Matches with a pop look

Els Mistos make up a 20 × 9 × 13-metre group of sculptures, with matches painted in vivid colours: black, yellow, red and blue. They are the work of artist Claes Oldenburg and his wife, the art critic and restorer Coosje van Bruggen. This couple, of Scandinavian and Dutch origins respectively, are benchmarks of American pop culture, especially renowned for pieces that reproduce essential objects in giant sizes.

Claes Oldenburg is one of the pioneers of pop art. He opened a shop in New York in 1962 that sold plaster representations of hamburgers and cakes, following the trend of converting consumer products into works of art.

Dynamism and character

The sculpture, also known by its English name of Match Cover, is located at the intersection of Avinguda del Cardenal Vidal i Barraquer with Carrer del Pare Mariana, in Vall d’Hebron Park. It is an attractive, joyful and fun work, with great dynamism, and it brings character to its surroundings. Opposite is the Spanish Republic Pavilion, which was reconstructed in 1992 following the original model of Josep Lluís Sert at the 1937 Universal Exhibition in Paris.