Ibiza Culture

Until the end of September, in the Art-Gallery “Es Molí”, here in Eivissa, on the road to Santa Gertrudis, we can admire a splendid collection of exceptional bronze sculptures, an extraordinary and very complete exhibition of the latest Art-works of the sculptor Lorenzo Quinn.

There was a private presentation party in the gardens of the Art-gallery, organised by Carlos Martorell, one of the Island’s most famous amphytryons and public relations specialists in social and cultural events.

Judging by the amount of security and bodyguards, it must have been full of VIPs. Unfortunately I wasn’t one of them, but the success of the exhibition was guaranteed from the very beginning.

Following the enormous success that Lorenzo and the Es Molí Art-gallery had last year with his presentation on the Island, it was also an excellent opportunity for LiveIbiza.com to increase our artists’ gallery with such a talented and recognised artist. His name is synonymous with success, so here we go once again, Gary and I, to try to witness this fantastic event, that is becoming one of the most anticipated and celebrated Art and Cultural events of the Eivissa Summer.

One must appreciate the challenge and great effort of the owners and management of the gallery “Es Molí”, Vetik and Joel Roger, in bringing to Eivissa such unusual exhibitions (unusual in this instance because very little bronze has been exhibited on the Island, especially of this quality and size).

As soon as we arrived at the gallery on Monday afternoon, Gary (as usual) started to shoot his camera, first to the sculptures, then - when Lorenzo arrived - we had half an hour together for another photo session and to talk about his art-pieces and a little about Eivissa, about its present and its future. (Someone close to him told me that Lorenzo is thinking seriously about buying a house on the Island).

I must admit that I was rather intimidated and feeling slow, but only because of my own limitations, not because of Lorenzo. He is a man with exquisite manners and large culture (in about thirty minutes, I heard him conversing in four languages, Spanish, Italian, French and English, even a bit of Ibicenco-Catalan with the lorry-driver) that makes everybody feel welcome and good by his side.

But what impressed me most was what I think is the great humanity of this artist; humanity reflected in all his art-works, not just in the anatomical perfection of his sculptures, but also because these sculptures evoke the highest ideals and feelings within the person.

They are sculptures that confront humanity with the responsibility of their own facts, with the importance of taking the right decisions, even knowing that there are enormous uncontrolled and unknown forces that lead the Universe and our World, therefore our life. But the last choice - the last word - is always left to the free man’s will. So, with the right decisions, a good will and a big heart we can trust our life to these mysterious energies that hopefully will lead us the right way.

Words like “Love”, “Friendship”, “Creation”, “Nature”, can be read often in the titles of his sculptures, titles that come with what I consider as intimate thoughts or short poems. (In Quinn’s works, the idea comes first, then the idea is put into words and afterwards, the words materialise through his art and the creation appears). Let’s use some of his own words, so we can all understand better what I’m trying to say. This is what Lorenzo Quinn says about his own sculptures:

“Crossing a millennium”. As with every important turning point in our life we are left to ponder on what we will find and about how our future will be. The unknown scares us. We are finite creatures and our time is limited by the way we live the time we are given. The figure crossing the millennium is “Tunios”. We have seen this figure in the sculpture “Stairs of Life” and there too he represented the past, present and the unknown future. Especially since I have two children, I wonder what kind of world we are bringing them into. The hole in the chest represents the decisions and compromises of the heart one must make to achieve tranquillity, now, into the new millennium and forever.

“Ascension”. Ascend for you have created and you have given.

You taught me what I know and what I am is thanks to you.

You have been my mentor, my polar star. In you I have reflected the image of perfection only to have that image reflected back on me once again. Perfection is to be measured within oneself.

Ascend to the hands of your creator for it is there that we will meet again and there you will teach me more.

“The Creation”. I believe in God, but above all I believe in having a good conscience. Man was made to be perfect by being imperfect. It has always amazed me to see how ancient cultures like the Egyptians were capable of such perfect forms like the pyramids and how nature has itself created perfect forms like the simple shape of an egg.

This shows me that man and nature could be in perfect symbiosis. Artists such as Michelangelo have tried to represent the creation of the perfect being and its closeness to divinity. In turn, I want to represent the symbols of these three forms, art, architecture and nature in one united figure and to make people aware that we are not above anyone, but part of a wonderful homogeneous chain, the chain of life.

By the end of our meeting, as Lorenzo was working in the gallery’s gardens, moving the heavy sculptures with the help of a lorry with a crane, I asked him about his idea of the actual Eivissa: “This is still a beautiful island, green and with a splendid Nature. This is why I come here and I expect to keep doing it, at least for a time every year. But you islanders have to be careful; everything seems to go too fast.

“I understand that people want to earn good money, but you shouldn’t forget that money is not everything. I don’t think that you should lose your real quality of life and the splendid beauty of Ibiza just for the fact of possessing more money. This is the risk that I see and I think it will be a big error. It is my intention to create a sculpture for this Island. As I see it, Ibiza is life, so its statue will be called “Life”.”

