Oriol Maspons (Spanish, b. 1928 d. 2013) was a prominent Spanish photographer known for his innovative contributions to documentary, portrait, and fashion photography. Born in Barcelona, Maspons was deeply influenced by the artistic and cultural atmosphere of the mid-20th century, particularly in post-war Europe. His work reflects a modernist sensibility, blending social realism with an avant-garde aesthetic.

Maspons initially pursued studies in economics but soon abandoned them to dedicate himself to photography. His passion for the medium developed during the 1950s, when he lived in Paris, where he absorbed influences from the French humanist photography movement, including the works of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Doisneau. Upon returning to Barcelona, he became a member of the Agrupació Fotogràfica de Catalunya, a key hub for experimental photographers in Spain.

“Oriol Maspons’ photographs are a testimony to the evolution of Ibiza and, indeed, of our society over four decades. These images are the result of his travels that began in the mid-50s and continued until the end of the 80s.

It is a much missed time for those of us who were able to enjoy it, even partially. Ibiza was very different from other places, and no other place like it has emerged in recent times.

This island, which is just over 500km2 has been operating at two speeds for a long time. The first gear was slow and relaxed and came from the local population.

With behavioural patterns stated in phrases such as “Come back tomorrow”, “We will fix this tomorrow”, “We won’t be able to help you until tomorrow”, all of which tested the patience of the first foreigners who settled on the island and who had to resolve their daily domestic problems. They had to adapt to the behavioural customs of the Ibizan population. The second speed came from another type of tourist willing to burn the hours of their short stay as quickly as possible. They came and went like there was no tomorrow and were the closest thing to a destructive plague. And the locals, on this island of calm, welcomed this invasive population without any opposition or ill temper, but with serenity. With the island having been an important commercial enclave since the 7th century, the Ibizan has seen how various settlers from other cultures have lived in their territory. The locals viewed these high speed visitors with a mixture of curiosity and disinterest: from the arrival of the first hippies, the beautiful people, the famous VIP’s and those looking for pulling an exciting all-nighter. Likewise, those who came to have fun did so with absolute respect for the first gear inhabitants. I spent 16 summers on this island and I never saw a fight or a conflict, so common in the towns of the peninsula. No complaints and no dramas. It was the 80’s. Society has suffered a global involution. The coexistence of that time with such diverse beings would seem impossible to me today, where everything bothers and everything is discussed. But perhaps the peaceful and conformist character of the Ibizan people still endures and we could successfully repeat the sociological experiment that involved a mix of civilisations and personalities and turned Ibiza into a magical island.

The photographs can make us reflect on whether we are more or less free today that we were 50 years ago, and on what we have lost along the way. I assume we were happier and more carefree. Take a look at the photographs and open your mind listening to Earth, Wind & Fire, Gloria Gaynor and James Brown all at the same time”

— Alex Maspons Foreword from the book ‘Oriol Maspons Ibiza’

Agony + Ecstasy Gallery exclusively represents Maspon´s photographical archive of Ibiza.