The designs of Javier Mariscal on show in La Pedrera

Barcelona (ACN).- The colourful and original world of Valencian designer Javier Mariscal can be seen starting this Wednesday in Barcelona’s famous La Pedrera. It is the first exhibition that the newly formed CatalunyaCaixa has put on after its three-way fusion. The exhibition chronicles the artist’s 20-year career in the city of Barcelona. Mariscal designed the mascot for Barcelona’s 1992 Olympic Games, a Catalan sheepdog depicted in the cubist style. He calls the exhibition a representation of “total freedom”.

Since 1992, when Mariscal designed the famous ‘El Cobi’ mascot for the Barcelona Olympics, he has been an important symbol for design in the city. More than 15 years later, the artist is utilising yet another Barcelona symbol, Gaudí’s famous La Pedrera, to present a retrospective of his art.

Drawings, sculptures, merchandise, furniture and clothes made by the artist can be viewed at the exhibition entitled ‘Mariscal a la Pedrera’. The retrospective covers a wide variety of disciplines and formats that Mariscal has explored. The majority of the works are results of collaborations with concrete businesses that have requested his unique design services.

Mariscal stressed that he is not an artist, but a designer. He says that his work consists of helping businesses solve community and identity problems through design. “We are very lucky”, said Mariscal. “It is important to be paid to enjoy oneself”, he added. One of the newer pieces that Mariscal presents at the exhibition is an installation consisting of televisions, transparencies and children’s’ furniture that recreates a forest at night.

The exhibition includes a piece on the famous avenue Passeig de Gràcia. The five-metre high piece entitled ‘Alegria’ (Happiness) attempts to reflect on the positive outlook that Mariscal has on life. The retrospective also includes fragments and videos in the piece ‘Chico y Rita’ and a feature animation directed by the designer along with Fernando Trueba to be released this fall. ‘Mariscal a la Pedrera’ opens this Wednesday and will continue until the 30^th of January. Àlex Susanna, cultural director of CatalunyaCaixa, said that with this exhibition, “a new stage begins” uniting two important artistic figures who share the ability to model the image of Barcelona, Gaudí and Mariscal.