Device to Root out Evil

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The sculpture stands approximately 7 meters tall and weighs several tons, constructed from wood, galvanized steel, and translucent fiberglass shingles.

2. 2

   Artist Dennis Oppenheim conceived the work to challenge traditional architectural symbols by inverting a house of worship.

3. 3

   Before arriving in Palma de Mallorca, the sculpture was temporarily displayed outside a Vancouver church, where local parishioners strongly protested its presence.

4. 4

   The piece was acquired by Mallorcan art collector and hotelier Antonio Miró and placed on public display in the city.

Overview

Device to Root out Evil is a controversial monumental sculpture by American artist Dennis Oppenheim located in Plaça de la Porta de Santa Catalina in Palma de Mallorca. The piece depicts a traditional New England-style wooden church that appears to have been flipped upside down, resting precariously on its steeple. Originally commissioned for the Venice Biennale in 1997, the sculpture has traveled through various international locations, including New York and Vancouver, before finding a home in Mallorca. Its provocative positioning has frequently sparked debate among religious communities and art critics regarding its symbolic critique of institutional religion. The public art installation stands in an open urban square, accessible 24 hours a day as an outdoor street-level landmark. Visitors can walk entirely around the structure to observe its complex steel framework and translucent shingle details from multiple angles. The surrounding neighborhood offers a blend of historic architecture and contemporary urban life in central Palma.

Insider tips

• Visit during the golden hour just before sunset to capture interesting shadows cast by the inverted steeple.

• Combine a quick stop here with a walking tour of the nearby historic neighborhoods like Santa Catalina.

• Respect the surrounding public space, as the sculpture sits directly on an active urban plaza.