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His jewellery is historic and his future
is assured.
Toni Tur, Jeweller and Sculptor, was born
in Sant Josép, Eivissa, on the 14th May 1964.
According to unanimous critics, he is one
of our most talented artists of the new generation, a real
and meritorious candidate to carry on with the Island's tradition
as the home of exceptional artists, with a big creative potential
and a very high artistic level.
He has a contagious vitality and creative
energy that one can feel just by being by his side and somehow
it can also be seen in his art, done with a lot of decision
and clear ideas of the final results wanted before he has
even begun.
He also possesses a fine technique and a
deep knowledge of the materials that he works with, developed
from his early years working by his father's side (a good
ebonist and carpenter, among other jobs).
His talent was enlarged and complemented
afterwards with the four years that he spent as a pupil in
the "Escuela Profesional de Joyería y Artesanía
Platera" of the Hungarian jeweller master Esteban Platko,
in Palma de Mallorca, in which, Toni passed his degrees and
obtained his diploma as a "Maestro Orfebre" (Gold
and Silver Jeweller Master).
Platko's Jeweller and Silver-art-craft School,
is unique in the Balearic Islands, the third one to be opened
(and for some the best) of all Spain. Its pupils are very
much appreciated by the jewellery industry; they find a place
to work as soon as they pass their degrees and they are already
working in different countries all over the world.
Back to Eivissa after his studies by the
end of 1980s, Toni started working with his jewellery, inspired
at the beginning by the ancestral Mediterranean cultures,
including the autochthonous and mysterious "Emprendadas".
They are little treasures made of gold, silver and coral,
kept in the families through generations. The Ibicencans show
them off on very special occasions as part of the typical
Ibicenco costume.
Toni is one of only two jewellers that make
this kind of jewellery in Eivissa in the artisan ancestral
way, in the entire world. (The Ibicenco jewellery has been
copied and is being made by industrial ways in mainland Spain
and other countries, to be sold in jewellers as expensive
souvenirs).
The real origin of "s'Emprendada"
is a mystery. Toni keeps his own opinion about it. "The
Roman and Carthaginian women used to wear several collars,
basically for aesthetic function, on which they hung images
of their goddesses "Aphrodite" or "Tanit".
Over time they became Christian, so the Cross and the "Joia"
(medallion with a sacred image, normally the Virgin Mary)
took its place. For example, the "emprendada" made
of silver and coral have the structure of a rosary, the coral
stones displayed in such a way that the one who wears it can
follow the number of prayers in the rosary."
Toni produced several copies in silver based
on the "Punic" jewellery, to be exhibit in the "Escuela
de Artes y Oficios d'Eivissa" (Eivissa's Art School)
for the special event "The Punic World",
Meanwhile he was also producing his own
designs, with a very personal style, done with a combination
of materials, normally silver with coral or bits of wood,
such as "juniper," "sabina" and "olive",
the same wood that he used later for his sculptures.
But Toni, as a real artist, is full of creativity
and also very curious; he can't stop investigating for a larger
and deeper manifestation of his art.
"The artist has to follow his own evolution.
If one stops his own progression becomes dull and boring,
with nothing new to communicate. One should never stop learning
and be surprised. The ones who say that they can't be surprised
anymore, can't either progress or even create any longer".
This is, more or less in his own words,
what moved him to start with his wood sculptures and with
the new art-pieces that he is doing at present. They again
are a combination of materials, metals and tinted wood, following
his very personal line and style. In fact there is a clear
defined line in every one of Toni's art-pieces. This applies
from the micro-art of the jewellery up to his latest sculpture,
though this line seems to be growing. It is like it is newborn,
recreated, and for every new version of it, in every new work,
a very personal design and techniques that makes him so singular
as an artist.
Toni Tur will hopefully exhibit his new
art-works from the beginning of this next May, in Santa Eulàri,
Eivissa. I'm one hundred percent sure that it will be a complete
success, as in his previous exhibitions. It is the kind of
event that local artists and art-lovers look for and wouldn't
miss.
Exhibitions
1987 Exhibition of jewellery in "Baleart 87"
Palma de Mallorca.
Exhibition of jewellery in the "Sala de Exposiciones"
Sant Josép, Eivissa.
1994 Collective exhibition, sculptures, "Art Nou"
in the "Sala de Exposiciones" Sant Josép,
Eivissa. (Here, Toni presented his firsts big sculptures in
wood)
Collective exhibition in "Can Pujol" Sant Agnés,
Eivissa.
1995 Exhibition in the "Galería Marta Torres"
Eivissa.
("La materia de la fusta". This was the first individual
exhibition of his sculptures).
1995 Collective exhibition, jewellery and sculptures,
in the "Galería Marta Torres", Eivissa.
1995 Collective exhibition, jewellery, "Mon Púnic"
in the "Sala de Artes y Oficios" Eivissa. (Here,
Toni present original reproductions and also his own creations
in jewellery based on the ancestral Carthaginian designs).
1996 Collective exhibition "33 artistes del fi
del mil-leni" in the Gallery "l'Espiral" Eivissa.
(33 artist of the end of the Millennium).
1997 Collective exhibition, sculptures, "Arte
de Cielo y Tierra" in "Es Cubell", Eivissa.
1999 Exhibition, sculptures, in the "Fira d'Art
d'Eivissa" in the "Marta Torres Gallery's stand".
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All Pictures Courtesy
of Toni Tur
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José
P Ribas
josepribas@liveibiza.com
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