A journalist from Colossal spent a week on an uninhabited island in the Balearic Islands with nearly 80 artists for a residency program called Quarantine, conceived by artist Carles Gomila. Participants follow a rigorous, opaque schedule of talks, workshops, and mentorship sessions, with phones and internet banned, and must stay on the island from early morning until late evening. The April 2026 edition, themed "Tears in Rain" after a Blade Runner monologue, began with a theatrical tour by an actor playing Captain Horacio Hollynwood, who introduced the historic Lazaretto of Mahón, an 18th-century fortress and infirmary.
This matters because Quarantine represents a radical, immersive approach to artistic development, deliberately forcing participants into discomfort and uncertainty to break creative blocks. The program's remote location, secretive programming, and intense schedule have inspired strong loyalty among attendees, with some getting tattoos of its logo and many returning multiple times. The article highlights how such unconventional residencies challenge traditional art education and offer a model for transformative creative experiences, even as the program's cult-like aspects raise eyebrows.