“Artist restores the benches of Passeig de Gràcia”

More than a year ago, Juncosa found a hole in the bench in front of Casa Batlló. Part of the trencadís had come loose from its finish.

At that moment he thought: “something cool could be done here,” and he stored the idea in his mental backpack, with the more than 100 artistic projects he has for the city of Barcelona.

These benches were designed by architect Pedro Falqués, at a time when Barcelona was a pioneering city, a world reference for art and design.

In the spring, he passed by and found that the hole had grown. So he decided that the time had come to restore it with his art. “I feel devotion for the abandoned elements of the city. I feel sorry for them, and at the same time I feel that as an artist I can do my bit to bring them back to life.”

Then, on one of her forays to the site to take measurements, Joan noticed that the other benches had the same pathology. “I walked a few meters and saw the next one with the corner detached.” A pattern of holes in one of the most iconic symbols of this city.

I guess it's normal for them to break. These benches were designed for the citizens, but now they "have to bear the weight of tourism." And in the end, it is our heritage that suffers the consequences.

Joan analysed all the benches on Paseo de Gracia and inventoried and catalogued the pathologies of each one, drawing up an axis, a route. A route of modernism 2.0 plasters that accompanies those who follow it to some of the most important buildings in the city.

I want the citizens to reclaim the centre. To come and see what they have. To feel proud of this city again. And to feel it is theirs. To love the centre again.

Joan is very methodical when he works. He does it by profession. I redraw each of the gaps so that I can design their replacement. Modernism 2.0 plasters. Made with polymer and silicone. “I always leave a protective layer between the original piece and my intervention. I would never damage the heritage. In the end it is ephemeral art.” “I hope that one day it will be restored properly, but in the meantime, passers-by can enjoy it while it is not being fixed.”

A project with one goal: to make citizens aware that heritage belongs to everyone and that if we do not take care of it, we will lose it.

So, if you pass by Paseo de Gracia, don't miss this new Modernisme 2.0 route

Below is the route with the 8 interventions: