Adrian Arias | Valladolid (EFE).- Not long ago, in a very close galaxy, there has been a spaceport located on planet Earth, in the Pisuerga countryside, where Jedis and droids share drinks with other emblematic races from the universe of War of the Galaxies, all of them in the heart of emptied Spain.
With the planetary coordinates fixed in Valoria la Buena (Valladolid) -647 inhabitants- an intergalactic traveler can pay a visit to Jabba the Hutt or have a drink of ‘spotchka’ with the Resistance in a spaceport recreated to the millimeter by the Asturian sculptor based in Valladolid Juan Villa, who opens the doors of his workshop and exhibition to the EFE Agency.
The first thing that catches the visitor’s attention is the building that houses the spaceport itself, built in stone in the middle of the last century in the likeness of a medieval castle and which now houses a “very detailed” recreation of the Star Wars universe that “leaves everyone with their mouths open”, especially the most fans of the saga.
Known for his work in series or for the big screen, Villa decided to press the pause button in his life and dedicate his efforts to more personal projects, with fewer commissions, and more focused on what really fulfills him, such as his passion for the George Lucas saga, although he confesses that he is more into Star Trek.
Made with all kinds of materials, including a 3D modeled cornstarch paste, Villa gives life to the tenants of a spaceport full of characters from the most diverse races of the Star Wars universe, where C-3PO cannot be missing. , R2-D2, Chewbacca or the quintessential villain of science fiction, Darth Vader.
A VIP pass is available to all those members of the Resistance, the alliance of rebels to restore the Republic, who have their meeting base in this spaceport to sabotage the evil plans of the Empire, which will soon see increased forces at the station with the baking of Assault Troops that Villa prepares in his workshop: “You have to balance the forces a bit,” admits the sculptor between laughs.
Together with two other fellow sculptors and his partner, Villa tells how the most fun part of the process of shaping an alien is making his expressions, which he usually models by hand in materials such as clay, latex or polyester, while the most ” boring”, such as the hands or parts that serve as lace are “sculpted” by a 3D printer.
“It may be strange that a sculptor prints part of his works in 3D, but technology is also making its way into sculpture and modeling,” argues Villa, who highlights how printing in three dimensions also involves a complex drawing and calculation process. . “In addition, this allows us to speed up the times a lot,” she adds.
Jedis and Siths among vineyards
The space port to which Villa has given life is also located in the wine-producing heart of the Cigales Denomination of Origin, whose vineyards shape the landscape of this Castilian land affected by the progressive loss of population for decades.
With the idea of revitalizing and giving the area another atmosphere, Villa also launched a project a few years ago located a few kilometers from his space port, in the Valladolid municipality of Trigueros del Valle, where he turned an abandoned medieval castle into a fantasy place taken over by dragons and mythological and fantastic beings.
All this dreamlike atmosphere has awakened in these two municipalities, Trigueros del Valle and Valoria la Buena, an atmosphere straight out of a movie, and the countrymen are no longer surprised to see people dressed up for the occasion every weekend.
“On Sundays you can see Darth Vader or Jedis drinking vermouth in town and that’s something wonderful,” the creator of this galactic world in the middle of the Castilian plateau adds with a laugh. EFE
