Sevior & Priol ARTS explain idea behind 'Micalet' ninot

The second Valencia CF 'ninot' doll souvenir was handed over to Real Betis this past Saturday at Mestalla, ahead of the LaLiga game between the two clubs. The institutional gift, part of the 'Sempre Falles' initiative, was the work of Sevior & Priol ARTS from Alicante.

Artist José Priol, who normally designs ninots for the Fallas festival in the Valencia region, says that “after the lockdown and the strange times we have experienced, what better way than this initiative from Valencia CF and the Ayuntamiento City Council to give a big push to us artists, in a year in which Las Fallas has not been held? The initiative is great, and artists from all over the Valencia region have been called upon."

Fellow artist Juanjo Sevior explained that when drawing up the design "the idea was to represent the city of Valencia, with the iconic Micalet dressed as a footballer." The iconic tower of Valencia Cathedral is the centrepiece of the ninot and wears the Real Betis shirt, while holding a ball with the Valencia CF crest on it.

"It represents camaraderie and sportsmanship with a sympathetic figure, so that everyone will like it," says the artist. Both José Priol and Juanjo Sevior presented the ninot before the game to Valencia CF legends and ambassadors Miguel Tendillo and Ricardo Arias.

Tendillo commented that the ‘Sempre Falles’ initiative "is fundamental at this time. The artists guild is one of the industries hardest hit by Covid-19, and Las Fallas is something that has been a tradition since I was a child. It's great what Valencia CF are doing in this difficult period to bring the club and the fans together and motivate them."