His
jewellery is historic and his future is assured.
Toni
Tur, Jeweller and Sculptor, was born in Sant Josép, Eivissa, on the 14th
May 1964.
According
to unanimous critics, he is one of our most talented artists of the new generation,
a real and meritorious candidate to carry on with the Island's tradition as
the home of exceptional artists, with a big creative potential and a very high
artistic level.
He
has a contagious vitality and creative energy that one can feel just by being
by his side and somehow it can also be seen in his art, done with a lot of decision
and clear ideas of the final results wanted before he has even begun.
He
also possesses a fine technique and a deep knowledge of the materials that he
works with, developed from his early years working by his father's side (a good
ebonist and carpenter, among other jobs).
His
talent was enlarged and complemented afterwards with the four years that he
spent as a pupil in the "Escuela Profesional de Joyería y Artesanía Platera"
of the Hungarian jeweller master Esteban Platko, in Palma de Mallorca, in which,
Toni passed his degrees and obtained his diploma as a "Maestro Orfebre"
(Gold and Silver Jeweller Master).
Platko's
Jeweller and Silver-art-craft School, is unique in the Balearic Islands, the
third one to be opened (and for some the best) of all Spain. Its pupils are
very much appreciated by the jewellery industry; they find a place to work as
soon as they pass their degrees and they are already working in different countries
all over the world.
Back
to Eivissa after his studies by the end of 1980s, Toni started working with
his jewellery, inspired at the beginning by the ancestral Mediterranean cultures,
including the autochthonous and mysterious "Emprendadas". They
are little treasures made of gold, silver and coral, kept in the families through
generations. The Ibicencans show them off on very special occasions as part
of the typical Ibicenco costume.
Toni
is one of only two jewellers that make this kind of jewellery in Eivissa in
the artisan ancestral way, in the entire world. (The Ibicenco jewellery has
been copied and is being made by industrial ways in mainland Spain and other
countries, to be sold in jewellers as expensive souvenirs).
The
real origin of "s'Emprendada" is a mystery. Toni keeps his own opinion
about it. "The Roman and Carthaginian women used to wear several collars,
basically for aesthetic function, on which they hung images of their goddesses
"Aphrodite" or "Tanit". Over time they became Christian,
so the Cross and the "Joia" (medallion with a sacred image, normally
the Virgin Mary) took its place. For example, the "emprendada" made
of silver and coral have the structure of a rosary, the coral stones displayed
in such a way that the one who wears it can follow the number of prayers in
the rosary."
Toni
produced several copies in silver based on the "Punic" jewellery,
to be exhibit in the "Escuela de Artes y Oficios d'Eivissa" (Eivissa's
Art School) for the special event "The Punic World",
Meanwhile
he was also producing his own designs, with a very personal style, done with
a combination of materials, normally silver with coral or bits of wood, such
as "juniper," "sabina" and "olive", the same wood
that he used later for his sculptures.
But
Toni, as a real artist, is full of creativity and also very curious; he can't
stop investigating for a larger and deeper manifestation of his art.
"The
artist has to follow his own evolution. If one stops his own progression becomes
dull and boring, with nothing new to communicate. One should never stop learning
and be surprised. The ones who say that they can't be surprised anymore,
can't either progress or even create any longer".
This
is, more or less in his own words, what moved him to start with his wood sculptures
and with the new art-pieces that he is doing at present. They again are a combination
of materials, metals and tinted wood, following his very personal line and style.
In fact there is a clear defined line in every one of Toni's art-pieces. This
applies from the micro-art of the jewellery up to his latest sculpture, though
this line seems to be growing. It is like it is newborn, recreated, and
for every new version of it, in every new work, a very personal design and techniques
that makes him so singular as an artist.
Toni Tur will hopefully
exhibit his new art-works from the beginning of this next May, in Santa Eulàri,
Eivissa. I'm one hundred percent sure that it will be a complete success, as
in his previous exhibitions. It is the kind of event that local artists and
art-lovers look for and wouldn't miss.
Exhibitions
1987
|
Exhibition
of jewellery in "Baleart 87" Palma de Mallorca.
Exhibition of jewellery in the "Sala de Exposiciones" Sant Josép,
Eivissa.
|
1994
|
Collective
exhibition, sculptures, "Art Nou" in the "Sala de Exposiciones"
Sant Josép, Eivissa. (Here, Toni presented his firsts big sculptures in
wood)
Collective exhibition in "Can Pujol" Sant Agnés, Eivissa.
|
1995
|
Exhibition
in the "Galería Marta Torres" Eivissa.
("La materia de la fusta". This was the first individual exhibition
of his sculptures).
|
1995
|
Collective
exhibition, jewellery and sculptures, in the "Galería Marta Torres",
Eivissa.
|
1995
|
Collective
exhibition, jewellery, "Mon Púnic" in the "Sala de Artes
y Oficios" Eivissa. (Here, Toni present original reproductions
and also his own creations in jewellery based on the ancestral Carthaginian
designs).
|
1996 |
Collective
exhibition "33 artistes del fi del mil-leni" in the Gallery
"l'Espiral" Eivissa. (33 artist of the end of the Millennium).
|
1997
|
Collective exhibition,
sculptures, "Arte de Cielo y Tierra" in "Es Cubell",
Eivissa.
|
1999
|
Exhibition, sculptures,
in the "Fira d'Art d'Eivissa" in the "Marta Torres Gallery's
stand". |
Toni Tur beginning to create in his workshop
All Pictures Courtesy of Toni Tur
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