Touring the 'Miralles Circuit'

Three exhibitions comprising half of MIRALLES opened to the public on April 15, kicking off eight months of events that trace a so-called "Miralles Circuit" across parts of Barcelona. MIRALLES. A quarts de quatre… is on display at Saló del Tinell, a historic space that dates back centuries and notably hosted the first retrospective exhibition of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, back in 1956. The exhibition is curated by Benedetta Tagliabue, who founded Miralles Tagliabue EMBT in 1994 with her late husband, and Joan Roig of Batlle i Roig Arquitectura. As the name implies, the exhibition focuses on four projects that are considered Miralles's masterpieces: the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, the Igualada Cemetery and Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona, and the Sports Pavilion in Huesca.

Speaking at Saló del Tinell the day before the opening, Tagliabue and Roig emphasized the goal of their exhibition: to focus on Miralles as a person. Although Enric never worked alone, Tagliabue said, the exhibition wants to convey how he worked as a highly individual artist. As such, MIRALLES. A quarts de quatre… is packed with numerous sketches, photo montages, and collages, as well as architectural models. The exhibition, like the rest of MIRALLES, is intended to be accessible to everybody, not just other architects. Below are details on A quarts de quatre…, the other two exhibitions that opened on April 15, and the forthcoming events, all of which comprise MIRALLES.

MIRALLES. A quarts de quatre…

April 15 - July 4, 2021
Saló del Tinell. Plaça del Rei, 10 Barcelona
Entry fee: 3 € (general fee MUHBA)

"Exhibition co-curated by Benedetta Tagliabue and Joan Roig that shows his work as an architect focused on four of his most representative works: the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, the Igualada Cemetery, the Santa Caterina Market in Barcelona, and the Sports Pavillion in Huesca. Original and unpublished material will be exhibited: models, plans, photographs and videos. The entire creative process of Miralles that will show to the general public, from the first approaches to the construction."

MIRALLES. Photos & Collages

April 15 - June 30, 2021
Centre d’Arts Santa Mònica. La Rambla, 7 Barcelona
Free entry

"This exhibition shows part of the photographic documentation of the life and work of Enric Miralles. Photographs taken by himself that cover both his personal and professional life. Directly from the private archive of Enric Miralles, his emblematic photographic collages will be shown for the first time. This exhibition is coordinated by Salvador Gilabert, professor and project manager at Miralles Tagliabue EMBT architecture studio."

MIRALLES. To be continued…

April 15 - December 23, 2021
Fundació Enric Miralles. Passatge de la Pau, 10 bis Barcelona
Free entry

"The Fundació Enric Miralles has, among its objectives, the preservation of the architect's works, ideas, and creative spirit for the benefit of future generations. ‘MIRALLES. To be continued…’ covers the legacy that Miralles left in his studio and how it has marked the trajectory of Miralles Tagliabue EMBT throughout these 20 years. Models at different scales and referring to various phases of creation, sketches, photographs, correspondences, collages and projections are the protagonists of this exhibition project that will feature reflections by Martha Thorne."

MIRALLES. Perpetuum Mobile

May 27 - August 29, 2021
Disseny Hub. Plaça de les Glòries, 37 Barcelona
Entry fee: 3 € (buy at Disseny HUB)

"Exhibition of Enric Miralles as a designer. Furniture and objects that he designed along his life for his own use will be shown together for the first time. 'Inestable', 'Dolmen', 'Troncos' and 'Tropical' tables, the 'Lelukaappi' shelving inspired by the work of the architect Alvar Aalto and several chairs and unpublished lamps. The exhibition, curated by Benedetta Tagliabue and Joan Roig, and organized with the support of American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) with wood donated by AE Maderas, is completed with unpublished plans, drawings, and sketches of the design process of these pieces."

MIRALLES. Converses

June 3, 10, & 17, 2021
COAC. Plaça Nova, 5 Barcelona
Free entry

"The Barcelona College of Architects of Catalonia (COAC) joins the tribute to Miralles with a cycle of three talks with international guests. Architects, academics, and artists will share their experiences with Enric Miralles and will talk about his career and influence. Meetings between Rafael Moneo and Benedetta Tagliabue, Liz Diller and Beatriz Colomina; and Soraya Smithson and Carme Pinós."

MIRALLES. A l’escola

September 22 - November 24, 2021
ETSAB.  Av. Diagonal, 649-651 Barcelona
Free entry

"His work as a teacher was a very important facet in the life of Enric Miralles, who worked as a professor at various universities. The exhibition ‘MIRALLES. A l’escola’, curated by Carme Ribas and Ton Salvadó, focuses on the activity of the ETSAB, where he trained and to which he dedicated most of his teaching activity."