During our visit to Palma de Mallorca on July 15, the University of Barcelona research group, high school students in Archaeo Spain, and the entire UP Pollèntia team made a private tour of the exhibition “Zeno Brains and Oracle Stones” by multimedia artist Jan Fabre, thanks to a generous invitation from the Government of the Balearic Islands. Fabre has stated that the sculptures in this exhibit were inspired by Michelangelo’s Pietà; use of Carrara marble in several large pieces pays homage to that inspiration. Themes from Greek mythology are also revealed in such exhibition sculptures as The Problem of Sisyphus and Atlas on the Roof of the World. The title of the piece Naked Metamorphosis seems to make sly reference to Fabre’s beetle focused imagery in an earlier exhibit, “Gravetomb,” and, whether intentionally or not, the strong supporting role of turtles in all the pieces shown recalls the creation myths of native tribes of eastern North America.
The vaulted ceilings of the Gothic architectural masterpiece Sa Llotja, home for the Fabre exhibition in Palma, dwarf even Sisyphus and Atlas! [Mallorca Observed provides an informative description of Sa Llotja at http://mallorcaobserved.com/2013/04/25/sa-llotja-a-gothic-masterpiece/] Recently refurbished as an exhibition hall, Sa Llotja was designed as a Merchants Guild (Collegi de Mercaders) by Guillem Sagrera. Construction began in 1426 by Sagrera and was completed by Guillermo Vilasolar after Sagrera quarreled with the Guild over payment (or lack thereof).
Photo credits for this page: Fr. Ron Wasowski, CSC
