Island of Sculptures

The island was formed in the river from the sediments transported by the Lérez River deposited there because the river is already very close to sea level and loses its strength to carry these sediments away. At first, an intertidal plain was formed, but the Lérez found this obstacle on its way to the ria and sought another alternative route, thus opening a channel on the right side.{{Cite web|date=16 March 2020|title=Desmontando Pontevedra|url=http://www.crtvg.es:8012/tvg/a-carta/desmontando-galicia-4340934?t=91|website=CRTVG|language=gl}}

The island remained in the wilderness until 1997, when it was transformed into a park.{{Cite web|language=es|title=Pontevedra recupera las márgenes del río Lérez|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/pontevedra/2018/07/24/pontevedra-recupera-margenes-rio-lerez/0003_201807P24C7992.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|date=24 July 2018}} Later, a project for the development of this space was carried out, with the creation of contemporary artworks by twelve internationally renowned artists,{{Cite web|date=2 January 2004|title=La Illa das Esculturas espera su turno|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/arousa/2004/01/02/illa-das-esculturas-espera-turno/0003_2294978.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}{{Cite web|date=23 June 2008|title=El ciclo del Museo acerca hoy la provocadora obra de Jeff Koons|url=https://www.eldiariomontanes.es/20080623/cultura/arte/ciclo-museo-acerca-provocadora-20080623.html?ref=https:%2F%2Fwww.google.es%2F|website=El Diario Montañés|language=es}} which took as their central theme the granite of Galicia and the relationship of man with his environment. This is the most important example of land art, a trend in contemporary art, in Galicia. The project was officially inaugurated on 29 July 1999.{{Cite news|date=29 July 1999|title=12 artistas crean en Pontevedra una Isla de Esculturas|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1999/07/29/cultura/933199201_850215.html|website=El País|language=es |last1=Carbajo |first1=Primitivo }}

File:Location_Map_Pontevedra_Sculptures_Island.png

The island, which has been declared a protected natural area,{{Cite web|date=15 July 2015|title=Parque Illa das Esculturas en Pontevedra|url=https://saposyprincesas.elmundo.es/actividades-ninos/pontevedra/aire-libre/parques-y-jardines/parque-illa-das-esculturas/|website=El Mundo (Spain)|language=es}} is almost a kilometre long{{Cite news|date=30 April 2021|title=Doce museos al aire libre en España (más una sorpresa submarina)|url=https://elviajero.elpais.com/elviajero/2021/04/29/actualidad/1619695587_217906.html|website=El País|language=es |last1=Campos |first1=Andrés }} and has an elongated shape. It has an area of rushes, meadows, a main path and secondary paths. Three wooden bridges cross the inner canal{{Cite web|date=4 May 2011|title=La Illa de Esculturas recupera sus pasarelas|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2011/05/04/illa-esculturas-recupera-pasarelas/0003_201105P4C7991.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} and a cable-stayed footbridge over the Lérez River connects it to the Paseo del Lérez. On the island there are twelve granite sculptures by international artists.

On the island come the tides and it is used by many birds as a breeding ground. It is a protected area declared LIC (place of community interest).{{Cite news|title=La Isla de las Esculturas atisba su redención|url=https://elpais.com/diario/2000/02/19/cultura/950914811_850215.html|website=El Mundo|language=es|date=22 January 2011 |last1=Carbajo |first1=Primitivo }} Located near the Pontevedra Campus, the island is also used by many people as a place for walking or sports training.

The international authors and their sculptural works present on the island are:{{Cite web|date=15 July 2015|title=Parque Illa das Esculturas en Pontevedra|url=https://saposyprincesas.elmundo.es/actividades-ninos/pontevedra/aire-libre/parques-y-jardines/parque-illa-das-esculturas/|website=El Mundo (Spain)|language=es}}{{Cite news|date=29 July 1999|title=12 artistas crean en Pontevedra una Isla de Esculturas|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1999/07/29/cultura/933199201_850215.html|website=El País|language=es |last1=Carbajo |first1=Primitivo }}{{Cite web|date=19 January 2006|title=Las esculturas de A Illa sufrieron más de 500 ataques desde 1999|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/2006/01/19/esculturas-illa-sufrieron-500-ataques-1999/0003_4438206.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}}

