July 28: Fundació Joan Miró

The Fundació Joan Miró, Centre d'Estudis d'Art Contemporani is a museum founded by and centered on the work of the Barcelonese Surrealist artist Joan Miró. It was designed by Josep Lluis Sert and opened in 1975, and expanded in 1988.

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On the approach, a pleasant ascension of stairs and terraces.

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The landscape is well-integrated with the museum building, with sculptures arrayed around the gardens and courtyards. This one nearly dissolves into the sky.

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These concrete walks float just a tiny bit above the ground.

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The front entrance, complete with a Catalan-vault-like cantilever, and one of many Personnages (1970) at right.

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To the northwest, above the stairs and terraces from the first photo, is a courtyard open to the superb mountainward view. This is Lune, soleil et une étoile (1968), its own spireness complimenting the mountain towers.

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The northeastern edge of the courtyard, nestling into the hill.

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The roof of the museum is saturated with signature quarter-round monitors, very solidly rendered in boardform concrete. Femme assise et enfant (1967) sits in front.

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Forward curve, backward curve.

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The vivid Jeune fille s'évadant (1967).

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Three concatenated into one. In the foreground is Femme (1971).

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An elemental roof spout and catchbasin.

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These unpainted bronze sculptures are particularly appealing to me because of their glyphicness. Glyphs can be in the round as well. I'm not sure of the name of this one.

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Diagonals up and across.

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In these galleries under renovation, you can see the soft daylight that the monitors and windows provide.

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Back down the corner stairs, looking almost immersed in the lush vegetation outside.

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One of the enclosed courtyards, with a ramp in evidence in the interior beyond.

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A more angular composition, recalling a jumble of vernacular Mediterranean hillside houses.

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On the way out, a striding pidge in front-right sunlight that turns the patio into a de-Chiricoesque plane.

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A verdant milieu.

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A whole network of floating walks.

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A comfortably shaded assembly near the outer edge of the garden.