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El Llarg Viatge

El Llarg Viatge is a sculpture by Spanish artist Francesc Torres Monsó (1922–2015). It stands at the corner of Rambla de Prim and Rambla de Guipúscoa in Barcelona, Spain. Commissioned by the Barcelona city council, it was unveiled on 4 April 1992, three months before the start of the Summer Olympics. The opening ceremony was attended by Barcelona mayor Pasqual Maragall and Girona mayor Joaquim Nadal. The work cost 12,379,000 pesetas (74,400 euros). Made of corten steel, the sculpture is 9 metres tall and is located beside a 60-metre artificial lake.

El Llarg Viatge, a tall rust-colored abstract metal sculpture with a square cutout on a brick platform.
El Llarg Viatge, an abstract metal sculpture by Francesc Torres Monsó, shown on a brick base in an urban setting.
January 2008 © · Public domain
El Llarg Viatge, a tall abstract reddish-brown metal sculpture with a square opening, standing in an urban park.
El Llarg Viatge rises in a park-like urban setting, with trees and nearby buildings in the background.
May 2013 © · CC BY-SA 3.0 es
El Llarg Viatge, a tall rust-colored metal sculpture with stacked rectangular forms and tree shadows cast across it.
El Llarg Viatge by Francesc Torres Monsó stands in an urban setting under a clear sky, with tree shadows across its surface.
January 2008 © · Public domain
El Llarg Viatge, a tall dark abstract sculpture with a square opening beside a fountain and trees.
El Llarg Viatge stands on a brick platform beside a water feature, with trees and city buildings in the background.
July 2022 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
El Llarg Viatge at the end of a long reflecting pool, with trees, buildings, and people mirrored in the water.
El Llarg Viatge by Francesc Torres Monsó, shown at the far end of a long reflecting pool.
January 2008 © · Public domain

Identification

TitleEl Llarg Viatge
Translated titleThe Long Journey
TypeSculpture

Creator

ArtistFrancesc Torres Monsó
Artist nationalitySpanish
Artist lifespan1922–2015
Artist originfrom Girona

Discovery and provenance

Commissioned byBarcelona City Council
Cost12,379,000 pesetas (74,400 euros)

Historical context

Opening significanceJoaquim Nadal was present because Girona was Torres Monsó's birthplace
Opening attendeesPasqual Maragall, mayor of Barcelona; Joaquim Nadal, mayor of Girona
Inauguration contextOpened about three months before the start of the 1992 Summer Olympics
Inauguration date4 April 1992

Physical characteristics

Height9 m
FormGeometric volumes arranged like a fragmented monolith
StyleConstructivist appearance

Materials

MaterialCorten steel

Location and ownership

LocationCorner of Rambla de Prim and Rambla de Guipúscoa, San Martín district, Barcelona, Spain
SettingAt the edge of an artificial lake
Lake length60 m