Scottish sculptor Toby Govan has returned to Casa de las Tejerinas in Plaza de las Flores with his exhibition titled “Apogee: The Emergence of Being” (Apogeo: La irrupcion del Ser), which is free to visit and will be available until September 30, 2026. The exhibit features nearly thirty large stone sculptures alongside around twenty smaller pieces, all intended for visitors to touch and engage with.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Estepona Town Hall, accompanied by a live performance from local flamenco singer Rocio Bazan. Govan has utilized this venue for several summers, and patrons are often welcomed to linger later than the scheduled hours for an evening stroll after dinner.
Brought to Spain from Edinburgh as a child by his artist parents in pursuit of Andalusian light, Govan now considers Estepona his home. His late father, Douglas Govan, instilled in him a unique approach to sculpture, teaching him to observe the stone and reveal its natural forms instead of imposing his own designs. His mother, Ann Govan, a watercolor artist, encouraged him to appreciate the compositions of the world around him.
Govan honed his craft at the School of Arts and Crafts in Granada and studied photography in Madrid, but he cites his father’s workshop as his true education. Early support from local art figures allowed him to create large-scale works, and today, his sculptures can be found in various countries, with five monumental pieces displayed throughout Estepona, including an elephant sculpture in Plaza Rocio Bazan and a three-and-a-half-ton piece titled “En tus brazos” in Plaza Paco de Lucia.
The current exhibit features a variety of materials, including limestone from Ojen and stones from the Guadalmina river, all blending animal forms with abstract art, which Govan describes as biofigurative or ecofigurative. Following the success of previous tactile exhibits, “Apogee” emphasizes the interactive experience even further.
The exhibition is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and Sunday from 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., with Mondays closed. The staff often extend the evening hours, allowing visitors to enjoy the sculptures after dinner. Admission is free.
For more information, visit Govan’s official website or check the listings on the Ayuntamiento de Estepona’s site. Don’t miss this opportunity before the end of September—bring the kids and let them explore the textures of both a two-ton elephant and small stones.