The Fish#

The Fish.
Photo: Till Niermann. From: Wikicommons under CC

This giant goldfish (between Hotel Arts and the beach) 41.38608,2.19690 has become one of the symbols of the post Summer-Olympic games in Barcelona (1992). The sunlight is reflected in the scales of this sculpture that presides over the waterfront of the Olympic Marina and Barcelona’s beaches.

In 1992 Barcelona was transforming its seafront. A new Olympic Marina was taking shape, presided over by its twin towers. On one side stood the Mapfre Tower; on the other was the Hotel Arts. Frank Gehry placed his fish sculpture at the foot of the hotel. The animal is 56 metres long and 35 metres high and seems to be longing to jump into the blue waters of the Mediterranean.

The sculpture was made from intertwining gilded stainless steel strips supported by a metal structure, its gentle, subtle form marked by its intense gold colour. The interplay between the rays of the sun and skin creates the impression of scales, depending on the intensity of the light. It has become one of the city’s best-loved iconic landmarks.