A fresh perspective unfolds from the image. From this Friday through January 15, Espais d’art urbà in Benidorm — including El Carrasco, El Pont, Hispanitat, Els Tolls, and El Campo — present Marta Bermejo’s exhibition Arquitectura y vida. The photography offers a distinctive angle, portraying an artist who admires a city brilliantly lit between mountains and sea.
The ceremony was attended by Benidorm’s mayor, Toni Pérez, and a member of the Historical and Cultural Heritage council. They were joined by Alicia Lamarca, the curator of the show, and other municipal authorities. This first selection is distributed across five Espais, offering five diverse vantage points on the same theme.
The life of Pedro Zaragoza in Benidorm in 19 illustrations
The lens captures how Bermejo links historic architecture with natural detail, showing flowers with their stamens and pistils alongside iconic urban forms. The gate of Sant Jaume and the Santa Anna Church sit beside modern landmarks like the Intempo tower, while the sinuous curves of the beach access stairs along the Paseo de Poniente provide a contemporary counterpoint.
The artist, a graduate of the IED School of Interior Design and holder of a Master in Total Design, speaks through her work about a deep affection for Benidorm. The love is not only for its beaches but also for the atmosphere that a city can convey through daily life, a feeling she describes as cinematic. Her pieces evoke scenes reminiscent of futuristic films like Blade Runner or Mad Max, where the mountains frame the urban horizon.
Mayor Pérez underscored Bermejo’s ability to highlight details others might overlook. He noted how her work draws connections between flowers and the symbolic structures of the city, deepening the appreciation for elements that become part of Benidorm’s visual identity.
The mayor reminded the audience that thousands of residents and visitors can enjoy street art as part of the Espais d’art urbà program. He expressed gratitude for the collaboration that makes this public art possible, praising the involvement of artist Marta Bermejo and the curatorial leadership of Alicia Lamarca, whom he called the enduring link between artistic creation and municipal management.
In this presentation, the narrative of Benidorm is extended through Bermejo’s poetic lens. The city appears not only as a destination of sun and sand but as a living studio where structures, light, and motion combine to tell a story of growth, memory, and ongoing transformation. The artwork invites viewers to see familiar places anew, inviting contemplative examination of how architecture shapes everyday life and how urban spaces influence the mood of a city anchored between sea and mountains.
As the exhibition travels through multiple Espais, the curatorial team emphasizes the importance of accessibility and public engagement. Visitors are encouraged to walk between venues, experience the same motifs from different angles, and discover subtle shifts in mood as light changes across the day. The project positions Benidorm as a city of ideas as well as a resort destination, where artistic exploration becomes part of the urban experience and a catalyst for conversation among residents and guests alike.
Ultimately, Arquitectura y vida celebrates a city that is both architectural monument and living scene. The collaboration between artist, curator, and municipal authorities demonstrates how contemporary art can illuminate daily life, inviting everyone to view the familiar through a fresh, reflective lens. The festival invites citizens to consider how design and landscape shape perception, memory, and everyday behavior, turning Benidorm into an open-air gallery where every corner holds a potential story of its own.
[Citation: City cultural office report on the Espais d’art urbà program and Marta Bermejo’s Arquitectura y vida].