We explore one of the most inspirational locations of the past century in the ICA's latest exhibition, Ibiza: Moments in Love.
Opening today in The Reading Room at the ICA is Ibiza: Moments in Love, an energising exhibition of colourful photographs, club posters and books that encapsulate the fantastically hedonistic whirlwind that was 80s Ibiza.
Documenting the birth of the white isle as we know it today, the exhibition focuses on the work of two talented – but little known – visual artists: Armin Heinemann, owner of the adventurous fashion boutique Paula’s Ibiza, and Yves Uro, the illustration mastermind behind the iconic posters for coveted night time hotspot Ku. Described as ‘a playground for the rich and famous’ the extravagant nightclub attracted the likes of Freddie Mercury, Grace Jones and Jean Paul Gaultier, who regularly came to let their hair down in the most flamboyant of fashions.
The early 1980s saw Ibiza evolve from a laid-back hippy hangout to the ultimate dance destination.
The early 1980s saw Ibiza evolve from a laid-back hippy hangout to the ultimate dance destination. Pioneered by the likes of DJs Paul Oakenfold and Danny Rampling, the island birthed a whole new genre of music, which went on to fuel an entire lifestyle. In celebration of the exhibition and The White Isle itself, we have compiled our Top 10 Ibiza Facts.
1. Isla Es Vedra is a mystical isle off the coast of Ibiza that emits an unexplained glow. It is said to be the place in which Ulysses encountered the sirens in Homer's Odyssey, a UFO sighting hotspot, and the tip of the sunken city of Atlantis.
2. The country was founded in 654 BC by Phoenician settlers, who named the island Ibossim and dedicated it to Bes, the god of protection, safety, dance and music.
3. The island is only 571 square kilometres; 1 kilometre smaller than the Isle of Man.
4. Due to prevailing winds, Ibiza will apparently be the only place in the northern hemisphere able to sustain life following a nuclear fall out.
5. It is thought to be bad luck to allow a priest on a fishing boat within the vicinity of the island.
6. Ibiza's famous orange soil is created by the tannin in the pine needles that fall from the trees.
7. Early Phonecians believed the island was blessed by the gods, and many of the locals still wear pendants filled with sacred soil to this day.
8. In the 1990s, Ibiza was recorded in The Guinness Book of World Records as 'the entertainment island of the world'.
9. The port in Ibiza town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
10. Sid Vicious, Pink Floyd and Orson Welles are all former residents of the island.
Find out more about Ibiza: Moments in Love, here.
