New Artistic Installation Transforms Correfoc Tradition
Barcelona’s La Mercè festival will feature a striking new Gate of Hell during the *correfoc* fire run, a large-scale artwork conceived by visual artist Daniel Esteban. The structure measures 14 metres wide and 7 metres high, spanning the full width of Passeig de Gràcia. Crafted from nearly 1,000 fragmented human body parts, arms, legs, torsos, and feet, the installation forms a semicircular arch inspired by natural lava flows and artistic references including Auguste Rodin’s *The Gates of Hell* and the Romanesque portal of Santa Maria de Ripoll. It weighs 425 kilograms and is mounted on a 3,000-kilogram base to support pyrotechnic use.
Symbolism and Construction
Made from fire-retardant polyester resin and ceramic pieces, the gate reinterprets the traditional entrance used by *colles de diables* (devil troupes) to begin the *correfoc*, a fiery street spectacle that began in Barcelona in 1978. Artist Daniel Esteban frames the work as a reflection of contemporary hell, marked by fatigue, apathy, and overexposure to violence, and counters it with a celebration of popular culture and collective action. The piece consists of three structural elements: an outer arch formed by the fragmented bodies, a transition arch, and a vertically folding curtain. The creative process involved collaboration with the *Taula del Foc*, an advisory commission representing the city’s fire groups.
Event Schedule and Public Access
The installation will premiere on Saturday, September 26, during the La Mercè festivities. Assembly begins earlier in the day and takes approximately six hours, followed by lighting and pyrotechnic tests. The public can first see the gate activated during the Children’s *Correfoc* at 6:00 PM, then again at 8:30 PM with the *Ceptrotada* and main La Mercè *Correfoc*. The event transforms Passeig de Gràcia into a stage of fire, music, and movement, drawing tens of thousands of spectators.
The spectacle opened with the dramatic lighting of the Gates of Hell, as demons and fantastical beasts emerged to ignite the great entrance.
Daniel Esteban Esquina (Barcelona, 2001) is known for his exploration of the body, ritual, and collective memory in sculpture and photography. His involvement with groups such as the *Blaus de Granollers* and *Xics de Granollers* has deepened his connection to Catalan popular traditions. Residents and visitors are advised to wear cotton clothing, protective glasses, and hats if participating closely in the *correfoc*, in line with safety recommendations from organisers.
Primary sources: granollers.cat, barcelona.cat, Barcelona City Council, arxiumunicipal.granollers.cat. Reported by diaricatalunya.cat, catalannews.com, 20minutos.es, lavanguardia.com, Diari Catalunya.
