I have posted loads of stuff about the late great Antonio Gaudi on the forum before, and gone in to great detail, but he is not the only great talent that Spain has ever seen, there are some truly amazing individuals in Spain’s cultural history, architects, artists, great sculptors such as Juan de Avalos, who created the giant sculptings and other facets for the great cross and mausoleum/basilica of "La Santa Cruz del Valle de Los Caidos" near San Lorenzo, which although has a slightly touchy subject kind of reputation, is still by far an historical work of art (master piece) that should be seen at least twice in the life of any Spain resident, native or expat, once seen it definitely impacts on the senses, and I personally have never forgotten my 1st visit there years ago, after I had seen Juan de Avalos talking about the work on TV, and the work is astonishing, I can't imagine how he managed to do those gigantic bronze sculptings, mounted at the base of that huge cross, it's quite breath taking when standing at the foot of that cross, overlooking the valley.

But anyway, back to two other geniuses that I was about to mention, this is about one in Madrid at the moment, he was from Holland, but spent time in Madrid.

''The art of the impossible''

The Canal Foundation presents an exhibition on the work of one of the world's most important graphic artists, Maurits Cornelis Escher (Holland, 1898-1972), at its exhibition hall in Madrid.


This genius is known for his obsession with impossible constructions, the infinite, and the way he played with the representation of three-dimensional space on paper. His interest in architecture, mathematics and geometry is reflected in the structures, oneiric landscapes and surprising transformations visible in his art.

Up and down become confused in staircases that ascend and descend without ever getting anywhere; night and day come together in one single etching; regular division of the surface is used to reproduce small figures of animals and plants. The exhibition comprises more than 130 xylographs, lithographs and etchings by this brilliant artist.

...and here is the link to find out more.... http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Eventos/Eventos/0/Expos...mposible?language=EN


The other genius is located in Barcelona - Spain, and that of course is our old friend Joan Miró.

''Exhibition: Joan Miró 1956–1983. Sentiment, emotion, gesture''

The Joan Miró Foundation in Barcelona presents an exhibition on the final period of this artist's career.

It comprises a selection of 40 works by Miró, dated 1956-1983, which looks at the last 20 years of his life, a period when the artist was particularly sensitive to social and political events of the time, and when he began to review his own creations from previous periods. It also takes a look back at preparatory sketches accumulated over the years: some he would destroy, others would be the starting point for new projects.

The special relationship with large-format works that he had experienced with ceramic murals and mural painting also comes back to the fore during this period.

and the link.... http://www.spain.info/TourSpain/Eventos/Eventos/0/Expos...%20gesto?language=EN

I sincerely hope that I can encourage some members to try and find the time, money and effort, to go & see these two events, and also to try and get to see some of the many works of genius that there are all over Spain, there is so much to see, so many great works of art, so many hidden Spanish treasures, just sitting there waiting to be discovered again & again by a succession of newcomers to España.

Suerte.

Angelo.