JOAN MIRÓ FOUNDATION, Building
Language: English
La Fundació Joan Miró is one of the most characteristic and visited museums in Barcelona!
The building standing before you is a great gift that Barcelona's most important 20th century artist and original exponent of surrealism gave to his hometown. In fact, he himself wanted a gallery and an archive devoted to his art on the hill of Montjuïc. The Foundation is surrounded by beautiful gardens covering the entire hill.
You should know that this is the largest collection of works by Joan Miró, with more than 5,000 drawings, about 220 paintings, 180 sculptures, and even some tapestries! The Foundation is also a vital center of creation, where in addition to the works of Miró, you will see some by contemporary artists and new talents.
But now I'd like to discuss the building, which was designed by Miró's close friend, Josep Lluís Sert, who was a prominent avant-garde Catalan architectect. The two worked together for the first time for the Universal Exposition in Paris of 1937. Sert was responsible for designing the Spanish Pavilion, which would house Guernica by Picasso, The Mower by Miró and Alexander Calder's Fountain of Mercury. The latter work can be seen right here. It got its name from the fact that it has mercury instead of water!
Walking around the museum, you'll realize that its structure is a perfect blend of art, architecture, and landscape. Arranged around a central, square-shaped courtyard, the building is a perfect example of Mediterranean rationalism, and is dominated by light and space. White predominates, illuminating both the interior and exterior. You can recognize certain elements of popular Catalan architecture: white blocks, the use of ceramic tiles, roofs that curve outwards. Don't forget to visit the two gardens, which are adorned with Miró's sculptures, and the rooftop decorated with the artist's statues.
FUN FACT: this definition given by poet Jacques Prévert gives you a better idea of Joan Miró than any biography: he is "an innocent man who strolls through the garden of his dreams, smiling".
