Joan Bennàssar's stone sculptures turn a Mallorcan coast into an open-air museum

Bennàssar carved his stylised human figures from island limestone and placed them in a freely accessible coastal park. The artist says his motifs are drawn from Mediterranean stories ranging from Knossos to the Roman coasts, while his formal language was learned from the islanders who worked stone for fishing infrastructure.

The collection has been backed by the local council and private foundations over the past decade. Officials say last summer's visitor count rose 18 percent; art critics argue that the pieces build a distinctive bridge in post-Tàpies Spanish sculpture.

Bennàssar is preparing a typological exhibition for next year. The show will be paired with video footage of the carving process and a scientific study of the sculptures' impact on the surrounding ecosystem.