Sculptures by Lorenzo Quinn for Balearics

Lorenzo Quinn has been commissioned to create three sculptures, one for Majorca, one for Ibiza and one for Minorca. They have been commissioned by Fundatur, the Tourist and Cultural Foundation of the Balearic Islands, and they will be unveiled at the rate of one a year. The artist is currently working on the first sculpture, Encuentros (Encounters) which will be ceded to the Palma city council. It takes the shape of a giant hand with a glass globe representing the earth. “The hand is Majorca,” Quinn said yesterday. He added “People from all over the world come to the island, people choose to come to Majorca and not go to other places.” The sculpture will be six metres high and five metres in diameter, making the globe the biggest in the world. The hand will be made of resin, covered in bronze and will be 4.5 metres high. It will weigh 6'000 kilos and will be installed in October or November. The three sculptures will be complemented by three exhibitions in the three islands, starting in Ibiza on July 27. Quinn will show 30 of his latest works, including some of the largest. They will include his latest experiments with materials such as titanium. Quinn said that the sculpture dedicated to Ibiza will be the hardest as people have a mistaken image of the island. He said he would try to capture “the authentic Ibiza” but at the moment he only has the name, Vida, Life. Hands are a constant in the work of the artist, the son of Anthony Quinn. “They allow the creation of a dialogue with the beholder,” he said. They help “understanding of the concept,” and help people to become “identified with the work.” On Saturday, one of Lorenzo Quinn's sculptures will be presented to referee Pier Luigi Collina, who blew the final whistle in the recent world Cup. Quinn is also working on a new symbol for the Buddhist religion, a “tree of life,” which will consist of different pieces, the biggest of which will be presented in Austria during the annual meeting of Buddhists.