🇪🇸 Igor Mitoraj in Tenerife, Spain

Per Adriane (1993) is a monumental bronze permanently installed outside the Teatro Guimerá in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The Teatro Guimerá, opened in 1851, is the oldest theatre in the Canary Islands — a striking juxtaposition of 19th-century architecture and Mitoraj's fragmented classical figure. This is one of only two confirmed permanent Mitoraj installations in Spain (the other being the Angers equivalent — Tenerife is part of Spain and therefore the European Union).

Santa Cruz de Tenerife is an underestimated cultural capital. The Teatro Guimerá, which opened in 1851 and is the oldest theatre in the Canary Islands, has hosted significant European productions for over 170 years. Mitoraj's Per Adriane — installed in 1993 — was among the first of his major commissions for a Spanish public institution. The Canary Islands, as an Outermost Region of the European Union, bring Mitoraj's permanent public presence deep into the Atlantic, far from his Mediterranean heartland but consistent with the universal, timeless language of his classical figures.

Tenerife is the most visited island in Spain and the most visited island in Europe. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, as the island's capital, draws visitors who seek art and architecture beyond the beach resorts of the south. The Teatro Guimerá — where Per Adriane stands — is listed as a Site of Cultural Interest (Bien de Interés Cultural) and its programme includes major productions from the Peninsula and from Europe. Mitoraj's bronze has been part of the theatre's street presence for over three decades, familiar to generations of visitors to the old city centre.

Permanent Work