Location: Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
Opening: 18 October 1997
Designer: Canadian-American architect Frank Gehry
Style: Modern and contemporary art
20 years ago, Bilbao, in the north of Spain, embarked on an ambitious regeneration of their city led by the construction of the Guggenheim museum . A collapse in the manufacturing industry,Soaring unemployment and pollution, had left the city’s economy on its knees.
But today after a major regeneration project it’s one of the tourism capitals of the world. The visitors are drawn by this. The Guggenheim museum.
Considered by many to be American architect Frank Gehry´s masterpiece, The Guggenheim is a striking construction of titanium and glass built just over 20 years ago. It’s the crowning achievement of the city’s regeneration
Last year alone more than 1.300.000 people visited the Guggenheim museum. To put that in perspective, is four times the population of Bilbao, and that has a massive impact on the city. Not culturally but crucially economically too.
The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao is one of the most beautiful and exciting galleries in the world. In addition to showcasing the very latest in modern art, the museum showcase other Guggenheim art collections from it sister museums in New York, Venice and Abu Dhabi.
Even if the exhibitions are exciting, the best part of the Guggenheim museum Bilbao its the building itself. The amazing architecture is so impressive that you could spend hours just walking around inside the museum.
The interior is filled with curves and crazy angles with a massive atrio which covers five floors. Walking bridges connects different exhibition areas and balconies overlooking the atrio gives you a great perspective and view of the amazing construction.
Step inside Richard Serra’s The matter of Time. The visitors walk around the artwork, creating an unforgettable, dizzying feeling of space in motion.
Jenny Holzer´s Led installation creates a one of a kind environment where blue and red LED lights collapse.
Discover the monumental, massive stainless steel balloons of Tulips and how American artist Jeff Koons draw inspiration from birthday parties, holidays, the coming of spring, and other celebrations.
Photography is not allowed in most of the galleries. Security stuff will kindly let you know about that.
