The sculpture 'La Sirena' by Pere Jou will be moved on Thursday to carry out the works of conservation and restoration. The specialized workers moved it from the beginning of the breakwater, which is facing the stairs of La Punta, to the ground floor of Can Falç. The Sitges Town Council, in collaboration with the Museums of Sitges, will promote the intervention, which will take a couple of months in order to preserve the bronze statue, located on the public road. The restorer Mamen Fradera is in charge of the restoration work in order to recover the original and emotional spirit of the work.
The state of conservation of 'La Sirena' has suffered both physically and aesthetically the effects of the proximity to the sea and the pressure of tourism. Over time, the metal is transformed by the high humidity level of the salt-laden air, the climatic factors and the incivity of the people. Both the physical and chemical interactions of the sculptural work are relevant. Physical damage is also perceved through the cracks with active corrosion signals showing their blue green colors, which have become more intense and alive, and limestone concretions and crystallizations.
The restoration process will be developed in different phases. First the desalination process because 'La Sirena' is impregnated by the marine environment and the salts must be removed. Next, the preliminary study will be carried out, where cleaning and scraping will be done. Then comes the mechanical and chemical cleaning of the piece, and then the chemical treatments to stop corrosion and stabilize the sculpture. The restoration work of 'La Sirena' forms part of the program to rehabilitate the local artistic heritage, in which sculptures on public have also been restored such as the monument to Doctor Robert and the original cannon of the Baluard.
'La Sirena' was created and modeled with plaster by the sculptor Pere Jou in 1955 and, later, a group of intellectuals promoted in 1964 the bronze cast by popular subscription. The work was finished in 1965, one year after the death of the sculptor. After going through several locations, in the year 2012 the sculpture was placed at the beginning of the Breakwater of the stairs of La Punta, where it had been previously.