Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA)
Pl. dels Àngels 1 • Mon & Wed-Fri 11am-7.30pm (mid-June-mid-Sept till 8pm), Sat 10am-8pm, Sun & hols
10am-3pm; closed Tues all year • €9 all exhibitions or €6.50 individual special exhibitions, one-year pass €15,
under-14s free • Tours of the permanent collection in English Mon & Wed-Sat 4pm, included in admission fee
• 934 120 810,
macba.cat
• Catalunya
Anchoring the upper reaches of El Raval is the iconic
Museud'ArtContemporanideBar-
celona
,whichopenedin1995.Thecontrastbetweenthehuge,white,almostluminous,struc-
ture of the museum and the buildings around it couldn't be starker. The aim of the architect,
American Richard Meier, was to make as much use of natural light as possible and to “cre-
ate a dialogue” between the museum and its surroundings; this is reflected in the front of the
building, which is constructed entirely of glass. Once inside, you go from the ground to the
fourth floor up a series of swooping ramps which afford continuous views of the square be-
low - usually full of careering skateboarders.
Inside the museum
The museum
collection
represents the main movements in contemporary art since 1945,
mainly (but not exclusively) in Catalunya and Spain. Periodically changing themed exhibi-
tions highlight selected works from the permanent collection, while there are always two or
three other exhibitions and installations on too, so, depending on when you visit, you may
catch works by major names such as Joan Miró, Antoni Tàpies or Eduardo Chillida. Joan
Brossa, leading light of the Catalan Dau al Set group of the 1950s, also has work here, as do
contemporary multimedia and installation artists like Antoni Muntadas and Francesc Torres.
Probably the best way to acquaint yourself with the collection is to take the free
guided
tour
. There's also a good museum
shop
selling everything from designer espresso cups to
art books, and a
café-bar
around the back that's part of the CCCB (Contemporary Culture
Centre).
