Barcelona’s sleek contemporary art museum looms in
bold contrast to the surrounding area. Together with the nearby Centre
de Cultura Contemporània (CCCB), the Museu d’Art Contemporani (MACBA)
has provided a focal point for modern Barcelona since its opening in
1995, and, has played an integral part in the rejuvenation of El Raval.
MACBA’s permanent collection includes a slew of big-name Spanish and
international contemporary artists, while excellent temporary exhibits
feature everything from painting to video installations. The CCCB serves
as a crossroads of contemporary culture with cutting-edge art exhibits,
lectures and film screenings.
MACBA
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Plaça dels Àngels
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Metro Catalunya
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93 412 08 10
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www.macba.cat
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Open late Sep–late Jun: 11am–7:30pm Mon
& Wed–Fri, 10am–8pm Sat, 10am–3pm Sun; Jul–Sep 11am–8pm Mon, Wed,
Fri, 11am–midnight Thu, 10am–8pm Sat, 10am–3pm Sun
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Adm €7.50 (all floors); €6 (2 exhibitions); €3 (1 floor) MACBA collection; €3.50 (all floors) Wed
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DA
CCCB
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The MACBA and CCCB have
separate entrances, though they share the Plaça Joan Coromines
courtyard. The CCCB is accessible from C/Montalegre and MACBA from the
Plaça dels Àngels. Both multilevel galleries have flexible display
spaces.
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Snack at the nearby restaurant Pla dels Àngels (
on Carrer Ferlandina
), which offers budget-priced nouvelle/Catalan food to a hip crowd.
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Top 10 Features
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Interior Corridors
Space
and light are omnipresent in the walkways between floors. Look through
the glass panels onto the Plaça dels Àngels for myriad images before you
even enter the gallery spaces.
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Visiting Artist’s Space
The raison d’etre
of MACBA is this flexible area showing the best in contemporary art.
Past exhibitions have included Zush and acclaimed painter Dieter Roth.
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Revolving Permanent Collection
The
permanent collection comprises over 2000 – mostly European – modern
artworks, 10 per cent of which are on show at any one time. All major
contemporary artistic trends are represented. This work by Eduardo
Arranz Bravo is titled Homea (1974).
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Façade
American
architect Richard Meier’s stark, white, geometrical façade makes a
startling impression against the backdrop of this dilapidated
working-class neighbourhood. Hundreds of panes of glass reflect the
skateboarders who gather here daily.
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Puzzle Area
On
the ground floor, several tables are set out with jigsaw puzzles. The
puzzles, which feature photos taken in neighbouring flats, give an
intriguing glimpse of life in the nearby tenement buildings.
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A Sudden Awakening
One
of the only pieces of art on permanent display is Antoni Tàpies’
deconstructed bed (1992–3), with its bedding flung across the wall in
disarray. Its presence to the right of the main entrance underlines
Tàpies’ importance as a key player in the world of Catalan modern art.
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Thinking & Reading Spaces
Pleasant
and unusual features of MACBA are the white leather sofas between the
galleries. Usually next to a shelf of relevant books and a set of
headphones, these spaces provide the perfect resting spot to contemplate
– and learn more about – the art.
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El Patio de les Donnes/CCCB
This
courtyard off Carrer Montalegre forms part of the neighbouring CCCB. An
ultra-modern prismatic screen provides a mirror reflecting the
18th-century patio – a magical juxtaposition of different architectural
styles.
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Temporary Exhibitions/CCCB
Unlike
MACBA, exhibitions at the CCCB tend to be more theme based than artist
specific. Home to both a festival of cinema shorts (Sep) and the Sònar
techno festival (Jun), the CCCB always manages to be at the forefront of
the latest cultural trend.
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Plaça Joan Coromines
The
contrast between the modern MACBA, the new University building, the
Tuscan-style CCCB and the 19th-century mock-Romanesque church make this
square one of the most enchanting in the city. It is home to the terrace
restaurants of MACBA and CCCB.