Passeig de Picasso,
Arc de Triomf

In 1983 Antoni Tàpies made this tribute to the great mastery of Picasso. The busy road and linear water channels border an impressive transparent cube, which was filled with intriguing artifacts for the Picasso centennial.

Tàpies's large glass cube cuts across the walkway of the Passeig de Picasso, a street also named in honour of the great artist. And so it should. Picasso cut, carved and dissected almost every art movement possible; is this artwork a challenge to understand and penetrate the objects stored in the mind of such a genius?

When the water fountain flows, creating a fluid sheet across the glass as intended, the form becomes everflowing with ideas of movement; but, sadly, when technical problems block the pipes, it’s hard to dispell the image of a dusty and discarded monument.

contributor: Debbie Stubbs