Quarantine: Finding Freedom Through Constraint on an 18th-Century Spanish Island
Dubbed “purgatory for artists,” Quarantine is dedicated to finding freedom through constraint. The intensive residency program takes place on an 18th-century lazaretto off the coast of Menorca, Spain.
The fortress in the port of Mahón, where Quarantine is held, was built between 1793 and 1807 as a prison for sanitation purposes. Travelers would dock and be quarantined for a few weeks or until they recovered from disease. Although the facility closed about a century later, the Gothic architecture and cemeteries that were once essential to its operations remain intact. Today, the secluded island is used as a tourist destination, event space, and the home of the mysterious Quarantine residency.
Conceived in 2017 by artist Carles Gomilla, the residency program has gone through various iterations before debuting in its current form in 2023 with partners Joan Taltavull, Itziar Lecea, and Darren Green. Each spring and fall, about 60 people are invited to the island to spend a week immersed in a rigorous program. The details of each edition are kept secret, and phones are not allowed.
This lack of connectivity fosters a special kind of focus and a sense of communal vulnerability as everything that happens on the island stays on the island. Residents even have the opportunity to burn their work at the end of the week. The curators emphasize that Quarantine is not a retreat but a training program that pushes participants to stretch beyond their typical limits.
Residents engage in art labs and sessions with high-profile mentors, with a variety of programming in the evening. The activities in the art labs are constantly evolving, providing surprise and novelty with each day and each edition. The emphasis is on contrast and risk, with less than half of the activities and prompts repeated in each edition.
Quarantine focuses on mindset rather than technique, drawing inspiration from art, education, psychology, and strategy. The program aims to push participants to confront their fears, unlearn what’s holding them back, and rediscover the passion that drives their creativity.
While the program primarily focuses on visual arts, it attracts individuals from various backgrounds, including lawyers, psychiatrists, and even a rescue dog trainer. The upcoming edition’s theme is “Tears in the Rain,” a nod to the iconic monologue from Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner, emphasizing detachment from one’s work.
Colossal will be attending the upcoming program in April 2026. To learn more about joining Quarantine, visit their website. The program offers a unique opportunity for artists to explore their creativity in a secluded and inspiring setting.
