Barceló has decided to give his large fresco two names: on one hand, Vidre de meravelles (Glass of Wonders), since the work is inspired on one of the major creations of Ramon Llull, the Book of Wonders; and on the other, Le Grand Verre de terre (The Large Glass of Earth), in reference to Duchamp’s work Le Grand Verre (The Large Glass, or The Bride Stripped Bare by her Bachelors). Created for the occasion by Barceló in the Julien Cain corridor of the BNF, the fresco seeks to be a living and changing work, as the mural of mud and glass will produce different effects inside the French library depending on the light it receives from the outside.
Le Grand Verre de terre–Vidre de meravelles will precede and be a spectacular introduction to the double exhibition that the National Library of France has organized jointly with the Picasso Museum in Paris: Miquel Barceló, Sol y Sombra. The two exhibitions complement one another to show the public many previously unseen pieces by the Majorcan artist, some of them inspired by the life and work of Ramon Llull, such as the sculpture Ramon Llull-cabrit, which can be seen at the BNF.
The printed works of Barceló can be seen in the Site François Mitterand at the BNF from 22nd March to 28th August. These include prints, notebooks, and portraits on parchment that are rarely exhibited but which represent a most important part of his work, inseparable from his intrinsically experimental dimension. On the other hand, the exhibition at the Picasso Museum will present a hundred or so ceramics, sculptures, paintings and works on paper done since 1990. It will be the first monographic exhibition by a contemporary artist since the museum reopened and can be visited from 22nd March to 31st July.
Furthermore, the exhibitions will be complemented with a lecture on 21st May in the National Library of France: “Rencontre avec Barceló”. Also promoted by the IRL and with the artist present, it will deal with different aspects of the work of Miquel Barceló such as his relationship with parietal and monumental art, or the influence of Ramon Llull on his work. During this session the BNF will exhibit some of the many Lullian manuscripts conserved in its collections.