Art d’Eivissa: a journey through Ibiza’s art from the late 19th century to the present day

A total of 95 new works by island-based artists were added to the Consell de Ibiza’s collection during the current legislative session. Many of them are on display at the Far de ses Coves Blanques in Sant Antoni until March 5, 2022. The Department of Culture, Education, and Heritage chose the title Art d’Eivissa for this exhibition, which takes visitors on a journey through the history of Ibizan art from the late 19th century to the present day.

When it comes to art, this is a “extremely diverse exhibition,” says Lina Sansano, the director of the Arxiu of Imatge and Ceramics of the Consell de Ibiza.

For this Art d’Eivissa exhibition, 31 artists have contributed to 68 works that are displayed in two halls of Far de ses Coves Blanques. According to curator Sansano, the first showcases “more figurative works and historical paintings,” while the second features “abstract and more contemporary works. ” In addition to Laureà Barrau I Buol, Narcs Puget Vias, Voldemar Boberman, Mariano Tur de Montis, Ignacio Gil Sala, Josep Manuel Chico Prats, and Narcs Puget Riquer, the lineup also features Antoni Prats Calbet (Antonio des Coc), Rafel Tur Costa, Antoni Pomar Juan, and Adrián Rosa, as well as artists such as Antonio Hormigo, Bartolomé García Tur, Joan Escandell Torres, Vicent Calbet Riera, Francesc Riera Bonet (Paco Riera), Mario Stafforini, Gilbert Herreyns, Pedro María Asensio, Antoni Ribas Costa Toniet, Renato Steinmeyer, Marta Torres, Dolores Guasch Torres (Yoa Cocas), Diana Bustamante, Josep Rosales Torres, Júlia Ribas, Julia Fragua, Josefa Torres Riera, Mª del Carmen Liberal Siso, Alberto Ribas Palerm and Carolina Boned.

Displayed items have been acquired by or donated to the Consell de Ibiza, or have been awarded as prizes in various competitions held by this organization. The paintings by Josefa Torres Riera and Mª del Carmen Liberal Siso, winners of the Premi Vuit Agost in 2021, and the sculptures by Alberto Ribas Palerm and Carolina Boned Torres, winners of the Premi Vuit Agost in 2020 and 2021, are just a few of the most recent pieces on view.

Laureà Barrau, a Barcelona-born artist who spent many years in Santa Eulària, and Narcs Puget Vias, widely regarded as the father of modern Ibizan painting, are among the artists featured in ‘Art d’Eivissa.’ During his first artistic era, Barrau depicts the church of Sant Jordi without any buildings surrounding it, as it appeared at the end of the 19th century. It was purchased at an art auction by an intermediary for the Consell, which depicts a bather.

The 1930s and 1950s are also covered in the exhibition. Ibizan painters who formed the Puget Group in 1962 in response to the Ibiza 59 Group are represented in this exhibition, but there are no works by artists from the Ibiza 59 Group.

It begins in the second room with Rafel Tur Costa, who is widely regarded as the first Ibizan artist to paint abstractly. “Although it is a chronological tour, not everyone is there,” says Sansano.