Although he was born in Barcelona and spent his formative years as an artist in Paris, Miro lived in Mallorca with his wife Pilar who was from the Island and eventually died here in Christmas day 1983.

Joan Miró i Ferrà (20 April 1893 – 25 December 1983) was a Catalan, Spanish painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona. A museum dedicated to his work, the Fundació Joan Miró, was established in his native city of Barcelona in 1975, and another, the Fundació Pilar i Joan Miró, was established in his adoptive city of Palma de Mallorca in 1981.

Miro was one of the first artists to develop free drawing as a way of creating painting from the subconscious, and in many ways he was one of the founders of the movement which became surrealism. Miro was the most surrealist of us all, according to Andrés Breton. However, he never accepted any surrealist doctrine and was famously opposed to any forms of art adopted by the bourgeoisie. "I will break the guitar" he said referring to Picasso's paintings which had been appropriated by the political enlighten.

He was especially skeptical of art which was used to promote political identity and propaganda. Clearly, his assassination of painting was a reaction to the use of art in his way. As well as work by Miro himself, the foundation also includes works by upcoming artists. In the foundation we are also able to see Miro's original studio where a number of his works were created.

 The collection which we can appreciate in the foundation centers mainly on works produced during the sixties and seventies corresponding to his mature period. This particular period was characterized by a transgressive and nonconformist spirit which pushed him to set himself new creative challenges. Two noteworthy works in this particular collection include Miro's oldest known oil painting from 1908 and a ten meter drawing on Japanese paper of great simplicity and plasticity.

If you are a fan of surrealism, then the Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation is clearly worthwhile a visit! It is open every day except Monday and the entrance cost is 6 euros. Just remember this is only one of the great galleries on the Island.



 

 

Location:
FUNDACIÓN PILAR Y JOAN MIRO
Calle de Sardidakis, 29
07015 Palma, Islas Baleares
Telephone: 971701420

 

Opening times:
Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 18:00
Sundays and public holidays 10:00 to 15:00
Mondays closed

Tickets:

General entry: 6 euros
Student card holders: 3 euros

 

Transport:

Bus: 3 and 46

 

 

Joan Miró. 

Covered by Beatriz de Tomás.