Mamali Shafahi and Domenico Gutknecht invite us into a captivating garden as part of the 20th anniversary of “Art Palma Brunch 2026”. Baró Galeria’s exhibition “Tales from the Garden”, which will run until 25 May, welcomes spring not merely as a season, but as a symbolic space of transformation.
A Space in Limbo: The Garden
This exhibition, which is part of the duo’s ongoing “Eternal Rest” cycle, constructs the garden as a transitional and symbolic space. Every figure, every animal, and every object we encounter here builds a bridge between memory and imagined worlds.
Interdisciplinary Narrative: Combining painting, sculpture, and immersive installations, the duo turns each work into a fragment of a vast imaginary landscape.
A Hybrid Language: The visual language draws from a broad network of references, ranging from Iranian paradise gardens and miniature painting to medieval European folklore, fairy tales, and religious iconography.
Materiality and Ambiguity: Tactility and narrative ambiguity stand out as the fundamental elements shaping this hybrid language.
A Universe Spanning Mallorca to Dubai
The exhibition is not limited to Mallorca; it forms part of a global artistic dialogue. “Tales from the Garden” is directly connected to the duo’s upcoming solo presentation at Art Dubai 2026, meaning the same conceptual universe continues to resonate across different geographies.
“Shafahi and Gutknecht create a shared environment in which individual works appear as fragments of an imaginary landscape.”
Baró Mallorca’s enchanting atmosphere invites us into a world where not only plants, but also tales and hybrid beings take root.
In your opinion, does a garden hosting both Iranian miniatures and European folklore at the same time symbolise the hidden commonalities in different cultures’ perceptions of “paradise” or “peace”, or the inevitable clash between these two worlds?
