Joan Bennàssar: A Mediterranean Visionary Redefining Mallorcan Art
From Childhood Prodigy to Artistic Maverick
Joan Bennàssar stands as one of Mallorca’s most distinctive contemporary artists, with a career spanning six decades. Recognized early by painter Mateu Llobera at age 12, his training under Mallorcan masters Simeón Cerdà and Llorenç Cerdà laid the foundation for a practice that would later challenge traditional island aesthetics. Unlike many peers from the Escola Pollencina movement, Bennàssar consciously avoided landscape painting in his early career, telling us: “Young people have to be subversive and look for new things.”
The Dual Discipline Approach
Bennàssar’s unique practice balances sculpture and painting – bronze and wood creations in the morning, canvas work in the afternoon. His sculptures, like the Dama Mediterrània series visible across Mallorca, command physical presence, while his paintings explore what he calls “the intangible magic of illusion.” This dual approach stems from training at Barcelona’s prestigious School of Fine Arts and mentorship from sculptor Jaume Mir.
Influences That Shaped a Legacy
The artist credits three pivotal influences:
- Antoni Tàpies: Introduced him to poetic abstraction during 1970s Barcelona
- Paul Cézanne: Demonstrated reality as artistic creation, not replication
- Ancient Mediterranean Culture: Homeric epics and philosophical texts inform his symbolic lexicon
His 1970s exposure to Pompeii artifacts at London’s Royal Academy particularly impacted his textured, “primitive” style that whispers of ancient human stories.
Themes Rooted in Mediterranean Identity
Bennàssar’s works consistently explore:
- Matriarchal power structures and feminine vitality
- Mallorcan territorial consciousness
- Humanity’s eternal search for meaning
“Women in my work represent beauty and admiration – a testament to my love for those who came before me,” he explains, describing sculptures like La Gran Matriarca as both personal and universal symbols.
Global Recognition, Local Roots
Despite exhibitions in 23 countries including China’s Today Art Museum and New York’s Agora Gallery, Bennàssar emphasizes his Mallorcan connection. After years of international shows, he returned to:
- Create site-specific installations across the island
- Stage non-commercial exhibitions at Palma’s Castillo de San Carlos
- Develop public sculptures enhancing Mallorca’s cultural landscape
Looking Forward: Legacy and New Horizons
At 78, the artist remains prolific with upcoming projects including an extended San Carlos exhibition and new bronze works. Reflecting on his 60-year career, Bennàssar notes: “I’m more confident now…but I still wake up with the problems of the previous day.” This enduring creative tension continues driving one of Mallorca’s most original artistic voices.
Source: Mallorca Global Magazine Interview
Images Credit: mallorcaglobalmag.es