The artwork titled “Aquí todo el mundo va a lo suyo, menos yo, que voy a lo mío”, by local artist José Luis Tabares Zaíño, known as “Tabares”, has been selected by the jury to become the official image for the 2027 Isla Cristina Carnival. The event, held at the "Pintora Charo Olías" Municipal Art Gallery, marks the start of the countdown for one of the municipality's most deeply rooted festivals.
The announcement was presided over by the Councilor for Festivals, María del Carmen Beltrán, accompanied by the Deputy Councilor for Festivals, Mateo J. Rodríguez, members of the Municipal Corporation, the technician of Culture and Festivals, Francis Zamudio, representatives of FIPAC, as well as members of the Children's and Youth Courts of the Isla Cristina Carnival.
Francis Zamudio highlighted that this announcement represents the "first note" of the upcoming Carnival and stressed the difficulty of the selection process due to the high caliber of the submitted works. The municipal technician also pointed out that the choice of a poster can always generate different opinions and tastes, but that the jury valued the various artistic and communicative aspects of the proposals. He also thanked the collaboration of Grupo Azahara de Comunicaciones and General Costa, who are sponsoring the printing of the posters to promote the Isla Cristina Carnival and its tourism.
Elisa Beltrán, director of Canal Costa, expressed the pride of Grupo Azahara and General Costa in once again supporting the announcement poster. "We are very proud to be part of the Isla Cristina Carnival poster," she stated, emphasizing that the festival's image "reaches everyone" and also projects the company's commitment to the local Carnival. Beltrán also encouraged continued participation in the contest and highlighted the importance of artists contributing to the representation of the festival through their creations, as well as the communication group's commitment to covering the Carnival and broadcasting its main events.
The Councilor for Festivals, María del Carmen Beltrán, read the jury's minutes. The jury, composed of professionals and artists linked to the cultural and plastic arts, unanimously agreed to award the prize to the work "Aquí todo el mundo va a lo suyo, menos yo, que voy a lo mío", authored by José Luis Tabares Zaíño. Beltrán highlighted the participation in this edition, with works from Isla Cristina, Ayamonte, Barcelona, and other locations, and congratulated both participants and the jury for their work. She also emphasized that the works are submitted anonymously, identified only by a chosen slogan, ensuring the jury's decision is based solely on the merits of each proposal.
The winning artwork, with an "Isla Cristina root and humorous perspective", presents a choral, costumbrista, and distinctly carnival scene inspired by the Paseo de las Flores. It features characters from the carnival universe in a composition full of humor and recognizable references for the local society, playing with the collective gaze and the unique personality of the characters to represent the festive spirit of the Isla Cristina Carnival. Pictorially and graphically, the poster opts for a visual narrative that reinforces its popular character and local identity.
José Luis Tabares Zaíño is a local artist whose career is closely linked to the cultural and carnival life of Isla Cristina. His name frequently appears in artistic initiatives within the municipality. In 2021, he created the commemorative plaque dedicated to carnival enthusiast Wenceslao Ríos Mora, “Uve Ríos”. In 2023, he designed the “W. Ríos” award. His work has also been featured in projects related to Isla Cristina's maritime heritage, including the collective exhibition “Un Bol de Atunes Rojos” and the exhibition “Arráeces de Isla Cristina y Poniente”. More recently, in May 2026, he participated in the local Pride and Diversity Day by creating a live mural featuring a chameleon, a symbol used in local diversity campaigns.
With this new work, Tabares adds another connection to his artistic career with Isla Cristina's main festival, as his creation becomes the official image for the 2027 Carnival. The event concluded with a group photograph alongside the winning poster, symbolizing the commencement of the carnival preparations.
