Mention artists reinvent the demons of San Antonio for the ARA Baleares

PalmSerge Bloch's illustrations parade one after another in a slow downward scroll on the large screen that Mònica Cuenca uses to explain the concept of the workshop she leads. One of the artists from the Mention Art Workshop raises her hand and asks to be shown one of the images for a closer look. It is a work that combines the collage With thick, spontaneous lines, characteristic of Bloch, the resulting image is a potato, with drawn horns and wings, eating a magazine logo. Then, at the workshop leader's request, Mònica focuses on a ceramic plate that winks at the viewer.

Mònica, who is both the workshop leader and a job coach, explains that the creative process begins with research. Interaction and conversation among the participants also play a key role. In the midst of this exchange, Coloma, one of the artists, poses a question: "What do the demons Saint Anthony fight represent?" This question perfectly exemplifies the creative effervescence that has marked the project: illustrating the pages ofThis special edition of the ARA Baleares dedicated to Saint Anthony.

The workshop continues, and the participants analyze the newspaper sections one by one. "From there, we brainstorm, and demons of all kinds emerge: firefighters, soccer players, siurells (traditional Valencian wind instruments)..." explains Mònica. Then, the artists choose the newspaper sections they want to draw inspiration from to begin creating, according to their tastes and preferences. It is then that the demons begin to mutate and multiply into a universe of unexpected forms: shy, playful, athletic, motorized, or transformed into paellas and cocarroes (a type of Valencian flatbread). Part of Mònica's work involves accompanying the artists in the development of their personal work, helping them resolve difficulties, and guiding them along their creative path.

Personal Experiences

Each artist interprets Saint Anthony from their own personal experience. Coloma has drawn a bat demon because these winged mammals are part of Palma's iconography, appearing on the city's coat of arms. She confesses that she doesn't much like real demons: "One day a man in costume really scared me." Painting them, on the other hand, is fun for her: it's a way to approach them without fear. During the session, she asks what they symbolize. Mónica replies that traditionally they represented "the struggle between light and darkness, good versus evil," but that today the message has transformed, and demons are also synonymous with mischief.

Alicia, an avid reader and animal lover, has imagined a book with horns, sobrasada sausage, and demons. She explains that she creates everything "thinking about texture" because her eyesight is poor. All her works possess a tactile and almost sculptural quality.

Miguel Javier turns the festival into a sport: he has drawn a demon playing basketball and a bonfire in full flames. He remembers going to the correfoc (fire run): "Once I followed a demon from Can Alcover to Parc de les Veles. They shoot fire!" Among his creations is also a cockatrice demon.

Joana Maria makes food a symbol: her demon has sobrasada horns. She likes gallows, fireworks, concerts, and, above all, toast—a recurring theme among all the artists.

Motorized Demon

There's also speed: Alberto has drawn a motorized demon. He celebrates Saint Anthony with special devotion: he was born on January 18th and has always considered the festival his own.

Alejandra, who also confesses to being a little afraid of demons, confronts them with humor: she has created a frying pan with horns. What she does enjoy is toast and bread with sobrasada (a type of cured sausage).

The most eco-friendly proposal is Aina's, who imagines a firefighter demon, a figure who extinguishes fires and protects the environment.

The illustrations published with this edition of ARA Baleares are just a sample of what happens in the Mention Art Workshop. The workshop is part of the Mention community project and boasts outstanding collaborations, such as the project I work as a gardener, with the artist Tina Codina, winner of the Pilar Juncosa grant, or the exhibition Second Skin, presented at the last Night of Art in collaboration with Apropa Cultura.