Where: Barcelona, Spain

What: The tapestry exhibit at the Fundació Joan Miró.

Why: The panorama shows a series of tapestries in the Fundació Joan Miró and the Centre for Contemporary Art Studies museum; the main work is the Foundation Tapestry, designed for the Fundació by Miró in 1979.

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The Fundació Joan Miró and the Centre for Contemporary Art Studies is one of Barcelona's foremost museums. It opened to the public in 1975 and, since then, has been one of the cornerstones of the city's cultural life. Besides housing the permanent collection of Joan Miró, the world-renowned Catalan artist, the Fundació is fully involved in promoting the contemporary arts. The white, gleaming building itself is as interesting as its contents. Miró's great friend, the architect Josep Lluís Sert, created a building with a decidedly Mediterranean character.

Joan Miró was born in 1893 in Barcelona to a goldsmith and watchmaker; Miró received art lessons at La Escuela de la Lonja Academy. A breakdown during 1910/11 convinced Miró’s father that he was not suited to business and his love of art was encouraged.

During 1920 Miró made his first trip to Paris and a visit to Picasso's studio. The same year he exhibited alongside Picasso, Matisse, Gris and Braque at the Avant-garde French Art show. During 1925 he saw some of Paul Klee’s work in Paris and was inspired further.

A man of few words, many of Miró's images were considered naive or childlike, yet his works are full of humor, nature and playfulness.

Throughout his life, Miró took a particular interest in the diversity of materials, forms and colors. It led him to explore and experiment with different art forms such as painting, sculpture, printing techniques, ceramics, the theatre, and tapestry. One result of this was a collaboration with Josep Royo, an innovative craftsman, who during the seventies aroused Miró's interest in tapestry and textiles.

Miro died in Majorca in 1983.