Alex Sobrón presents the campaign for his upcoming
collection “Season V – Sebastià,” which draws inspiration
from the figure of Saint Sebastian, reinterpreted over
time as a symbol of resistance, identity, and rebellion
against the norm, influenced both by itsdepictions in art
and its connection to popular culture. The collection
revolves around the arrow as a multifaceted symbol of
power, desire, and sacrifice. This modern
reinterpretation transforms jewelry into a vehicle for
personal expression and deep reflection.
Alex Sobrón presents the campaign for his upcoming collection “Season V – Sebastià,” which draws inspiration from the figure of Saint Sebastian, reinterpreted over time as a symbol of resistance, identity, and rebellion against the norm, influenced both by its depictions in art and its connection to popular culture. The collection revolves around the arrow as a multifaceted symbol of power, desire, and sacrifice. This modern reinterpretation transforms jewelry into a vehicle for personal expression and deep reflection.
The campaign moves away from traditional jewelry,
presenting three stainless steel sculptures that
incorporate the arrow symbol, an emblem of martyrdom
and resistance, alongside thistles that pay homage to a
family legacy. The pieces are revealed on a day rich in
symbolism, February 14th, Valentine’s Day, inviting
contemplation through the contemporary and
transgressive lens of the collection.
The photographic campaign, directed by Biel
Capllonch, perfectly captures the essence of the
collection, blending a bold, surrealist style with the
representation of Saint Sebastian through a female
figure. This transformation strengthens the idea of
defiance and reflects the evolution of Saint Sebastian’s
figure as an emblem of struggle and autonomy in the 21st
century.
The campaign moves away from traditional jewelry, presenting three stainless steel sculptures that incorporate the arrow symbol, an emblem of martyrdom and resistance, alongside thistles that pay homage to a family legacy. The pieces are revealed on a day rich in symbolism, February 14th, Valentine’s Day, inviting contemplation through the contemporary and transgressive lens of the collection.
The photographic campaign, directed by Biel Capllonch, perfectly captures the essence of the collection, blending a bold, surrealist style with the representation of Saint Sebastian through a female figure. This transformation strengthens the idea of defiance and reflects the evolution of Saint Sebastian’s figure as an emblem of struggle and autonomy in the 21st century.
Saint Sebastian, beyond being a Catholic saint, has become a
constantly evolving icon, appropriated and reinterpreted over the
centuries in both cultural and countercultural ways. My first
connection to this figure was as the patron saint of my hometown,
Palma. As far back as I can remember, every January 19th I have
participated in a celebration where fire, “dimonis” (demons), and
music take center stage, yet the figure of the saint is rarely mentioned.
In fact, many of those who participate in this celebration are unaware
of the history behind Saint Sebastian.
With the title *Sebastià*, this collection nods to both my roots and
Derek Jarman’s cinema, specifically his film *Sebastiane* (1976),
which forms the basis for the non-religious interpretation of this figure.
The collection centers around the arrow, the weapon with which Saint
Sebastian was martyred, and explores the appropriation and
decontextualization of popular icons. Over the course of history, Saint
Sebastian has gained prominence not only for his role as a martyr but
also for the many artistic representations that have emerged, imbued
with profound symbolism.
My interest in this saint deepens through his portrayals in literature
and art. In *Confessions of a Mask* by Yukio Mishima, for example,
the saint becomes a cathartic symbol, a point of intersection between
personal identity and marginality. Writers such as Oscar Wilde,
Federico García Lorca, and Tennessee Williams have used the figure
of Saint Sebastian to address universal themes of identity, desire, and
marginalization—not out of religious fervor, but as a tool to explore
more complex aspects of the human experience.
It is precisely this multiplicity of readings that inspired me to
reinterpret the figure of Saint Sebastian, not just as a religious symbol
but as an emblem of resistance against norms and oppression. In this
collection, Saint Sebastian becomes a patron of artists, intellectuals,
misunderstood individuals, and rebels. Following the evolution of his
iconography from the Renaissance, where his figure took on tones of
ambiguity and sensuality, I decided to represent him through a female
figure. In the 21st century, resistance does not take a single form, and
this representation captures that transformation.
The *Sebastià* collection moves away from traditional jewelry and is
presented through three stainless steel sculptures that incorporate the
arrow—symbol of martyrdom and resistance—along with thistles, an
emblem of the family that recalls a series of sculptures created by my
grandfather, Juan Solivellas. These sculptures are the continuation of
a series of pieces I made in 2021, which were later included in the
work *Study of a Defeated Warrior* by Filip Custic. In this way, the
collection not only honors a family tradition but also frames a
reflection on art and resistance.
The jewelry pieces, which explore themes of power, desire, and
resistance through the symbol of the arrow, will be presented on a
date full of meaning: February 14th, Valentine’s Day. This date, like the
arrow, is rich with symbolic connotations and personal interpretation.
The power of the arrow as a symbol of love, sacrifice, and struggle
unfolds in this collection, inviting the viewer to reflect on its own
meaning.
The photographic campaign accompanying the collection has been
directed by Biel Capllonch, whose bold and surrealist style perfectly
complements the spirit of defiance and transformation that permeates
the entire proposal.
