The company Alucinarte Animación Teatral, based in Sabadell, has won the audience's first prize at the International Living Statues Festival in Marche-en-Famenne (Belgium) with their character 'The Man on the Motorcycle', who regularly performs on the Rambla in Barcelona.
The company Alucinarte Animación Teatral, which has its workshop in Sabadell, achieved the first prize in the popular vote at the International Living Statues Festival 2026, held last weekend on July 18 and 19 in the Belgian town of Marche-en-Famenne. The award went to their character 'The Man on the Motorcycle', a human statue that has been part of the permanent cast on the Rambla in Barcelona since last March.
The festival, now in its ninth edition, attracted nearly 60,000 visitors and around a hundred artists from countries such as Ukraine, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain. Alucinarte presented six productions at the event, but it was 'The Man on the Motorcycle' that won the audience's recognition.
The company highlights that “this recognition reinforces the idea that the statues on the Rambla are part of Barcelona's living cultural heritage and demonstrates that street art is a universal language, capable of crossing borders and connecting with audiences worldwide.” Additionally, a second production by Alucinarte inspired by the writer Virginia Woolf received a Special Mention.
At the helm of Alucinarte Animación Teatral are Argentine Jorge Balmaseda, the current performer of 'The Man on the Motorcycle', and Catalan Marta Llopart. Both run the workshop from Sabadell, where the company is based. Llopart explains that the award-winning character combines the collective imagery of the Harley-Davidson motorcycle with the humour of the film Predator, a reference that has not always been present, as she points out that productions evolve and “time tells you.”
Balmaseda, who previously portrayed an angel on the Rambla, gets up every day at a quarter past seven to be ready by ten at the Barcelona promenade. His working day ends at four in the afternoon. Llopart describes the work as “thankful, but sacrificial,” especially on hot days when multiple layers of clothing, paint, and makeup make the job challenging.
The Barcelona City Council strictly regulates the activity of human statues on the Rambla and requires that each year the creative proposal be renewed. They had the idea of the biker in mind even before receiving the annual requirement this March. The company draws inspiration from experiences lived around the world and combines classic options with more kitsch ones. In addition to their presence on the Rambla, they take commissions for events and various types of stages.
Alucinarte has over 15 years of experience in the entertainment industry and has taken its shows to more than 100 cities in 37 countries, including China, Dubai, and Egypt. With this new award, the company has now accumulated four prizes and a Special Mention in the nine editions of the Belgian festival, totalling over 34 recognitions in competitions worldwide.
Looking to the future, Alucinarte plans to participate in festivals in Valladolid, the Canary Islands, and Greece. Llopart expresses the hope that one day Catalunya will have its own festival of human statues. The company advocates for the Argentine-Catalan blend as part of its identity: Jorge brings creativity and “Argentine passion,” while she defines herself as “the organisation.”
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