Benidorm unveils striking new exhibition celebrating the power of Iberian women

Benidorm has opened a new art exhibition that brings ancient Mediterranean history into the present day, placing the role of women at the centre of the narrative. The show, titled Serie Íbera, by artist Sómnica Bernabeu, is now on display at the Museu Boca del Calvari and will remain open to visitors until 22 May.

The exhibition forms part of the city’s cultural programme around International Women’s Day and explores the importance of female figures in Iberian culture, one of the earliest civilisations to inhabit Spain’s eastern coastline. Through a contemporary artistic lens, Bernabeu revisits symbols, mythology and identities that shaped the Mediterranean world long before Roman influence reached the peninsula.

Reimagining the legacy of Iberian women

The collection is made up of twelve large-scale artworks that reinterpret Iberian heritage with a modern visual language. Central to the series is the image of the Iberian Lady — an emblem of identity, leadership and spirituality in ancient society. Alongside this figure appears the deity Tanit, a powerful Mediterranean goddess historically associated with fertility and feminine strength.

City councillor for Historical and Cultural Heritage Ana Pellicer explained that the exhibition creates a dialogue between archaeology and contemporary creativity. On the upper floor of the museum, visitors can also view original artefacts that inspired Bernabeu’s work, allowing audiences to see how historical objects can spark new artistic interpretations.

For the artist, the project is also about reclaiming a largely overlooked chapter of history. Bernabeu notes that Iberian culture predates many better-documented civilisations in the region, yet the stories of its people — particularly its women — are rarely explored in depth. Her work seeks to highlight the influential role women played in that society, long before similar prominence re-emerged in modern history.

The exhibition’s visual style reflects this connection with the past. Bernabeu has used traditional, hands-on techniques and natural materials such as charcoal, pigments and oils to create the pieces. The process, she says, mirrors the ancient roots of the culture she is portraying and emphasises a return to more tactile, analogue forms of expression.

By blending ancestral symbolism with contemporary art, Serie Íbera invites visitors to reflect on the enduring influence of Mediterranean heritage and the powerful women who helped shape it. The exhibition also reinforces the role of the Boca del Calvari museum as a cultural meeting point where history and modern creativity can coexist.

Residents and tourists alike can visit the exhibition free of charge during its run, offering a rare chance to experience a reinterpretation of Iberian history through the eyes of a modern artist.