In Barceloneta, the Dones amb Sal association has unveiled La Salina, a new female figurehead that symbolises the sea and wisdom. The sculpture, made by Taller Constructor de Fantasies, is now on the ground floor of La Xarxaire, an apartment block on Passeig de Joan de Borbó.
Esther Zamora, president of Dones amb Sal, said the group wanted to find a figure linked to the sea that could act like a lighthouse. La Salina grew from that idea, as a woman born from a wave and from the sea itself. The figurehead also includes a compass rose and salt, both used as sea references.
The design is full of meaning. La Salina emerges from a wave, the compass rose sits on her chest, and one hand holds salt. Zamora said the salt gives the sea and wisdom, and that the white hair stands for wisdom too. She added that the figurehead reflects the wisdom of women who sustain life.
The association says the project is also about reclaiming the seafront. It wants the first line of the sea to be treated as a place of nature and as a space for coastal communities to stand up for their rights. That message is aimed not only at Barceloneta, but at the wider Catalan coastline too.
Dones amb Sal was formed three years ago by women linked to the sea. The group says it wants a broader view of the marine world, one that includes social justice, inclusion, gender perspective, and the right to the city and the coastline. It also points out that the maritime sector is still largely male-dominated.
The association runs several projects, including community-focused coverage and sport-related stories across Barcelona. One of its best-known initiatives is Dones en blau, which won the 8 de Març, Maria Aurèlia Capmany Prize last year. The project aims to support the blue economy and a gender-focused mentoring programme for women working in Barcelona's maritime sector. Dones amb Sal also holds workshops with lawyers on issues such as workplace harassment, plus public workshops and guided routes.
Originally published by betevé. Read the original report. For more on the group, see its source article.
