Here at the intersection of Carrer Lluis Tur i Palau and Carrer Guillem de Montgrí stands a monument to a movement. It is L’Uc Statue. Inaugurated in the summer of 2016, this bronze sculpture embodies Ibiza’s hippie heritage.
Ricardo Urgell, the founder of Pacha Group, donated L’Uc Statue to the island. It honors the hippie movement’s profound influence since the 1960s. The values of freedom, love, joy, and connection to nature are one of the main reasons why people love Ibiza so much.
Ciò Abellí, a Catalan sculptor, created the statue. It is based on a famous photograph by Toni Riera. The photograph features a long-haired hippie father walking with his daughter. The photo captures the essence of Ibiza’s love and freedom movement.
Interestingly, the photo wasn’t taken in Ibiza. It was taken in Amsterdam’s Vondelpark in the late 1960s. Riera captured the moment of a father smoking while looking at his daughter carrying her bottle. Despite its Amsterdam origin, the image became an icon of Ibiza.
In the 1990s, Pacha used the photo for a poster. It became a widely recognized symbol of Ibiza’s hippie past. Years later, the little girl from the photo, now a woman, visited Pacha. The main characters were identified: actor Sandy van del Linden and his daughter Radha.
The statue shows a world map at the feet of the father and daughter. It highlights significant international hippie concentrations. These include San Francisco, Amsterdam, Kathmandu, Goa, and of course, Ibiza.
L’Uc Statue is more than just a sculpture. It represents the island’s embrace of the hippie spirit. It embodies a sense of world brotherhood. It reminds us of the values that make Ibiza unique.
So, as you stand before L’Uc Statue take a moment. Reflect on the hippie movement’s legacy. Consider its lasting impact on Ibiza’s culture and identity. This statue is a tribute to love, freedom, and the unique spirit of the White Isle.