MUSEUMS in BILBAO
You can not visit Bilbao without going to the Guggenheim and the surrounding arts district. You will be astounded by the park-like setting before you even get inside.
The Guggenheim is a part of the urban regeneration project that helped transform Bilbao from a declining post-industrial center, once known for its shipbuilding, into a cultural and architectural hub. At the core of the arts district is the Guggenheim building, designed by architect Frank Gehry; it is unmistakable with its undulating ribbons of metal - a perfectly balanced sculpture integrating wonderfully with its surroundings.
AAT-TIP: (FREE) Take a stroll along the riverside, it is lined with open-air sculptures from artists such as Anish Kapoor, Salvador Dali, and Spanish artist Eduardo Chillida. The iconic favorites are Jeff Koons’ living sculpture, a 42’ tall Puppy that guards the entrance to the Guggenheim, and a massive spider, Maman, by renowned artist Louise Bourgeois. The Guggenheim’s pool also hosts timed public displays of conceptual art with fog and fire installations both playing off the reflection of the water and the building. Fire Fountain, by Yves Klein / Fog Sculpture #08025 (F.O.G.) by Fujiko Nakaya.
The Guggenheim is one of the world's most renowned institutions of modern art with sister museums residing in New York, Venice and Dubai. This museum hosts a range of permanent and temporary exhibits from artists all around the world. The Bilbao museum is a remarkable 11,000 square meters of exhibition space, segmented into 19 galleries.
There are many site-specific works that make this place feel uniquely perfect. The largest gallery displays a permanent installation of seven flowing steel sculptures by Richard Serra - truly an immersive experience as you weave in and out of the forms. My favorite was an interactive digital work by Jenny Holzer called Installation for Bilbao. It consists of nine columns of electronic LED signs, that you can walk in and out of, displaying phrases about death and intimacy in multiple languages.
The rotating spaces here include retrospectives by masters and socially-conscious curated experiences that not only amaze, but educate visitors on important issues such as sustainability, nature, and peace. The permanent collection is impressive with European classics, American Pop-art, and modern to contemporary video works.
The second you walk in you will be astounded by the space, every corner you turn there are gorgeous angles of the building and wonderful displays of art. My travel companion and I started on the top floor and worked our way down. There is a perfect balance of exhibitions from modern to contemporary. Our luck, we happened to see the first installation of an amazing retrospective about Alberto Giacometti that will begin touring worldwide in 2020. We were impressed by the flow and number of works in the exhibition. The evolution of the work, and various mediums shown, were both interesting and educational. It truly gave us a new perspective and appreciation for the artist and his work.
AAT-TIP: Get there when the museum opens at 10 a.m. It will give you time to explore the space before the additional people arrive. They do offer student (under age 26) and senior discounts so don’t forget your ID if you fit either category.
We took four hours to completely see the museum and I felt we rushed ourselves a little bit at the end. This is a don’t-miss experience for all audiences, the Guggenheim really has a lot to offer to every level of art appreciator.
General ticket prices are 10-16 euro each adult, and worth every penny! The entrance fee includes an audio guide.
WEBSITE: https://www.guggenheim-bilbao.eus
HOURS: Tuesday to Sunday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. / Monday closed
The Museo de Bellas Artes was a high second on our list. This museum’s collection consists of works by artists from the 13th century to modern day, with a heavy focus on artists from Basque and Spanish descent. The museum is located in a large city park, Parque de Dona Casilda de Iturrizar, a short walk away from the Guggenheim or Plaza Moyua.
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Museo de Bellas Artes displays works in all mediums: paintings, sculptures, works on paper, video and more. The collections fill three floors of two connected buildings. The first floor is dedicated to temporary exhibitions for Baroque, neoclassical and Basque works. The second and third floors display contemporary artworks and additional pieces by a variety of Basque artists. They have many masterpieces by world-renowned artists as well as names you might not recognize.
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AAT-TIP: Museo de Bellas Artes has free entry 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Monday. Go for an hour or two before dinner and take your time with each gallery. Because it is centrally located there are tons of restaurants and pintxo bars nearby.
We were happy to see the number of people enjoying the museum into the evening: families, couples, locals and tourists alike. It was busy enough to give the galleries energy, but roomy enough to have space to enjoy. You will be inspired by the museum and impressed by the creative curation.
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We had the opportunity to see the ABC exhibition marking the museum’s 110th anniversary. This exhibition paired the 31 letters of the (Basque) alphabet with inspirational keywords in Basque, Spanish, French or English to curate the works from the Museum's collection. This was a fresh way to mix, present and display works from all forms together and make it cohesive - truly brilliant!
The museums are very serious about no photography. We got busted several times trying to take shots for you - you’ll just have to go and see for yourself.
General ticket prices are 10 euro each adult
WEBSITE: https://www.museobilbao.com/
HOURS: Wednesday to Monday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m./ Tuesday closed / FREE ENTRY Every day, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
This finishes our Bilbao cultural tour. I hope you find it as amazing as we did. Please let us, and our followers, know your thoughts and comments!