Image: Paye Vargas Soria
In 1961, Justo Gallego set out to build a cathedral single-handedly in the Madrid town of Mejorada del Campo. In 2005 he rose to fame after starring in an ‘Aquarius’ commercial highlighting initiatives by ‘extraordinary people’.
And it was no wonder, this farmer and former clergyman has been working every day for more than 70 years to make his dream come true, to build a whole ‘cathedral’ with his own hands, with little help from anyone, using recycled material.
Now, Mejorada del Campo, his hometown, has paid tribute to the veteran artist who is now 92 years old. And he’s done it with a mural of nearly 3,000 recycled beverage cans in 30 different colors, something the artist knows firsthand.
A couple of recycling artists have been in charge of elaborating this mural which measures 3.60 x 5.00 meters and is located on one of the sides of the central nave, above the door. In the portrait facing the altar you can recognize Justo’s famous half-smile and his typical work clothes, his eternal red cap and his blue overalls. For many, Justo is already a reference of the creation and recycling of SXXI.
