A man dressed entirely in black, his face covered and marked by a blue stripe, appeared without warning in Palma’s Plaza de España several days ago. He said nothing, offered no explanation of who he was or why he was there. He simply stood in silence. Passers-by reacted with confusion, filming the scene on their phones and speculating about the identity and purpose of the figure.
The organisers behind what has since become a mysterious public campaign have spoken to our sister newspaper, Ultima Hora, in an attempt to clarify their intentions. They say the appearance of the masked man was not initially designed to go viral. “The masked figure came about almost by chance, simply because we did not want our faces to be seen,” they said. Despite this, the reaction was immediate and widespread. “It has caused a huge stir. Even while we are working, we hear people talking about the masked man.”
Silence, they say, is central to the performance. The figure does not answer questions, interact with onlookers or provide any clues about his identity or motives. According to the organisers, the aim for now is simply to spark conversation, with the deliberate lack of explanation encouraging speculation. Rumours have ranged from claims that the man is a stalker to suggestions that he is a YouTuber or even a singer.
The appearances are set to continue in the coming days. During one recent intervention, the masked man reportedly handed out envelopes containing prizes, again without offering any explanation, in an effort to draw people closer and encourage participation. The organisers also suggest that the figure will eventually stop appearing altogether, leaving the public to wonder what became of him.
While there is a degree of advance planning, they acknowledge that improvisation plays a significant role. “We have a plan, but each week we come up with new ideas and adapt to build more anticipation around the project,” they said. For now, the mystery remains unresolved, as the silent figure continues to appear and disappear without warning, prompting questions across Palma about who he is, what he wants and what he might do next.