Visit Antoni Tàpies Foundation and a modernism building featuring the city's largest collection of this style.
A veritable little museum, it contains many timeless works of art.
In this article, I'd like to take you on a journey of discovery.
The Antoni Tàpies Foundation: article summary
The Antoni Tàpies Foundation in brief
The Antoni Tàpies Foundation is both a pioneering modernist building (completed in the early 1880s) and the main collection of XXᵉ century Catalan artist Antoni Tàpies. Tàpies died in February 2012, at the age of 88.
Known for his esoteric work, he left behind a powerful palette of paintings and a foundation dedicated to promoting contemporary artists.
A building by Montaner
The building, designed by Domènech i Montaner for the Editorial Montaner i Simón publishing house, combines a brick-clad iron framework with Islamic-inspired decoration. Tàpies crowned it with the meanderings of his own mind, a work entitled Núvol i Cadira (Cloud and Chair), that swirls over the building like a storm.
Although Antoni Tàpies' art is difficult to understand, in his work he explored a number of themes, such as:
- Left-wing politics and humanitarianism
- Zen meditation practices and their relationship between nature and insight
- the incarnation as seen in the christian faith
- and art as alchemy or magic.
All these themes can be found today in the particular decoration of the building.
Antoni Tàpies Foundation: a collection of priceless works
The artist launched the Fundació in 1984 to promote contemporary art, donating much of his own work. The collection covers all of Tàpies' creations, and includes over 2,000 works. You will also find contributions from other contemporary artists.
In the two main exhibition spaces, you can see an ever-changing selection of around 20 works by Tàpies, from early 1940s self-portraits to large-scale objects such as Jersei negre. Rotating exhibitions take place in the basements.
Antoni Tàpies exploded onto the art scene in the 1950s when he began incorporating waste paper, mud and rags into his paintings, eventually moving to the point where his works included entire pieces of furniture, water and beams.
Today, his scribbled, paint-coated pieces are sought-after by all, from wine bottle labels to theater posters.
An artist who leaves behind a strong legacy
The artist, who died in February 2012. Before his departure, he took advantage of the former Montaner i Simon publishing house to create the Antoni Tàpies Foundation, dedicating it to the study and appreciation of thecontemporary art.
The building remains one of the first examples of modernism to combine exposed brick and iron, and is now a cultural center and museum dedicated to the work and life of the man himself.
How to get to the Antoni Tàpies Foundation
The easiest way to get there is to take :
- the metro is to get out at Paseo de Gràcia station on lines L2, L3, L4
How much does the tour cost?
To visit the site, count :
- 8 € per adult
- 6,40 € for under-18s
What are the opening hours of the Antoni Tàpies Foundation?
The museum is closed on Mondays. However, the museum opens :
- Tuesday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you love contemporary art, I can't recommend a visit to the Antoni Tàpies Foundation. Here, you'll discover many of the artist's works and be able to contemplate the exhibitions also taking place in the building. What you need make your visit to Barcelona a contemporary art experience.
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