Guggenheim, Bilbao

Continuing our exploration of the Basque Country of Spain, on Sunday afternoon we visited the Guggenheim Museum in the city of Bilbao, a mecca for those interested in contemporary art and architecture. This museum, designed by the Canadian-born American architect Frank Gehry, was built along the Nervion River, and was completed in 1997. Other Guggenheim Museums besides the one in Bilbao include locations in New York City (designed by Frank Lloyd wright), Venice, Berlin, Los Vegas, and Abu Dhabi. One of Gehry's goals for the Bilbao museum was to integrate it with the city. Another was to create a structure that would be considered a work of art. In short, the museum is a place that connects with urban life and provides a place for lovers of contemporary art to view a variety of artistic forms. On the outside of the museum, one of the first things we saw was a very sculpture of a spider, measuring about 9 meters in height. For its creator, Louise Bourgeois, the spider represents both protector and predator, and the piece is titled Maman (French for "mother"). Maybe she is protecting the museum and the city of Bilbao. In addition to the permanent works of Bourgeois, Richard Serra, and Jenny Holzer, among others on the main floor of the museum, we saw the temporary exhibit of Abstract Expressionism that included works by Motherwell, Rothko, Pollock, de Kooning and Gorky, for example.

Bilbao has experienced a renaissance since the years of its economic decline, which began in the 70s. The museum has been a major component of the economic revitalization of the city, boosting tourism and creating culture in what was once a vacant lot beside a polluted river. The Bilbao Guggenheim, along with many urban renewal projects, has increased the overall appeal of the city. Within the first 3 years of the museum's opening, tourism quadrupled in Bilbao, bringing in about 500 million euros of economic activity, not only from the museum, but also from the tourists staying in hotels, eating in restaurants, and shopping.

One of my favorite pieces in the museum was by a German painter and sculptor, Anselm Kiefer. The name of the piece is “The Order of the Night,” and it features huge sunflowers that loom over a body (the artist) lying prone on the ground. Because sunflowers follow the sun, this piece expresses the connection between the earth and the sky, as well as humankind's place between the two. The canvas measures 356x463 cm; in other words, it's quite large. I like the piece because of my love for that specific flower, but also because of the simplicity of the colors.