Miró Wall
Encyclopedia
The Miró Wall is a ceramic tiled wall designed by Catalan
artist Joan Miró
for the Wilhelm Hack Museum in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The wall, which comprises 7,200 tiles, is 55 metres (180.4 ft) wide and 10 metres (32.8 ft) high.
. He created the 7,200 tiles based on a design by Miro involving surreal figures and animals. Artigas had to work from an image which Miro had created at one-tenth the scale of the finished wall. Using that model, he marked out each section on an individual 20 by 36 cm (7.9 by 14.2 in) tile. The artwork was completed in 1979 and includes the signatures of both artists at the bottom, left-hand corner. Miro's signature is undated; Artigas' signature is dated 1979.
Artigas was a second generation surrealist. His father had been a ceramicist for both Picasso and Miro. When Artigas' father wanted to retire, Miro brought the younger Artigas back from exile in France, where he had been avoiding the Spanish Francoist regime. Artigas junior worked with Miro for twenty years creating other similar sized murals for UNESCO
, IBM
and the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos in Madrid.
The mural was opened at the same time as the new museum was built. It was in the town's market place and had been constructed to hold the art collection of the Cologne
businessman, Wilhelm Hack, whose collection had been given to Ludwigshafen. Hack saw the new museum as he died in 1985.
in Gallifa
, a village near Barcelona. They had to be transported 1200 kilometres (745.6 mi) to the museum. Because of the terrain, they were placed four to a box so they could be carried down the mountain by mule. After that, the tiles were transported by lorry and train to complete the journey from Catalonia
(Spain) to south western Germany. The wall has become discoloured from pollution and has not been cleaned because of the high cost.
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
artist Joan Miró
Joan Miró
Joan Miró i Ferrà was a Spanish Catalan painter, sculptor, and ceramicist born in Barcelona.Earning international acclaim, his work has been interpreted as Surrealism, a sandbox for the subconscious mind, a re-creation of the childlike, and a manifestation of Catalan pride...
for the Wilhelm Hack Museum in Ludwigshafen, Germany. The wall, which comprises 7,200 tiles, is 55 metres (180.4 ft) wide and 10 metres (32.8 ft) high.
Design
The elements in the mural are colorful and fanciful creatures. The 55 by 10 m (180.4 by 32.8 ft) mural was produced by Joan Gardy ArtigasJoan Gardy Artigas
Joan Gardy Artigas is a Catalan ceramist, artist and a close collaborator with Joan Miro-Life:Artigas was born on 18 June 1938 in Boulogne-Billancourt and his father was Josep Llorens Artigas who worked closely with Miro and Pablo Picasso. Artigas was able to work for Miro, whilst still a...
. He created the 7,200 tiles based on a design by Miro involving surreal figures and animals. Artigas had to work from an image which Miro had created at one-tenth the scale of the finished wall. Using that model, he marked out each section on an individual 20 by 36 cm (7.9 by 14.2 in) tile. The artwork was completed in 1979 and includes the signatures of both artists at the bottom, left-hand corner. Miro's signature is undated; Artigas' signature is dated 1979.
Artigas was a second generation surrealist. His father had been a ceramicist for both Picasso and Miro. When Artigas' father wanted to retire, Miro brought the younger Artigas back from exile in France, where he had been avoiding the Spanish Francoist regime. Artigas junior worked with Miro for twenty years creating other similar sized murals for UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and the Palacio de Exposiciones y Congresos in Madrid.
The mural was opened at the same time as the new museum was built. It was in the town's market place and had been constructed to hold the art collection of the Cologne
Cologne
Cologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
businessman, Wilhelm Hack, whose collection had been given to Ludwigshafen. Hack saw the new museum as he died in 1985.
Construction
The tiles were firedKiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
in Gallifa
Gallifa
Gallifa is a municipality in the comarca of the Vallès Occidental in Catalonia, north-western Spain.-Claim to fame:The tiles for Joan Miro's ceramic mural Gallifa is a municipality in the comarca of the Vallès Occidental in Catalonia, north-western Spain.-Claim to fame:The tiles for Joan Miro's...
, a village near Barcelona. They had to be transported 1200 kilometres (745.6 mi) to the museum. Because of the terrain, they were placed four to a box so they could be carried down the mountain by mule. After that, the tiles were transported by lorry and train to complete the journey from Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
(Spain) to south western Germany. The wall has become discoloured from pollution and has not been cleaned because of the high cost.
Sources
- Marlis Jonas (Photos), Richard W. Gassen (text): city art space. Public Art in Ludwigshafen am Rhein. Kehrer Verlag, Heidelberg 2007, ISBN 978-3-936636-17-8 .