Review: Fundació Joan Miró

Zoom out. What’s this place all about?
It takes a certain type of space to accommodate Miró—an artist whose works range from a white canvas with a single black line to bold, primary-colored, robot-like sculptures. So it makes sense that Miró worked with his friend, architect Josep Lluís Sert, to design the building himself. It’s modern, very white, and kind of minimalist by Barcelona’s standards—it's no La Sagrada Família—but the coolest part is knowing that you’re seeing Miró’s work laid out exactly as he intended.

Ye shall know them by their permanent collection: How was it?
However you feel about Miró, the collection is lively and energetic and devoid of the stuffy pretense that art museums can attract. (A blue dot in a white rectangle might have some traditionalists shaking their heads.) But there is a vibe about this place that’s as irresistible and energizing as your morning coffee.

But also by their new shoes. How were the exhibits?
As well as space for his own works, Miró wanted a venue for contemporary arts research and conversation—so there’s a wealth of seasonal displays. Downstairs, the Espai 13 studio is always taken over by a freelance curator or emerging artist–you’ll find videos, light installations, even personal performances. For temporary exhibitions, nothing is too niche: take 2018’s Beehave, a multi-media installation exploring our relationship with bees.

What did you make of the crowd?
Extremely varied—aficionados spending several minutes devouring each piece, to groups of bros you’d expect to see drinking beer on the beach.

Any guided tours worth trying?
Download the multimedia guide to your phone - it’s worth it, particularly if you’re new to Miró. It focuses on 30 works and puts them in a political/geographical/Miró-headspace context. You’ll need to bring your own headphones. 

Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it?
There are two: one with your generic museum offerings (stationery, scarves, mugs); the other is a specialist bookshop that focuses on coffee-table art books, and – best of all – sells prints by exciting new contemporary artists.

Is the café worth a stop, or should we just plan on going elsewhere?
When the bar is open, you can have lunch outside on the terrace with some Miró sculptures for company.

Any advice for the time- or attention-challenged? You can try to whizz through, but expect to get distracted. The hit list would include the delightfully titled Woman and Birds at Sunrise, and the sculptures on the roof. Go at sunset for colors to die for.