The memory of the DANA that hit L'Horta Sud finds a new expression through art. Murals, sculptures, and commemorative spaces spread across various municipalities in the region form the new Routes of Tribute to DANA Victims and Volunteers. This initiative, promoted by the Mancomunitat de l'Horta Sud and coordinated by Via Heraclia, aims to remember those who lost their lives and thank the solidarity that emerged after the catastrophe.
The first of these routes brought together about thirty people on a tour that crossed Massanassa, Paiporta, the Museu de l'Horta Sud, Torrent, and Alaquàs. The itinerary followed the trail of artistic creations born from the tragedy, with the participation of victim associations, representatives of neighborhood and volunteer movements, as well as professionals from various fields. The goal is to transform remembrance into a collective exercise of memory.
The president of the Mancomunitat de l'Horta Sud, José F. Cabanes, highlighted that the region has generated numerous artistic initiatives after the DANA. "Based on these expressions of feelings surrounding the greatest tragedy this region has experienced, we have configured a route to honor the memory of the people who lost their lives and to say thank you to the volunteering that reached out to us," he explained. For her part, Eva Martínez, from Via Heraclia, emphasized the restorative nature of the proposal, stating that "we try to turn around all those negative feelings that the DANA causes us, and it's a way of healing our wounds through art".
The tour began in Massanassa in front of the mural ‘El fang en mans de dona‘ (Mud in Women's Hands), by artist Lluïsa Penella and promoted by the association Dones Progressistes. The creation compares the mud that ravaged streets and homes with mud transformed into a tool for care and survival, highlighting the role of women during those days. Penella sought to unite the territory's identity with the female experience, representing "the elderly woman who cooked for the young people who were working".
In Paiporta, the stop was at the sculptural monument ‘Revivim‘, the result of a participatory process. The deputy mayor, Marian Val, explained that the monument remembers "the volunteers and the 56 victims of Paiporta." The sculpture incorporates rubber boots dyed the color of the mud and an upper part representing "the town saving the town".
The route continued through the Museu de l'Horta Sud, visiting the Salvem les Fotos project, and then moved to the Mas del Jutge area in Torrent. There stands ‘Bosque de acero‘ (Steel Forest), a sculptural ensemble promoted by the City Council that pays homage to the eleven people who died in the town, with their names inscribed.
The itinerary concluded in Alaquàs in front of the work ‘Gracias‘ (Thanks), by artist Jesús Martín-Lorente, known as Chule. Located where the water burst through, the sculpture depicts rubber boots and human figures helping each other, in homage to the thousands of volunteers. The day ended with the reading of a text and a minute of silence, consolidating the word "thanks" as the central concept of the tour.
With these routes, L'Horta Sud transforms the artistic spaces that emerged after the tragedy into living heritage, remembering the events and recognizing the region's capacity for resilience and reconstruction.
