Dona i Ocell

The Dona i Ocell structure was officially inaugurated in either 1982 or 1983 (sources differ), and it was among the last large sculptures created by Joan Miró, who collaborated with his friend Joan Gardy Artigas on the project. Sadly, Miró was too unwell to attend the opening, and he passed away less than a year later.

While Miró designed the sculpture, Artigas was responsible for the addition of tiles, much like he had done for Miró's previous mural in Ludwigshafen, Germany. Dona i Ocell was commissioned as part of a public trilogy meant to greet visitors to Barcelona by sea, air, or land. As they enter the city by car, visitors can catch a glimpse of the vivid colors of the tiles, which reflect Miró's signature style. This work was the last of the three sculptures created to welcome tourists to Barcelona, with the first being at the airport, commissioned in 1968, and an intermediate work being a large mosaic on La Rambla in Barcelona.

The artwork incorporates some of Miró's recurring themes, featuring women and birds. Interestingly, in Catalan, the word for "bird" (ocell) can also be used as slang for "penis". This linguistic nuance may be reflected in the phallic shape of the sculpture's primary form, which features a hole through the glans. The sculpture is adorned with primary colors and a vulva-shaped split down the side of the shaft that is lined with dark tiles. This concept is not entirely novel, as similar depictions of a vulva on a model penis and a hole in the glans have been discovered on Roman sculptures from the 2nd or 3rd century.

The area surrounding the Plaça d'Espanya in Barcelona contains a park that spans four blocks and features a notable sculpture. The park, also known as Parc de l'Escorxador, was previously a slaughterhouse. It is a popular spot for relaxation, situated on one side of Carrer de Tarragona.

The park is divided into two distinct sections. The lower part is a garden filled with various plants, including flowers, eucalyptus, pine, and palm trees. The higher section is paved and features an artificial lake, with the sculpture situated at one corner.