Page 14 - Expotime10_11_2017

Museums of the Mediterranean

Yannick Vu; Ben Jakober

The collection of classical children portraits at

Sa Bassa Blanca Museum, Alcudia, Mallorca

The Museum and its founders Since autumn 2009, the didactic program is one of the
principal activities of the Foundation, bringing art and
The Foundation was established in 1993 by the couple nature of the Museum to schools as well as numerous
formed by artists and collectors, Ben Jakober and Yan- groups with specific needs.
nick Vu and philanthropist Georges Coulon Karlweis. In
that year a former underground cistern of the Sa Bassa During its young history, the heritage of the Founda-
Blanca property was transformed to accommodate a tion has been recognized on numerous occasions. The
unique collection of children's portraits from the 16 to Nins collection was protected as Patrimonial Heritage
th
the 19 cent. of the Balearic Islands, and the “Mudejar” coffered
th
Ceiling as Heritage of Great Cultural interest. The
In 1995, the Foundation received the first visits of Foundation has also received awards and recognitions
groups connected to the world of art and culture, and like the special mention of the European Union Prize
finally in January 2001 it was opened permanently to for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards (2009),
the public in general. Visits to the "Nins" space, rose the Gold Medal of the Town of Alcudia (2008) or the
garden and sculpture park, so characteristic of the Gold Plate of the Foundation of Majorca Tourism De-
Foundation, combine the enjoyment of art with nature. velopment (2008), also the prize for the best Touristic
Experience in Majorca (2017), among others.
In 2006 part of the main building designed by Hassan
Fathy was opened to visitors: the Karlweis Wing which Art Works belonging to the Foundation, especially the
houses a collection of modern and contemporary art Nins collection and works by Domenico Gnoli, Yannick
and the “Mudejar” polychrome coffered ceiling on the and Ben Jakober have travelled to other museums and
top floor. galleries at national and international levels, both form-
ing an exhibition onto itself and participating with spe-
Finally, in 2007 the SoKraTES exhibition space was add- cific works to larger exhibitions.
ed as well as the area of the "Zoo", a sculpture park
with huge granite animals inspired by ancient civilisa- The Foundation is renowned since its inception for be-
tion representations. ing in constant renewal and change that culminated in
2014 with the beginning of temporary exhibitions.

Yannick Vu and Ben Jakober together with the architect Hassan Fathy at the Djoser Pyramid in Sakkara, 1978

14
EXPOTIME!, issue October / November 2017