Parc de la Mar Welcomes Back the “Far” Sculpture Following the Completion of Its Comprehensive Restoration

The sculpture “Far,” by artist Josep Maria Sirvent, has been reinstalled in Parc de la Mar following the completion of its restoration. The piece was originally unveiled at this same location to mark the 1999 Universiade in Palma.

The project carried out by the Palma City Council—with the goal of fully restoring the sculpture 27 years after its unveiling—has involved a comprehensive restoration of Sirvent’s work to restore it to its original appearance and eliminate any signs of damage caused primarily by the passage of time.

According to a press release issued by City Hall, the City Council, through the Department of Culture and the General Directorate of City Heritage and Interpretation, has allocated approximately 48,000 euros to this project.

The sculptor and the same technical team that originally led the project to design and create the piece have been directly overseeing the restoration process.

Replica of a lighthouse

“Far” is a sculpture made of iron and granite, measuring 178 x 130 x 800 centimeters. Josep Maria Sirvent’s intention in creating this work was to install, at a strategic location in the city—namely, the Parc de la Mar—an artistic installation that would depict a lighthouse, an element closely linked to the coasts and ports of the Mediterranean.

During the creative process, Sirvent—who personally oversaw the installation of his work—chose to combine the two materials, iron and stone, which appear perfectly intertwined in the network they form, prioritizing the sense of balance and cohesion that characterizes the sculpture.

Mallorca, a landmark

Born in the town of Llívia, in the province of Girona, in 1957, Josep Maria Sirvent has lived in Mallorca since 1980 and has carried out most of his artistic work on the island.

In addition to Palma, his exhibition history includes many other cities, such as Barcelona, Girona, Bordeaux, and Zurich, and he has participated in such prestigious international art fairs as ARCO in Madrid and the group exhibition organized for Expo ’92 in Seville.

Some of Sirvent’s sculptures are part of the artistic heritage found in numerous locations, such as the Jardins de la Misericòrdia, the Church of Nostra Senyora del Roser in the Son Cladera neighborhood, or, on an international level, the Mie Cultural Center, located in the Japanese city of Tsu.