Mysterious Faces From the Past by Igor Mitoraj

This has been a busy weekend for me. I have not been able to post right on time and besides I have been all day long participating as vocal at one of the electoral tables during deputy elections. So here is what I've got, an almost mortuary image with a strange attraction. As you can see in the picture these small faces on the base of a pedestal at some bigger sculptoric work by Igor Mitoraj are rather spooky, but that is what makes them more interesting. Here is a link to Igor Mitoraj's work.

Street Art in Barcelona: Lying Head

Barcelona Photoblog continues with Igor Mitoraj sculptures series. This time, a huge hollow head in the middle of Rambla Catalunya, like some long forgotten totem left behind by an unknown ancient civilization. I close my eyes and I imagine myself diving in a lost world, maybe Atlantis, and seeing the bottom littered with hundreds of these and perhaps part of the 500,000 coins found by US Odyssey submarine who recently claimed to have discovered one of the biggest hoards in a wreckage ever.

Igor Mitoraj: Hold me Tight

This is a detail of one of the sculptures disclosed recently along Rambla de Cataluña between Gran Via and Consell de Cent by artist Igor Mitoraj. I forgot to write down the name so I had to give it this title (sorry Igor!). Most of the statues appear fragmented or eroded, and evoke classic sculpture although with a modern approach. There are 20 sculptures in all, and some of them two or three times the size of a person, so it is really impressive to take a walk and see them standing among the crowd. The work of this Polish sculptor will remain on site till next July 1th and if you want to see more visit CaixaForum where some of his marble statues and sketches are also exhibited. In coming days I will show you some more pictures although it was hard to be original over there as there were photographers of all levels capturing them from every possible angle.

Catalan Sculpture: Satyr Riding on Top of Dolphin

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This is a satyr riding on top of a dolphin blowing a seashell. A clear allegory of a Triton, the merman son of Poseidon, half man half dolphin. There are four of them, being restored at Duke of Medinacelli Square next to Passeig de Colom and Moll de la Fusta (see Google Earth map picture). There are four satyrs in all, surrounding the first iron monument built in Barcelona (Damia Campeny, 1851), a big column holding the statue of Admiral Galcerà Marquet, Counselor of Barcelona in times of King Alphons the Magnanimous of Aragon. The place takes its name after Luis Francisco de la Cerda, Duke of Medinacelli who was the Spanish viceroy of Naples who yielded a part of the estate to the city town hall to build a square after the old Sant Francesc convent was demolished in this area of the city waterfront. The mythological creatures are being restored now but it will surely be a nice place to stay when water springs out of the seashells again. It is a recommended square to sit and relax under the shade of big palm trees on your way from Columbus monument to Maremagnum going along Passeig de Colom. By the way, did you know, that when this square was built the sea used to hit directly upon a high wall or malecon right across the road and all you see nowadays beyond Passeig de Colom is land gained from the sea? But that is part of another story.
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Monument to the Martyrs of 1809

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This is the Monument to the Martyrs of 1809, at Garriga i Bachs Square in the Gothic Quarter (Barri Gotic) of Barcelona. It honors the memory of men executed during Napoleonic occupation (see Napoleonic Wars). The bronze sculpture was made by Josep Llimona and the wall relief by Vicenç Navarro in 1941.
PS: By the way I hope FC Barcelona players don't look as dead and cold as these statues when they visit Liverpool tonight to stay in the Champions League tournament.

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Francesc Cambó Monument in Via Layetana, Barcelona

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Today I show you the statue of Francesc Cambó by Victor Ochoa (1997). Cambó was the founder of La Caixa, one of the most powerful banks in Spain. The monument is just in front of the savings bank headquarters in Via Layetana, a 1917 building by Enric Sagnier. I have found this page called Barcelona Virtual with a pano of the little square and some other interesting 3D tours. It is just another sculpture but I liked the way the omnipresent pigeon added proportions to the statue in absence of other references in the image.

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Ferrer i Guardia Monument in Montjuic

This is a monument in honor of Francisco Ferrer i Guardia in Montjuic. It is one of the many sculptures scattered around these mountain paths. Francisco Ferrer i Guardia was one of those controverted characters in Catalan history. He was an anarchist and a teacher, arrested and executed without any proof by firing squad at Montjuic Fortress in Barcelona in October 13, 1909. 

Born in Alella, Catalonia, in 1859 from a Catholic family, he was known for his progressive and republican ideas and later on for his anarchist actions. Nonetheless he ended up creating what was known as Modern School in which by means of libertarian pedagogy pupils were taught in a different way of thinking that promoted reflection and rebellion against religious order. It was for this reason that his school was deemed a source of subversion and terrorism and although it was eventually closed he managed, after months in jail, to be acquitted and released. 

