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The cultures of sub-Saharan Africa
  • Se ve una sala de exposición con vitrinas y esculturas sobre pedestales, iluminada con luces empotradas.

African Art Collection: Spirituality and Tradition at Hotel Balmes

Hotel Balmes houses an African art collection that is part of the property’s cultural identity. Displayed throughout common areas and exhibition spaces, it brings together pieces of great ethnographic value from different cultures of sub-Saharan Africa.

The Hotel Balmes' African art collection, comprising over 200 pieces acquired at international auctions and during expeditions undertaken by Jordi Clos in the 1970s, transforms a stay into a unique cultural experience. Integrated seamlessly into the hotel's surroundings, it offers a journey through selected works from various African origins and reinforces the establishment's artistic character.

The collection includes pieces from the Dogon, Ashanti, Baulé, Nok, Kuoro, Fang, Tuareg, Yoruba, Luba, Senufo, Bobo, and Karinga cultures, among others. The variety of these pieces showcases a wide range of materials, including carved wood, stucco, leather, shells, bronze, and amulets. Through its presence in common areas and exhibition spaces, the collection accompanies visitors throughout their stay and underscores the hotel's connection to art and culture.

  • Hotel Balmes Barcelona
  • Se ve una escultura de madera tallada con detalles decorativos sobre un fondo oscuro.
  • Se ve una vitrina con esculturas africanas iluminadas en una sala interior.
  • Se ve una sala con paredes de ladrillo y dos esculturas sobre pedestales de exhibición.
  • Se observan dos esculturas africanas de madera sobre una vitrina en una sala de exposición.
  • Se ve una escultura africana expuesta en una vitrina de cristal con iluminación interior.

The Soninke, Baoulé, Yoruba and Kota peoples

The Soninke are a people of West Africa, found mainly in Mali, Senegal and Mauritania. Historically linked to the Ghana Empire, they are known for their oral traditions, social organization and a rich culture tied to trans-Saharan trade.

The Baoulé of Côte d’Ivoire are part of the Akan group and are known for their refined sculpture and masks associated with the spiritual realm. The Yoruba of Nigeria and Benin have one of the most influential religious and artistic traditions in West Africa. The Kota of Gabon and Congo are distinguished by their protective reliquaries and metal sculptures linked to ancestor worship.

Se ve una máscara africana de metal sobre un soporte, con luces desenfocadas al fondo.

The Soninké masks, originating in West Africa, were linked to initiation ceremonies and the transmission of community values. The refined Baoulé masks, from Côte d’Ivoire, represent protective spirits and stand out for the harmony of their features and their exceptional sculptural quality.

Se observan bustos y esculturas africanas sobre pedestales dentro de una vitrina iluminada.

The ibeji figures of Yoruba culture are among the best-known expressions of African art: sculptures of deceased twins that receive prayers and offerings to preserve the family’s spiritual balance. The Kota reliquary consists of a wooden figure coated in copper or brass that safeguarded the remains of ancestors and served as a protector of the dead.

The artworks and antiques from the collection are displayed throughout every area of the hotel, including inside the rooms.

  • Jordi Clos i Llombart
    Jordi Clos

    President of Derby Hotels Collection

    THE COLLECTOR

    In addition to being a hotelier, Jordi Clos is an Egyptologist, collector and patron of the arts. He chairs the Clos Archaeological Foundation and the Museum of Egyptian Art in Barcelona, the largest private collection of Egyptian art in Europe open to the public, and has funded archaeological excavations in Egypt for more than twenty years.

    Museum of Egyptian Art in Barcelona

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