Spanish surrealist artist, Juan Miro, took my breath away 4 years ago when I went to see his work at the MIro Foundation in Barcelona and I am delighted to see the first display of his work in Britain since 1964, at the Tate Modern.
Amidst the fairytale Gaudi architecture of Barcelona, Miro’s playful and colourful style represented the Mediterranean vibrancy and humour through a political kaleidoscope. The Ladder of Escape captures his life’s work over 70 years including his first masterpieces dating back to 1921.
Walking through his exhibition which includes paintings and sculptures, you can get an insight into Juan Miro. Influenced by his hero Picasso, Miro was both abstract and surreal. He was confused and opportune, but most of all he was political. He was a committed critic of Franco’s regime and left Spain in 1936 because of the Civil War. He was devoted to Catalan independence and continuously used his art to make political statements.
However one of my personal favourites in this exhibition is a series of paintings named “The Constellations”. They are in a room all to themselves and the magic of Miro can be discovered here. They depict Miro, his thoughts, his fascinations and his life. They are his coming of age paintings as an artist.
I would thoroughly recommend this cleverly assembled exhibition. The Tate Modern has cleverly selected the best of Miro creating consistency in his inconsistency and rational in his irrational. Even if surreal art is not for you, Miro is a piece of history well worth seeing.
Bunty