But his good fortune came to an end in 1909 when the Church falsely accused him of instigating a rebellion which led to attacks to convents and churches during the revolutionary events of the "Tragic Week" in Barcelona. King Alfonso XIII did not pardon him and Ferrer i Guardia was put to death by a firing squad in the Santa Amalia pit in the prison of Montjuic castle. 

This sculpture is a replica of an original in Brussels. Barcelona townhall, right after the II Republic in Spain, solicited that the Belgians sent the statue, to which they opposed in 1931. It was agreed then to make a copy and it wasn't till 1990 that such petition was finally carried out.

Rafael Casanova Statue: Catalan Sculptural Realism

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This is the monument in honor of Rafael Casanova (1660 - 1743), Chief Councillor of the City of Barcelona in the previous year to the invasion of Philip V troops (Bourbons) during the War of the Spanish Succession. It is one of the two significant statues (the other is that of Josep Moragues) where members of the Catalan government lay flowers to commemorate La Diada, the National Day of Catalonia on September 11th. The historic figure, Casanova, is a subject of controversy between Catalans and some other people in Spain (there are lots of political subtleties behind this topic and I am not going to deal with them).
Some facts: Rafel Casanova was appointed Conseller en Cap in 1713, Barcelona was on the Austrian side (Habsburgs) so the city was besieged by Bourbonic troops. The militia led by Casanova and other officers resisted three assaults in a row, until food and powder were scarce and some claims of armistice were made. Nonetheless, rendition was rejected until Barcelona fell in the final assault of September 11th, 1714. Rafael Casanova had been wounded in the leg during battle, and his family hid him from Bourbonic repression declaring, legally (there was a death act), he was dead. Dressed like a friar, he left the city and reappeared after an amnisty in 1719. He died in 1743. Those were times of resistance, heroic resistance, to defend the honor of the city and its inhabitants. The rest is history, and history is always interpreted and reinterpreted according to people's beliefs, but that, is another story. By the way the statue is by Rossend Nobas one of the best representatives of Catalan sculptural realism. Don't miss the omnipresent pigeons!

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Bronze Sculpture of Lady Near MNAC

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Some months ago I posted a picture of this sculpture taken from a different angle and including MNAC building in the background. The woman figure in bronze is such beautiful piece that I thought I should give you a different approach, this time using some HDR treatment. As I am not a pro it has a lot of imperfections but I like the result. If you click on label "bronze" you will be able to see both posts together (at least for now). Happy New Year everyone!

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The Muses at Palau de la Musica Catalana by Montaner in Barcelona

In spite of the awful framing and the rest of technical errors, due to the secrecy of the snapshot,(remember it is generally not allowed to take pictures inside Palau de la Música Catalana or Catalan Music Concert Hall) you are able to see just there on the left, at the end of the stage...

Six of the Nine Muses by Eusebi Arnau coming from the wall like silent ghosts.

There were three ushers and a lady carrying a staff badge, personally reminding me not to shoot, although some people in the middle of the audience managed to take out their compact cameras and I could see some flashes fired. Nevertheless, whenever I raised my reflex someone came and told me off.

Anyway, this stolen glimpse at one of the altars of Catalan modernisme made breaking the rules inevitable and almost justifiable.

Nativity Portal at Sagrada Familia: Three Wise Men

Gold, Incense and Myrrh in the Hands of Gaudi's Three Wise Men. 

A magic moment immortalized by the craftsmanship of this master of architecture. Notice how the figures seem to be carved out of the very stone and the capricious pleiade of ribbon-like protuberances or adornments on the cathedral's walls. 

The Nativity Façade or Nativity Portal has been covered in previous posts, so feel free to browse or search for Sagrada Familia or Gaudi in my photoblog. I have used Photoshop in this picture, specifically Fred Miranda's fantastic BW Workflow Pro plugin.

Joan Miró: Woman and Bird (Dona i Ocell)

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Woman and Bird (1982) known in Catalan as Dona i Ocell was included in an old post of mine back in March, 2006 (Joan Miró: A Photo in Pastel). It was a time when I didn't know much about publishing large pictures. I think this sculpture well deserves a second chance. Notice trencadis work in red, yellow and blue or the sexual symbology invoking fertility and strength associated with ancient Mediterranean cultures. Miró as you know was a painter, a sculptor and a ceramist. Barcelona 1893 - Mallorca 1983, a life of creativeness and innovation. Not fond of being classified he was defined as a surrealist by many and had Dada influences as well, maybe because he believed in the art of automatism, that is drawing or creating in a state of unconciousness or hypnosis, maybe we would call it improvising now. Please complete this succinct information with Joan Miró, Surrealism and Dada at Wikipedia. And then with all that fresh knowledge visit these two magnific sites: Joan Miró Foundation and Pilar i Joan Miró Foundation in Mallorca.

