The Art of Parque Retiro

In the heart of Madrid’s central park, the Parque el Retiro, is a giant greenhouse, called the Palacio de Cristal or the “Glass Palace.” It was built in 1887 for a large exhibition and now serves as a host site for art installations connected to the museum of modern art in Madrid, the Museo Reina Sofia.

The current art installation is a series of giant flowers, made of painted canvas over steel frames, which are meant to convey the idea of bowerbirds who create very colorful nests. The artist, Petrit Halilaj, grew up in Kosovo during the war, and hopes his art inspires a connection between the indoors and the outdoors. And to some extent, he has succeeded; entering and exiting the Glass Palace right now, one walks through “woods” to see the floral designs beyond the trees, creating a passage into a magical forest.

Additionally the windows are open to allow for birds to fly in and out, adding to the interconnection between true nature and its artistic facsimile.

This free installation will be there through the end of February 2021, but these sunny days of fall provide great light!