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An outside view of the CaixaForum museum. The open rectangle hides a
secret fountain, often missed by most visitors who usually take the
escalators.
A group of students make their way into the CaixaForum through the main
entrance, a giant revolving door.
A group of school-children walk past the colourful mural created by
the American artist known for his wall drawings, Sol LeWitt.
Taking a moment to learn a little more about Rubens, Van Dyck and Jordaens,
masters of 17th-century Flemish painting, on display until the 1st of
February 2004.
A man looks into the store, where all sorts of interesting items and
fine books are on sale.
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Images and Text by Gaston
Magrinat. Click on any image for a larger version.
The CaixaForum is housed in the modernist Casaramona,
a textile factory designed in 1909 by Josep Puig I Cadafalch. The “La
Caixa foundation” both restored and enlarged the building, adding
6,000 square meters under the original structure to create a multi-purpose
cultural and social center to be enjoyed by all ages.
One of the first things that captures your attention
as you approach the CaixaForum, besides the splendour of the beautifully
restored brick building, is the enormous steel and glass structure marking
the path to the main entrance below. Two magnificent trees with solid
limbs branch out to end under a soft canopy of clear glass. In the shade
of these steel giants lie the escalators that convey you into the open
white stone courtyard below. This courtyard conceals a secret garden
where a fine sheet of water flows under perfectly aligned slabs of white
stone. Though quite different from the modernist building, this multilevel
courtyard, the work of the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, does not
seem out of place and provides a smooth transition into the CaixaForum.
After passing through the courtyard you go through
a single revolving glass door into the main lobby, where you can pick
up literature on the exhibits and a calender of events at the information
desk, visit the store or the Mediateca (media library), and explore
the open spaces and the colourful wall drawing by the American artist
Sol LeWitt. This underground addition to the building also houses a
modern multi-purpose auditorium which is host to a wide range of cultural
activities open to the public such as concerts and talks, usually for
a very modest admission fee.
The escalator takes us up to the three exhibition halls,
the cafeteria and the open Arts Laboratory, located on the ground floor.
One of the exhibition rooms permanently houses the Foundation’s
Contemporary Art Collection, one of the largest in Europe. Its over
800 items are rotated periodically so that over time the entire collection
is displayed. The other two halls, separated by an inner courtyard,
are home to a dynamic range of exhibits. Currently on display (until
January 4, 2004) is an excellent collection of over 350 works by the
brilliant French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson as well as a selection
of works by Rubens, Van Dyck and Jordaens titled; “Masters of
17th-Century Flemish Painting From the Hermitage Museum” (until
February 1, 2004). The Arts Laboratory is an interactive hall where
a wide range of activities takes place, all of which are designed to
teach aspects of culture and art through experiential learning.
The CaixaForum is a wonderful way to spend a few hours
in Barcelona. Its combination of Catalan Modernism and contemporary
architecture is unobtrusive, symbiotic and visually appealing. The museum
is constantly changing its exhibits and offers a wide range of cultural
activities and workshops through its well-planned calendar. Admission
to the CaixaForum is free and a visit is well worth the time, especially
if the weather is uncooperative.
Caixa Forum
Avinguda del Marquès de Comillas, 6-8
08038 Barcelona
Opening hours:
From Tuesday to Sunday, from 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Closed on Mondays.
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These two ladies are about to ascend to the main entrance on the escalator,
protected by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki's glass and steel
trees.
A man collects information in the spacious main lobby of the CaixaForum.
The escalators lead to the main exhibits.
Children playing with one of Jeppe Hein's 7 chromesteel spheres that
wander about the Caixa Forum lobby on their own, much to the visitors’
surprise.
This couple takes advantage of this comfortable sofa while leafing through
some of the museum's literature. Note the giant steel ball in the foreground.
The Mediateca is a modern media library fully equipped with computers
and a wide range of media resources.
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