Culture
Casa Vicens, Vila de Gràcia
For a city that has grown accustomed to the irreverent architect’s living legacy and legend, the 2017 restoration of Casa Vicens into a small museum re-galvanised Gaudí’s origin story. The house’s first stone was laid in 1883 but its rebirth combines veneration for the modernist building’s past with a new vocation to facilitate dialogue anchored in contemporary topics. Moving between the original rooms and the new exhibition spaces feels like stepping through an imaginary looking glass that explores Gaudí’s pervasive influence through the eyes of the city’s modern milieu of designers. Tickets must be pre-booked as a measure to prevent queues on the pavement, which disrupts the residential neighbourhood.
Fundació Joan Miró, Montjuïc
A common misperception about the Fundació Joan Miró is that the museum is all about its namesake’s work. In fact, the artist himself established this modern outpost atop Montjuïc as the Centre d’Estudis d’Art Contemporani (CEAC) to champion new talents. While it is home to Miró’s extensive archive and many of his surrealist works, the space remains dedicated to spotlighting experimental and emerging artists. Josep Lluís Sert’s architectural masterpiece, which subverted the idea of an enclosed museum by opening up the structure to beams of sunlight, is worth the visit alone.
Prats Nogueras Blanchard, Ciutat Vella
A spirit of collaboration pervades this private showroom, the fruit of a merger between Galeria Joan Prats and Nogueras Blanchard. Its four owners – Álex Nogueras, Rebeca Blanchard and sisters Patricia and Marta de Muga – bring decades of expertise and perspective to their new proverbial round table, which can be found on the edge of the district known locally as the Ensanche. The gallery’s 400 sq m headquarters is an old photography school, revamped by architect Marc Rabassa. The inaugural show exhibited works by Antoni Muntadas, followed by a summer show by Argentinean artist Mercedes Azpilicueta. Always pushing the envelope, this art space provides a window into Barcelona’s curatorial avant-garde.
Parc de Montjuïc, Montjuïc
This hilly expanse overlooking the city offers a natural reprieve from the urban bustle but also hides some of the city’s cultural treasures. One of the most overlooked is the Museum of Ethnology and Cultures of the World, which was built in 1973 and explores the influences of the region beyond its borders. Then there’s the marble-made German pavilion from the 1929 International Expo in Barcelona, designed by Mies Van der Rohe and Lilly Reich, which occasionally hosts eclectic shows of its own. At the base of the hills sits La Caixa Forum. Known for its temporary exhibitions, you’ll also discover more permanent surprises such as one of Joseph Beuys’ Space of Pain installations (Hinter dem Knochen wird gezählt – Schmerzraum), which explores the conviction that art can provoke revolutionary change.
miesbcn.com; caixaforum.org/ca/barcelona; barcelona.cat/museu-etnologic-culturesmon/ca
Zumzeig Cine, Hostafrancs
This non-profit theatre underwent a head-to-toe makeover in late 2016 and the results have made it a trailblazer for arthouse cinemas in the city. Run by a co-operative dedicated to screenings that aspire to spark conversation and unite the local community, the smart 73-seat auditorium shows films selected from an eclectic roster of international and independent features, shorts, documentaries and art films. Adjoining the screen is a small French-inspired bistro with a well-stocked bar.
