A plea for assistance in locating a renowned sculpture in Ibiza has been made by a British artist after it was stolen, believed to be a prank. The sculpture, known as Bertha, vanished from an art studio near Santa Eulalia, where it had been a fixture for around six years, attracting attention from both locals and tourists who often posed for photos with it. Christopher Stone, the owner of Lost Artist Ibiza, raised the alarm about the disappearance earlier this week through a social media appeal on an expat Facebook group.
Stone stated, “Our entrance sculpture ‘Bertha’ has been stolen. Please help us by sharing this post around Ibiza and online.” He expressed hope that the incident was a mere joke and urged for the safe return of the distinctive 6ft 2in, 12-stone sculpture, emphasizing that due to its recognizability, it would be challenging for the thief to keep or sell it openly. Stone, whose studio is situated between Ibiza Town and Sant Joan, near Bambuddha restaurant, mentioned that he noticed Bertha missing when passing by his studio twice a day.
Despite a positive response from the public, there have been no leads on the whereabouts of the sculpture. Stone revealed that the police indicated limited optimism in recovering Bertha due to the absence of surveillance cameras in the vicinity. Messages of support poured in, with one UK-based artist expressing shock and confidence in the sculpture’s eventual recovery. Another individual expressed dismay over the theft, highlighting the significance of Bertha as a local landmark that is not easily concealable. Bertha, a whimsical depiction of a woman in a yellow hat carrying a small pig, is a beloved and quirky figure in the community.
