'The Ochre Labyrinth' reveals the secrets and the imprint of tourism on the old mine in Ti Ximo cove in 54 images

Since last night, the Espai d’Art La Casilla has hosted a new exhibition on one of the least-known spaces in the Serra Gerlada Natural Park: the old ochre mine in Ti Ximo cove. “The Ochre Labyrinth” is the title of the exhibition, created by Benidorm-based photographer Jaume Fuster. In 54 images, he reveals some of the secrets and traces of humankind hidden in this old mine, which was in operation at least until 1973.

The exhibition was inaugurated yesterday by the city’s mayor, Toni Pérez; the councilor for Historical and Cultural Heritage, Ana Pellicer; and the exhibition’s creator, who was awarded the “City of Benidorm Cultural Distinction” in October 2023 for his work promoting and disseminating Benidorm’s culture and heritage, particularly for his work on the Serra Gelada. The event brought together a large audience at La Casilla, including several members of the municipal council; other Benidorm City honorees; descendants of the last miners who worked in this mine, Enrique Orts Orts, Paquita Orts Devesa, and the family of the late Antonio García Picó, "Charly"; University of Valencia professor and speleologist Alberto Sendra; as well as family and friends of the author.

Both Toni Pérez and Ana Pellicer congratulated the author and thanked him for his research and dissemination work on the Serra Gelada, which has been reflected in various photography exhibitions, as well as the "Map of the Serra Gelada and Penyes de l'Albir," a work that includes nearly 220 toponymic references to the land and sea portions of the Natural Park. All of this constitutes "an extremely valuable work for history and future generations," as the mayor emphasised. Fuster's work, completed over four years, literally takes us into the depths of the ochre mine in Ti Ximo cove, located south of the Serra Gelada mountain range. Throughout its 54 images, viewers can discover its most hidden galleries and caves, as well as the marks on the rock and the remains of the minecart tracks used by ancient miners. And, alongside all this, the traces of tourism and the trail left by its new visitors: beach buckets and shovels, advertising brochures, food packaging, and even fluorescent dinosaurs.

"The Ochre Labyrinth" can be visited until November 23rd at the Espai d'Art La Casilla, located at number 25, Vía Emilio Ortuño, from Thursday to Sunday, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.