One can find a treasure on an unexpected walk, but it is not available at the time and to see it you have to insist.
Today's walk began several days ago, in fact about a fortnight ago, when I entered the customs museum to see what new art was on display. The last one had ended on the 3rd of December.
There were a lot of people in the place, more than usual or what I've seen other times I've been there. Then the security guard told me that there was no new exhibition until after Christmas and my companion asked him why there were so many people. It seems that at that very moment the inauguration of the handmade nativity scenes of the AsociaciĆ³n Cultural del Belenismo was taking place.
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It was there that I learnt the name of this activity as I had never heard of it before.
We decided to stay in the place and take advantage of this opportunity, we were at the right time in the right place.
So we could listen to the speech of the president of the Customs Museum and the speech of the president of the Association of Belenismo. Also about the trajectory of this institution. Moreover, this great exhibition of nativity scenes was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the association.
All those present had something to do with the museum or the association and not only that, but the nativity scenes exhibited there are purely handmade, made by families who love the art.
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Many of today's nativity scenes are made in series by 3D printers in a material called resin, each of its parts or characters, but this is very different, these nativity scenes exhibited in the museum at the moment is an artisan activity made by people who love to do this.
The first crib was majestic with a majestic replica of the city street lamp, every detail was beautiful. All of us present went to see it and each of them would be explained in a particular way by the association.
With my companion we decided to come back another time as each of the cribs would be explained, that would take a long time and we would not be able to see them well, due to the presence of so many people. Besides, we had to go somewhere else, a long walk.
It was better to leave this visit for a day when there were fewer people, which is why I went back a few days ago. It was a walk split in time, or perhaps a walk that lasted several days until I got back to the place.
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When I entered the exhibition hall I found this explanation about this event and the importance of the Nativity Scene, declared as historical Andalusian heritage and of cultural interest.
I realised through this walk and visit the importance of craftsmanship, artisans and this wonderful art of patience, love and wisdom, it is not simple to do these things.
I could also realise how much the population appreciates all this beauty and that it has generated a tradition in the whole community of Andalusia. Furthermore, looking at the map of the city I could see that there are nativity scenes in various parts of the city, usually in brotherhoods and churches.
It is a very widespread activity with great recognition. And what I saw when I started to admire all this seemed to me like entering small scenes from history. The cribs were placed in historical order and each one was more beautiful than the other.
The details were beautiful, the lighting, the setting inside each one. The first ones were arranged inside showcases, they had background, that is to say depth in different layers of the scenes and I tried to look inside those showcases to be able to appreciate each one of their aspects.
All the nativity scenes are created by families, many of them for their own homes, and they have been given to the museum for the exhibition.
In this case the Three Wise Men are represented and each figure is beautiful.
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Here one of the old streets of the city of Malaga is represented, Calle Chinitas and its shops set in the period, next to the entrance of Mary and Joseph to the city.
I was also able to see a scene from Jesus' childhood and what life was like in his home.
Another nativity scene shows a rocky landscape with the annunciation of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.
And in this one you can see the birth of Christ in very beautiful craftsmanship.
Some were out of the ordinary as in this nativity scene where there is a snowy landscape.
In others the scene was depicted in fog and darkness for events that took place at night or in the early hours of the morning.
Up to this point all the nativity scenes were carefully arranged behind glass. They looked very professionally made.
But if I turned around I could see ten very small cribs with their details, each one made by a family for their home.
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Every time I passed by I could see details such as the fire in the fireplace made with LED lights, the birds, the details of the house and the statuettes.
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This is an art that you don't see every day and that is made with your hands, not with a machine that makes them in series. Each one is unique and original.
After the tour I was able to talk to the woman who was in charge of supervising the visit and appreciate all this wonderful art.
It was an incredible and beautiful walk, I was amazed that there are still people who love to do this and how much it is valued.
Thank you so much for joining me on this Wednesday walk at the beginning of the year. Happy New Year to all. See you soon.
Amonet.
All photographs are my own.
