After its inauguration in 1997, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao completely transformed the city from a cultural and image point of view, coming to be defined as the best building of the second half of the XNUMXth century. To the spectacular nature of the building, made of titanium and symbolizing a ship anchored on the banks of the Nervión, is added the environment that surrounds it. A place full of green areas and squares where works by Eduardo Chillida, Fujiko Nakaya, Yves Klein or Louise Bourgeois, among others, coexist.
Regarding its cultural offer, the acquisitions of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao have focused on works made from the mid-twentieth century to the present, completing the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation in this way and in turn forging an identity own and unique.
Many years have passed since its opening in 1997 and on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the art gallery has scheduled various activities to celebrate it in style.: exhibitions, conferences, shows, events ... How about a trip to Bilbao this month to soak up art?
Program for the 20th anniversary of the Guggenheim
On October 6, the textile art exhibition "Anni Abers: Touching the Sight" was inaugurated, which joins those of Bill Viola and Georg Baselitz, and will give way, on October 9, to "Chasmata" a music concert unique and "spatial" electronic and instrumental. On this occasion, the atrium of the Guggenheim Museum will be transformed into Mars with the projection of unpublished images of this star taken in different missions, which are joined by a congratulatory message sent from space and 120 saxophones.
However, the most anticipated event will arrive from October 11 to 14 with the evening show 'Reflections' in which the museum, its façade and its most emblematic exterior sculptures, such as "Puppy" or "Mama", became a great Canvas on which lights and colors created by the same production company that made the one that served to inaugurate the London 2012 Olympic Games will be projected.
During the month of October, the short film shot by the American urban photographer Trashhand, and Johan Tonnoir, world specialist in "free running", will also be presented., a discipline that combines athletics with urban acrobatics, who toured the rooftops and the most inaccessible spaces of the building to capture spectacular images in them.
On the other hand, on October 18, a gala dinner will take place coinciding with the anniversary date of its opening to the public in 1997. This will be offered by those in charge of the museum to the founding patrons of the center: the Basque Government, the Diputación de Bizkaia and the Solomon Guggenheim Foundation in New York, as well as their main sponsors.
The last activities of this program of events will be destined to celebrate the anniversary with the Basque neighbors. They will begin the weekend of October 22 and 23 with an open day in which visitors will be able to contemplate the exhibitions for free that are currently in the Guggenheim Museum.
Getting to know the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao
Image | Guggenheim Bilbao
The Guggenheim Museum is a contemporary art gallery by Canadian architect Frank O. Gehry. Its most prominent attribute is its curvy and twisted shapes, covered with limestone, glass curtains and titanium plates, which change color when it reflects the sunlight. The architectural heart of the 20 galleries that make up the museum is the atrium, a large open space with curved volumes, surrounded by large glass curtain walls and crowned by a large skylight.
Other spaces that make up the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao are a 300-seat auditorium, a steak-style restaurant and the gastronomic restaurant 'Nerua' with a Michelin star. In addition to exhibition spaces, the Guggenheim Museum also has a visitor orientation room called "Zero Espazioa".
On the outside, the building represents an architectural landmark for its bold configuration and innovative design, forming a seductive backdrop for the art on display. In addition, it is surrounded by beautiful walks and squares of recent urbanization that have helped to alleviate the industrial past of the area.
Visited by about a million people a year, one of its main attractions is the ArcelorMittal room, a large space where eight works by the sculptor Richard Serra are permanently displayed.
Opening hours and ticket price
The Guggenheim Museum opens its doors from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 a.m. and 20 p.m. Mondays it is closed.
As for the price of admission, the museum fees vary depending on the exhibits. During show changes and due to room closures, reduced rates apply. However, normally the price of tickets is € 13 for adults and € 7,50 for students and senior citizens. Children enter free.