By
De Benito, Álvaro
ALBERTO BARAYA, AT MAJORCA’S BIENNAL B
Alberto Baraya (Bogotá, Colombia, 1968) presents his project Llatina i Mestral (Catalan for Lateen and Mistral) as part of the B Biennial in Majorca. The work begins with a performative action in which the artist paints directly onto a sail while at sea. The sail becomes a canvas that captures both a physical journey and a conceptual one.
August 12, 2025
With this project, the Colombian artist continues the approach he explored in his previous work Vento (Galician for Wind), presented at the Pontevedra Museum. While that earlier piece focused on the conceptual force of the wind propelling the sail, the current exhibition shifts attention to the technical aspects of navigation and emphasizes the connection to the local context.
The exhibition title refers to two elements deeply tied to the region’s maritime tradition: the lateen sail, commonly used in the Balearic Islands, and the mistral, a strong northwesterly wind that frequently sweeps across the area. Together, they evoke a narrative yet to unfold.
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Vista de la acción performativa: Alberto Baraya, Llatina i Mestral, 2025. © de la obra, Alberto Baraya, 2025. Fotografía: Es Baluard Museu (Carmen Verdú)
The final artwork, both a product and a record of the performance, revisits landscape painting while also absorbing the impact of the boat’s movement and the uncontrollable natural elements encountered at sea.
The resulting pieces are on view at the Maritime Museum in the town of Soller, aligning with the mission of the B Biennial. This initiative, organized by the local Council of the island and Es Baluard Museum, aims to promote Majorcan culture through collaborations between artists and local communities. In addition to the central sail painting, the exhibition includes other works created during the voyage and a video documenting the entire process.
Alberto Baraya. Llatina i Mestral can be seen until September 28 at the Museo del Mar, Santa Caterina de Alexandria, 52, Sóller (Spain).
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