As a native, I want to truthfully thank you for these words.

Then Lorenzo confuses me again by asking about some of the big names of the Island, I felt again insecure and slow, because I’m sure he knows them much better then myself, most probably they were some of the guests that he had last Saturday at his presentation party.

“I am not here for just the social life, not for the big clubs and the night life either. I am here with my family to enjoy nature and live a healthy, familiar life”.

Then I said that having seen how much feeling and art we could see in dancing a Greek “Siritaki” with real passion, who is interested then to see the disco-dancers? We both smiled at this idea and that was the end, Away we went, Gary and me, thinking this time that we have done a really good job, for ourselves and for the name of Eivissa. (I hope and wish to be at the right level as well).

The following is from the book “Lorenzo Quinn” edited by www.lorenzoquinn.com, especially for this exhibition, not to be missed at “Es Molí” Art-gallery.

Lorenzo Quinn was born in Rome, Italy on the 7th May 1966. He studied art at the American Academy of Fine Arts in New York and in workshops and foundries both in the United States and Europe.

His artistic endeavours are impressive and rewarding and have brought him phenomenal success. He is inspired by the great masters, Michelangelo, Bernini, Crapaux and Rodin, and he frequently returns to Italy for inspiration and knowledge. Starting out as a painter in 1982, he soon discovered that a dimension was missing from his works so turned to sculpting because of a need to create. He felt that as a painter he could not offer anything that had not been offered already by other artists before him. Sculpture allows him to convey his innermost feelings to the viewer. It is this direct communication which Lorenzo constantly seeks. “It is the viewer that interests me, not the art critic... I make art for myself and the people who wish to come along for a ride through my dreams”.

Each sculpture is born first in writing and then materialises. This is why Lorenzo always displays his writings along with the sculpture “because they are a whole, one could not exist without the other. I don’t believe in purely decorative work. It must transmit emotions; it must say something to me and the people that observe it”. He gets his inspirations to create from life’s everyday experiences, as well as from poems and literature in general but especially from observing life’s energy. Symbol-realism is the nomenclature most commonly used when viewing Lorenzo’s works. Savouring life to its fullest is very important to Lorenzo; it allows him to “enjoy the many different aspects of existence”. As a result, each of his works represents a period, an emotion, a symbol.

Lorenzo Quinn’s artistic curriculum started in 1986, with an exhibition in the Center Art Galleries, at Maui, USA. Since then, he has been exhibiting his sculptures every year, in the most important Cities, in Art-centres and galleries of the USA, Italy, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Holland, Monaco, Hong Kong, China, South Korea, and Dubai... His Art-pieces form part of private collections all over the World and his commissions can also be seen in many countries. His film-star father Anthony Quinn died just over a year ago and Lorenzo says he is sorry he is not here to see this exhibition.

ART EXHIBITIONS

2002

Lorenzo Quinn & Anthony Quinn
Sculptures Exhibition
Dubai Media City, Dubai, UAE
29th May to 21st June 2002

Galerie Schaer und Wildbolz
St. Niklausstrasse 5, Solothurn, Switzerland
16th June to 14th July 2002