• Italian Giovanni Anselmo with Cielo acortado. It is a black granite column from Campo Lameiro of {{convert|1.2|m|abbr=on}} that represents the space between heaven and earth.
• German Ulrich Rückriem with a pink granite Column recalling Galician traditions. It's a {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}} high stele at a crossroads.
• American Robert Morris created the Labyrinth of Pontevedra. He recreates with it the oldest petroglyph in Europe: the labyrinth of Mogor located in Marín. It is circular, two metres high and topped by a black slate roof.
• Portuguese José Pedro Croft with a House built in grey granite from Mondariz. It is a {{convert|3.2|m|abbr=on}} construction without doors or windows, which blends in with the surrounding nature. A tree is embedded in its walls as a symbol of nature in motion. The house reflects the small world that man builds for himself within the house that is nature{{Cite web|date=15 June 2021|title=A Illa das Esculturas, un museo al aire libre en Pontevedra|url=https://www.elespanol.com/treintayseis/articulos/vivir/a-illa-das-esculturas-un-museo-al-aire-libre-en-pontevedra|website=El Español|language=es}} and evokes rural houses absorbed by nature.
• American Jenny Holzer, who installed Eight grey stone benches on the island's central promenade, with twelve phrases or aphorisms of reflective intent inscribed on each one. The eight benches give art an everyday utility.{{Cite web|date=15 June 2021|title=A Illa das Esculturas, un museo al aire libre en Pontevedra|url=https://www.elespanol.com/treintayseis/articulos/vivir/a-illa-das-esculturas-un-museo-al-aire-libre-en-pontevedra|website=El Español|language=es}}
• English Richard Long with Pontevedra Line, a small wall {{convert|37|m|abbr=on}} long, made of pieces of white granite, which evokes the idea of the walk as action and thought.
• Scottish Ian Hamilton Finlay with Three green slate medallions hanging from eucalyptus trees, made of green granite, with the inscription Petrarch and Roman numerals corresponding to sonnets. It is a set of three green slate medallions engraved with the name of the Italian poet and the Roman number of a sonnet on each piece: Petrarch XXXV, Petrarch CXXXII and Petrarch CCCX. Finlay invites the spectator to search and discover what is hidden in this numerical key. These are verses of love and solitude with which the viewer enters into communication. The medallions are located on three eucalyptus trees five metres high, each facing a different cardinal point to play with the sun at different times of the day.{{cite web|date=10 February 2023|title=La trágica historia del único artista que se negó a visitar su obra dedicada al amor en la Illa das Esculturas|url=https://www.pontevedraviva.com/especial/92256/ian-hamilton-artista-nego-visita-obra-amor-illa-esculturas/|website=Pontevedra Viva|language=es}}
• French Anne and Patrick Poirier with Folie, a {{convert|3000|m2|abbr=on}} garden, outside the island to be viewed from it. The work is made of stainless steel, grey granite, plants, and trees.{{Cite web|title=La Illa das Esculturas saldrá del ostracismo|url=https://www.diariodepontevedra.es/articulo/pontevedra/illa-das-esculturas-saldra-ostracismo/202203041732451188728.html|website=Diario de Pontevedra|language=es|date=4 March 2022}}
• American Dan Graham with Pyramid. The pink granite pyramid is {{convert|1.9|m|abbr=on}} high, doubles in the waters of the river and contains three carved inverted pyramids. The work seeks the effect of light refraction and the granite is polished to achieve this effect. The pyramid is placed near the water of the river to obtain the reflection of the water as if it were a double pyramid.{{Cite web|date=21 February 2022|title=Falece Dan Graham, escultor da 'Pirámide' do parque da Illa da Esculturas|url=https://www.diariodepontevedra.es/articulo/pontevedra/falece-dan-graham-autor-da-piramide-da-illa-da-esculturas/202202211121291186573.html|website=Diario de Pontevedra|language=gl}}

The Spanish artists and their works are:{{Cite news|date=29 July 1999|title=12 artistas crean en Pontevedra una Isla de Esculturas|url=https://elpais.com/diario/1999/07/29/cultura/933199201_850215.html|website=El País|language=es |last1=Carbajo |first1=Primitivo }}

• Fernando Casás represents The 36 righteous who sustain the world of the Hebrew tradition by means of thirty-six blocks of black granite, like trunks of a felled and devastated forest, distributed throughout the island's own forest.
• Francisco Leiro with Saavedra installed a living room on a raft anchored in the Lérez river at the end of the island. This work is popularly known as La Batea.{{Cite web|date=3 May 2021|title=La Batea de Leiro vuelve a tierra|url=https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/pontevedra/pontevedra/2021/05/03/batea-leiro-vuelve-tierra/00031620060331528742538.htm|website=La Voz de Galicia|language=es}} Saavedra turns a familiar space into an unreachable and uncomfortable one.{{Cite web|date=15 June 2021|title=A Illa das Esculturas, un museo al aire libre en Pontevedra|url=https://www.elespanol.com/treintayseis/articulos/vivir/a-illa-das-esculturas-un-museo-al-aire-libre-en-pontevedra|website=El Español|language=es}}
• Enrique Velasco, with a double Camino de Juncos (Reed Path) on the river bank showing the ductility and flexibility of the granite.

