In this initiative, led by IbizaPreservation with the support of the band Depeche Mode and the watch brand Hublot, muralist Maya Vericad will reinterpret a work by the renowned Ibizian muralist ‘Gabrielet’ at the Baluard de Santa Llúcia
IbizaPreservation will collaborate with young Ibizan artist Maya Vericad to create a large-scale temporary mural this Friday, starting at 9:00 a.m. in Dalt Vila, as part of World Recycling Day. The materials she will use to complete the artwork consist of approximately 116 kilograms of plastic bottle tops, approximately 60,000, which have been collected by this environmental organisation, thanks to the involvement of the Ibizan community.
Vericad, a specialist in muralism, will bring the installation to life, drawing inspiration from the sculptural work of the late renowned ceramist, Gabrielet, an Ibizan by birth and adopted Formentera resident. “From the beginning, we wanted the mural to be inspired by the work of a local artist, and who better than Gabrielet to remember and honour his work,” the artist explained. The chosen piece, a mermaid, carries a double meaning: “We chose a mermaid for the wordplay, as it’s a fantastic marine mythological being that doesn’t exist, which evokes the widespread denial of the current dangers facing our seas. Moreover, ‘mermaid’ also means ‘siren,’ signifying an alarm, so this has a double meaning and aims to focus our attention on the urgent need to act,” she added.
“The collaboration of the Ibizan community, including citizens, businesses, and institutions that contributed to the collection of bottle tops and the production of the mural, has been crucial to the success of this initiative,” emphasised Inma Saranova, director of IbizaPreservation. She explained that the aim is “to raise awareness of the issue of plastic pollution and inspire the community to reduce the use of this material and adopt more sustainable practices.”
This initiative, along with the children’s show The Magic of Recycling, which took place last Monday and involved 450 children, is part of a series of projects funded by the British band Depeche Mode. The band is providing funds to tackle plastic pollution through their charitable collaboration with the luxury watch brand Hublot, as part of their Memento Mori world tour.
According to Saranova, “The funds are channelled through the Conservation Collective, a global network of environmental foundations, of which IbizaPreservation is a part. Additionally, the activity has received further support from Trasmapi, Soul Water, Morna International College, the restaurant Oli, Fundación Pacha, La Sirena, and OD Hotels, as well as from the Town Hall of Ibiza, the institution that made it possible for the installation to take place and remain on display at the Baluard de Santa Llúcia until 9:00 p.m. on Friday.”
The mural’s location was carefully chosen by IbizaPreservation to mark the 25th anniversary of Ibiza’s designation as a World Heritage Site by highlighting the need to preserve both cultural and natural heritage.
Additionally, the foundation’s director noted that once the initiative concludes, “the bottle caps will be recycled, and a large portion will be donated to a local company that promotes the circular economy by re-purposing these materials as raw resources.”