Es Molí Gallery, Ibiza, Baleares, Spain
27th July to 29th September 2002

Halcyon Gallery, Brutton Street, London, England, September

Halcyon Gallery, Selfridges, London, England
2nd to 17th November 2002

Villa Manin, Italy

Zurich

2001

Halcyon Gallery, ICC Birmingham, England, 10th to 25th November

Hotel del Arte, Sitges, Spain

De Arte, Madrid, Spain

Parador de Turismo, Arties, Spain

TEFAF 2001, Maastricht, Netherlands

ArTrade, Maastricht, Netherlands

Maison de l'Amerique Latine, Monaco

Galeria Es Moli, Ibiza, Baleares, Spain

Liehrmann Galerie, Liege, Belgium

Credit Foncier, Montecarlo, Monaco

Credit Foncier, Cannes, France

Halcyon Gallery, London, England

2000

Sala Pere Pruna, Barcelona, Spain

Parador de Turismo de Arties, Valle de Arán, Spain

Sala de Exposiciones "Crèdit Andorrà", Andorra

Contemporary Art Museum, Hong Kong, China

Espai Cultural Pere Pruna, Barcelona, Spain

Ayuntamiento de Castelldefels, Spain

Galeria Echeberria, San Sebastián, Spain

Hotel Estela Barcelona, Sitges, Spain

Galerie Jedlitschka-Fedjuschin, Zurich, Switzerland

Veranneman Foundation, Kruishoutem. Belgium

"Art and Image", Cannes, France

ARCO 2000, Madrid, Spain

Galeria Fons d'Art, Olot, Spain

1999

Galerie Jedlitschka-Fedjuschin, Zurich, Switzerland

Parador Nacional de Arties, Valle de Aran, Spain

Galeria Castello 120, Madrid, Spain

Deutsche Bank, Madrid, Spain

La Maison de l'Amerique Latine de Monaco, MC

Ayuntamiento de Sitges, Spain

Castell de Benedormiens, Castell d'Aro, Spain

Art Expo '99, Barcelona, Spain

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya, Barcelona, Spain

Palais des Rois de Majorque, Perpignan, France

1998

Seoul Art Center, Seoul, South Korea

Caja de Ahorros de Gran Canaria, Las Canarias, Spain

Ayuntamiento de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain

Palacio del Almudí, Valencia, Spain

Liehrmann Galerie, Liege, Belgium

Galería Juan Oliver Maneu, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain

Palacio del Marqués de San Adrián, Tudela, Spain

Art Expo '98, Barcelona, Spain

Squisito Gallery, Kortrijk, Belgium

Galería Castelló 120, Madrid, Spain

1997

Galería Summers, Madrid, Spain

Galería Echeberria, San Sebastian, Spain

Galería D'Art Susany, Vic, Spain

Galería Argar, Almería, Spain

Art Expo '97, Barcelona, Spain

Galería D'Art, Granollers, Spain

Galería Maria Salvat, Barcelona, Spain

1996

Galería Llahi, Escaldes, Andorra

Galería Nay, Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain

Seehof Galerie, Davos, Switzerland

Waldhaus Am See Galerie, St. Moritz, Switzerland

1995

Galleria D'Aste la Gioconda, Modena, Italy

Musée du Louvre, Paris, France

Galerie Michelle Boulet, Paris, France

Waldhaus Am See Galerie, S. Moritz, Switzerland

1994

Galerie Corso, Vienna, Austria

Museo del Pobo Galego, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Palacio de Gabiria, Madrid, Spain

Real Círculo Artístico, Barcelona, Spain

Museo de Grabado Español Contemporáneo, Marbella, Spain

United Nations, New York, USA

1993

Eurobuilding Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

Sheidegger Art Center, Zurich, Switzerland

Galleria Edieuropa, Rome, Italy

Steinrotter Gallery, Munster, Germany

1992

Galerie Corso, Vienna, Austria

Westport Art Center, Wesport, USA

Mayfair Gallery, New York, USA

Gallery at Sands, Atlantic City, USA

1991

Ambassador Galleries, New York, USA

Benedetti Gallery, New York, USA

Galleria Hausamann, Cortina, Italy

1990

Rempire Fine Arts, New York, USA

1988

Center Art Galleries, Honolulu, USA

1987

Center Art Galleries, Maui, USA

1986

Center Art Galleries, Maui, USA

COMMISSIONS

Nacional Suiza Insurances

Monumental Sculpture
“Parque del Mar”, Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain

Monumental Sculpture
For the City Council of Viladecans, Barcelona

”Re-encounter”,
Palma de Mallorca, Baleares, Spain

Three life-size Sculptures
For Midland & City Developments, King Edwards Wharf, Birmingham, England

San Miguel S.A.
Trophy for the Mallorca Open ATP Tennis Tour

Illustrious Official Medical College of Madrid, Spain

Chupa Chups S.A.

Euroforum Escorial

Inauguration of the Sculpture
“The Friendship Fish” at Ampunriabrava, Girona, Spain

Monumental Sculpture
Dubai National Bank, Dubai, UAE

Lorenzo Quinn
Decision Bronze 120 x 120 x 200 cm	The Hand of God Bronze 52 x 87 x 47 cm	The Circle of Life Bronze, Wood & Iron 163 x 160 x 160 cm
Pain and Relief Bronze 155 x 70 x 50 cm	Roots Bronze 61 x 22 x 26 cm	Yell Bronze 55 xs 16 x 16 cm

Stairs of Life Bronze 105 x 102 x 102 cm	Destiny Bronze 81 x 81 x 76 cm
Saint Anthony Bronze 102 x 46 x 51 cm	Levitation Bronze 51 x 86 x 59 cm

I Give You My Heart Bronze 21 x 21 x 19 cm	Horses Bronze 80 x 53 x 44 cm	Adam and Eve Cast Granite 42 x 24 x 24 cm
Flamenco Bronze 78 x 72 x 34 cm	Volare Bronze 28 x 20 x 17 cm	Autumn Bronze 55 x30 x 30 cm

At Rest Bronze 110 x 90 x 100 cm	Destiny 11 Bronze 34 x 46 x 64 cm
Self-Portrait Bronze 35 x 20 x 30 cm

All Pictures Courtesy of Lorenzo Quinn

Details: If you should require any further information about Lorenzo Quinn and his work then we suggest you visit his personal website at http://www.lorenzo-quinn.com where there is a vast amount of information and pictures of the artist and his work.

José P Ribas

josepribas@liveibiza.com