File:Pontevedra capital Monolito Ulrich Ruckriem.jpg|Untitled, granite menhir by Ulrich Rückriem

File:Laberintodepontevedra.jpg|Labyrinth of Pontevedra'', by Robert Morris

File:EPyramid.jpg|Pyramid, by Dan Graham

File:Saavedra escultura Francisco Leiro Pontevedra.jpg|Saavedra, by Francisco Leiro, floating mussel farm

File:Pontevedra capital, Parque Isla de las Esculturas Casita de José Pedro Croft.jpg|Small house of José Pedro Croft

File:Pontevedra - Espazo Natural da Ribeira do Lérez-Illa das Esculturas 07.jpg|Lamed Vav / Os 36 xustos, by Fernando Casás.

File:Pontevedra capital parque Isla de las Esculturas Pontevedra Line de Richard Long.jpg|Pontevedra Line by Richard Long.

File:Pontevedra capital, Parque Isla de las Esculturas y banco de Jenny Holzer.jpg|Granite benches by Jenny Holzer

File:Pontevedra capital Parque Isla de las Esculturas Folie de Patrick y Anne Poirier.jpg|Folie by Anne and Patrick Poirier.

File:Pontevedra Capital Giovanni Anselmo Cielo Acortado Parque Isla de las Esculturas.jpg|Shortened sky by Giovanni Anselmo

File:Pontevedra capital Parque de la isla de las esculturas, canal interior.jpg|Bridges over the island canal

File:Pontevedra Parque Isla Esculturas Banco Jenny Holzer.jpg|Bench by Jenny Holzer

File:Pontevedra Capital Camino de Juncos Enrique Velasco Pontevedra Isla Esculturas.jpg|Reed path by Enrique Velasco

File:Pasarela_peatonal_(16873007776).jpg|Pedestrian footbridge to access the island

File:Pontevedra - Pasarela sobre el Lérez.jpg|Pedestrian footbridge over the Lérez river

File:Petrarca 1 Ian Hamilton Finlay - Isla de las Esculturas de Pontevedra capital.jpg|Petrarch by Ian Hamilton Finlay

File:Folie de Pontevedra Anne y Patrick Poirier vista de conjunto Hortus conclusus.jpg|Folie by Anne and Patrick Poirier, Hortus conclusus.

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Espazo Natural da Ribeira do Lérez and Illa das Esculturas}}

• Land art
• Paseo Marítimo de Pontevedra

• {{Cite book|last=Aganzo|first=Carlos|title=Pontevedra. Ciudades con encanto|publisher=El País-Aguilar|year=2010|isbn=978-8403509344|location=Madrid|pages=107–108|language=es}}
• {{Cite book|last=Castro Fernández|first=Xosé Antón|title=Illa das Esculturas.Pontevedra|publisher=Députation de Pontevedra|year=2003|isbn=978-8484571636|location=Pontevedra|language=gl}}
• {{Cite book|last=Riveiro Tobío|first=Elvira|title=Descubrir Pontevedra|publisher=Edicións do Cumio|year=2008|isbn=9788482890852|location=Pontevedra|pages=68–72|language=es}}
• The Island of Sculptures of Pontevedra: an integrated model of art and nature ( [http://gredos.usal.es/jspui/bitstream/10366/83286/1/DHABA_L%c3%b3pezTarr%c3%adoE_Laisladeesculturas.pdf PDF] ), doctoral thesis by Eva López Tarrío

• [http://www.pazodacultura.org/es-ES/illa/esculturas.aspx Sculptures], on the site Pontevedra Auditorium and Convention Centre Pazo da Cultura.
• [https://www.visit-pontevedra.com/es/naturaleza/a-illa-do-covo-parque-de-las-esculturas Island of sculptures], on the site Visit-Pontevedra
• [https://www.galiciamaxica.eu/galicia/pontevedra/illaesculturas/ The Island of sculptures of Pontevedra], on the site Magic Galicia

{{Pontevedra landmarks}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Subject bar|portal1=environment|portal2=Spain}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Island Sculptures}}

Category:Museums established in 1999

Category:Art museums and galleries in Spain

Category:Museums in Pontevedra

Category:Contemporary art movements

Category:Land art

Category:Parks in Spain

Category:Pontevedra

Category:Tourist attractions in Galicia (Spain)

Category:Parks in Pontevedra

Category:Parks in Galicia (Spain)

Category:Outdoor sculptures in Pontevedra

Category:Monuments and memorials in Pontevedra