ninot of Nikola Tesla with which the Cuba-Puerto Rico commission, with artist Álex López, won second prize that same year.

Third edition of the competition: deadline open until 14 March

This mural is part of the project and competition 'La Ciència a les Falles' (Science in the Fallas), launched in 2024 by the UPV's Communication Area and the Avda. Tarongers - Universitat Politècnica-Camí de Vera commission, with the support of the Fallas Central Board.

The third edition of the competition is now underway and, on this occasion, is aimed exclusively at children's fallas. Commissions wishing to participate can submit scenes or ninots representing, for example, R&D laboratories, researchers in their daily lives, scientific advances and projects, as well as any other creative proposal that helps raise the profile of science and its protagonists.

In this third edition, three prizes will be awarded: a first prize of €800; a second prize of €500; and a third prize of €300. The three winning committees will also receive a commemorative banner. In addition, the winning ninots will form part of the UPV's Museu de Ciència i Falles (Science and Fallas Museum).

The deadline for entries is 14 March.

These initiatives are part of the UPV's annual scientific communication and dissemination programme, which also has the support of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT), which is part of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.