In a new exhibition at the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco’s Villa Paloma, Spanish artist Miquel Barceló takes visitors on an immersive voyage through the underwater world with his signature multi-discipline blend of paintings, ceramics and textures.
‘Miquel Barceló, Oceanographer’ officially opened to the public on 7th June following a special vernissage earlier in the week.
The exhibition is Barceló’s first major showcase that is solely dedicated to the oceans, but the marine world has always captivated the Spaniard, who describes the works displayed at the Villa Paloma as “an immersive dive without breathing equipment”.
Speaking to Monaco Life at the press unveiling, Barceló said, “Each floor of the Villa Paloma represents a different theme of the sea, accompanied by different lighting in an intimate and pleasant setting.”
The experience begins on a path that traces the origins of life through to our own human interactions with the sea: fishing, sailing and cooking.
In his paintings, Barceló plays with textures, recreating the meeting of the Earth’s crust with the seafloor and water through layering. He teases the sensations of underwater tremors and of crashing waves with creations that intersect an array of techniques and materials.
Barceló’s notebooks, where he sketches, writes and records his thoughts during his artistic process, are on display on the second floor of the museum, offering visitors an authentic insight into the mind and imagination of one of the greatest contemporary artists of our time.
Björn Dahlström, the director of the Nouveau Musée National de Monaco (NMNM), shared with Monaco Life, “We are very honoured to be hosting such a unique exhibition.”
The exhibition will be open to the public every day from 10am to 6pm until 13th October, except in July and August, when the opening hours switch to 11am to 7pm. Tickets cost €6, but entrance is free on Sundays.
For more information about the exhibition, click here.
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Photos by Monaco Life