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Google Maps View of Joan Miro Park
Google Earth Map Image of Joan Miró Parc or Parc de l'Escorxador in Barcelona.

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Paper Sculpture on Subway Vent at Paseo de Gracia

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Walking along Paseo de Gracia in Barcelona I discovered this man reading and totally unaware of the marvelous paper sculpture billowing over a subway vent just like Marilyn's skirt in Seven Year Itch. The artist, roll in hand, smiles with complicity.

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Frederic Marès Museum Garden at Barri Gotic in Barcelona

Gardens of  the Royal Palace of Counts of Barcelona (Frederic Mares Museum)

This is an image of the garden in the old Royal Palace of Counts of Barcelona, at present Frederic Marès Museum.

Going along the narrow streets of Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), Comtes de Barcelona street in particular, you find the stairs down this patio adorned with a beautiful fountain in the middle of exuberant orange trees.

At the opposite end you find the entrance to the museum. Of course it is a recommended place to stretch your legs in the shade after a long walk in the old part of the city.

Frederic Marès Museum holds the most important collection of Hispanic sculpture from XII to XIX in Spain.

There's a fine collection of Romanesque and Gothic religious art.

Last but not less, you shouldn't miss the fantastic exhibition of antique children's toys.

Woman Sculpture at History Museum of Catalonia

Woman sculpture at History Museum of Catalonia in Barcelona. As you see I am using my archives as this photoblog is not working full gas due to summer holidays. I am taking note of all those kind comments I have been receiving from old friends and newcomers. By the end of the month I will be visiting you all as usual. Don't think I forget any of you, you are the reason for this place to exist. Have a nice day.

Columbus and La Rambla in Barcelona

As you know I already published a post about Chris Columbus, and many about La Rambla and its magnificent street artists. You should basically know that such beautiful walk was once a torrent along the city walls, pretty muddy when it rained. By the end of the XVIII century the torrent became a promenade and was adorned with trees. In the XIX century wealthy families built their houses along the already famous patch of land. Walls had been demolished after 1860 and the Eixample was being born thanks to Ildefons Cerdà's urban plan out of the old city limits. According to Wikipedia: "The name La Rambla means, in Spanish and Catalan, an intermitent water flow, and is derived from the Arabic 'Ramla' which means 'sandy underground'". La Rambla is divided into 5 parts: Rambla de Canaletes, Rambla del Estudis, Rambla de les Flors, Rambla dels Caputxins, and Rambla de Santa Mónica.

Rambla Catalunya: Bull by Josep Granyer

Bull by Josep Granyer located at Rambla Catalunya and Gran Via. Remember a previous post about a Giraffe called Coqueta by the same author at the upper end of Las Ramblas near Diagonal Avenue?. I took this photograph from below, against the sky. Check real position of the statue here. It seems that he is posing for the camera. It is rather small but I like the way it looks.

View Satellite Picture of Rambla Catalonia on Google Maps.

Picture of Statue at Plaça Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain

This is one of the many statues to admire at Plaça Catalunya (Catalonia Square), just in front of El Corte Inglés Shopping Center, the most famous chain of stores in Spain, which you can see there in the background. I showed you a panoramic view of the square where I am standing right now as taken from those windows you see on top of the building.

Satellite Image of Plaça Catalunya and El Corte Inglés on Google Maps.

Plaça Sant Vicenç de Sarrià, Barcelona: An Illustrious Biker

Not very far away from the spot where I took the graffiti pictures at carrer Cornet i Mas there is Plaça Sant Vicenç de Sarrià, a small square protected by the shade of platane trees. 

In the center, a statue like any other. But wait, what's that he is wearing on the head?.Someone took the trouble of climbing the sculpture and disguised it with this bike helmet. 

Sant Vicenç is the patron of the villa of Sarria. In 1939, during the civil war the statue was beheaded and later restored. As you see its future is still at stake.

See Picture of Statue at Plaça Sant Vicenç de Sarria, Barcelona on a Google Earth Map.

Barcelona Sculpture: Figure Holding Frame at Ronda Litoral

Today I present you with another sculpture located in Plaça dels Voluntaris, a square at Ronda Litoral, the main artery that runs along Barcelona coast. Just in front of Torre Mapfre and Hotel Arts we come across this curious figure holding a frame and covered in brush strokes of vivid colors, behind, a long corridor of poles that once were festooned with the flags of all the countries participating in Barcelona Olympic Games. More than 35.000 volunteers took part in the event, thus the name of the square. Please, check the original picture, maybe you like it better. If you prefer more detail see the sculpture from a different angle.

See Picture of Sculpture at Plaça dels Voluntaris on a Google Earth Map