I was recently lucky enough to holiday in Mallorca, the beautiful Balearic Island in the Mediterranean Sea. We were staying in Cala Major, which is where Joan Miro had his Son Abrines home and spent much of his time outside of Barcelona. Now his former home and studio constitutes the Fundacio Joan Miro, which is open to the public at 10 Euro per person and has a rich and personal history for Miro.
In 1956 after winning the Guggenheim prize for the Mur du soleil and Mur de la lune for the Paris UNESCO building, he purchased Son Boter, a typical rural Mallorcan house dating back to the 18th century, which is right next door to his Son Abrines home. Son Boter is the oldest of Joan Miro Fundació’s buildings. It became Joan Miró’s second Mallorcan studio, which allowed him to move to Mallorca full-time and have the studio he had longed for his whole life.
Miró spent some time creating the perfect studio environment and worked with his friend architect Josep Lluís Sert, to whom he wrote,
“I have just bought Son Boter, the magnificent house behind ours. As well as being a good investment, it provides shelter from bothersome neighbours”.
Miro adorned his studio, including the walls, with artefacts and rough sketches until he had created the perfect creative environment for the creation of his huge abstract pieces.
Charcoal Triptych at The Fundacio Joan Miro in Mallorca
This charcoal triptych was inspired by the sand, sea, sun and moon at the nearby beach and is typical of his later charcoal works and sketches.
The Studio at Son Boter
The studio itself, called the studio Sert after his aforementioned friend Joseph Sert, who designed it for him in the Son Boter house next to his original Son Abrines home, has been preserved exactly as it was at Miro's death in 1983 at the age of 90.
“I want everything that I leave behind to stay just as it is when I am gone.”
Joan Miró
And it is exactly as it was, which is quite incredible to see, including all the stacked artworks and treasures just piled up against the walls.
The main Fundacio building contains work after work, including murals on the walls and giant sculptures in the gardens.
At just a ten minute walk from the main street and resort hotels of Calla Major, I would strongly recommend any visitor to Mallorca should check out the Fundacio Joan Miro, and for any art students or particular fans of the artist, this is an absolute must-see.