MOVERS, SHAKERS, MAGIC MAKERS

‘Ibiza IS art. The creative energy manifested by the encounter of the waters of the Mediterranean with the crystal quartz core of the island imparts a feeling of wellbeing and creativity – a sensation that anything is possible.

For the last hundred years, since the 1930s when Dada grand master Raoul Hausmann arrived in Dalt Vila accompanied by his wife, his son and his lover, escaping from the troupes of Hitler advancing across Europe, Ibiza has attracted some of the most artistic and intellectual minds on the planet.

ChAI ShOP is our home and our creative studio combined, where we host artists, writers and creatives of all types. We are in the centre of the island, near San Lorenzo, a place with a deep magnetic attraction. The name was inspired by our other home – India – where the tea stalls are the only places where all social strata mix. Everyone drinks a chai at least once a day. That, we believe, is the quintessential Ibiza, where the allure comes from the blending of people from all backgrounds – bohemians, bon-vivants and bankers.

For the last decade we have curated an annual exhibition – Ibicenco. The name reflects the fact that the word ‘Ibicenco’ now encapsulates many different layers of meaning – a sense of counter culturalism, a chilled-out consciousness, a connectivity to nature and of course, a passion for creativity. We work with artists from all over the world who embody these sensibilities. We’ve presented films by Werner Herzog, introduced the work of Man Ray to the island, launched the stage career of Ellebanna, worked with Hipgnosis – the art directors of Pink Floyd – and showcased the work of Terry O’Neill, the iconic photographer of The Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Above all, we strive to create a dialogue that unites all the creative forces of the island as a resistance to what is perceived as the ‘ordinary’ way of living.

Today, Ibiza’s art scene is thriving. Galleries and contemporary art spaces are spreading like mushrooms and that is a great thing for the island’s creative appeal. But we are all responsible for keeping the essence of Ibiza intact – for putting soul before gains – because what makes this island unique is the diversity and creativity that rises from the land itself, not that which is imported from afar.’