Jano Montano
iconic, non-classical work
During my first trip to Chicago in the late 80s, one of the main tourist attractions was this sculpture by Pablo Picasso Malaga. Popular not for its artistic value, which it obviously has, but for the controversy that surrounded its location in Daley Plaza, opposite City Hall, the seat of political power in the city. Crowd mentality had not yet comprehended that a sculpture could be in an iconic place and not obey the strict canons of classical art. Twenty years later, it is good to see that the controversy has died down and the Picasso, as it is popularly called, has been perfectly integrated without breaking the flow of the urban landscape.
The sculpture is cast iron, large-scale, and represents the image of a woman who reminded me of The Meninas. Close by, a mere 50 meters away, is another, more modest sculpture by another universally known Spaniard, in this case Joan Miró. Aside from its ornamental value, the statue basically serves as a playground for children who take advantage of the slope of the pedestal which supports the structure. This is an achievement and shows that the artist and his work have been reconciled with the inhabitants of this great city.
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