Antony Pilley's poster of the Ramblas

Completed in the spring of 2002 after more than six years of work, this painting was started from the top of a step ladder in the middle of Barcelona’s most famous walkway, Las Ramblas. In infinite detail, it describes a world of romance, anarchy and illusion

In 1981 Anthony Pilley arrived in Barcelona to visit Gaudí’s Temple of the Sagrada Familia and to get to know the city which had patronised such an exotic construction. So very different from the small, austere churches of protestant Scotland, The Sagrada Familia seemed outrageously exuberant!
Between 1984 and 1986 he carried out a series of twelve paintings in locations around Barcelona. These included representations of two of the city's most emblematic landmarks: the temple of Sagrada Familia and the statue of Christopher Columbus.


In 1995, having lived next to Barcelona’s main pedestrian street, the Ramblas, for over ten years, Anthony Pilley began the meticulous process of creating an image of it. Theatre and fantasy meet with architectural precision. The resultant painting is called “The Ramblas and its living statues” and was finally finished in February, 2002.

Amazing photos of the human statues by LombartBCN

Really amazing photoalbum by LombartBCN about some of the human statues of the Ramblas. The colours, the perspective and the movements the photographer picked from some of the statues makes these snapshots pure art!

You will find them at:

http://www.flickr.com//photos/lombartbcn/sets/72157609132098404/show/

The fattest women in the Rambla

During some years, this fantastic lady was my neighbour. She pushed down the stairs everyday the enourmous fancy dress inside two big suitcases and when we meet we always had nice conversations about life, travels and the perfect weather of Barcelona. She did this job for a living and enjoyed it so much. She interacted with the tourists, made them laugh and enjoy their stay! I really miss her. She was one of those Street performers not accepted by our city hall as the  decree asked requirements such as studies in art or theater. Again, miss this social and free art that gave our city part of its charm!

7 minutes of human statues

I found this nice video with 7 minutes of human statues photos! You will see most of the statues that were day by day during the last 10-15 years in the Ramblas! It worths it!

The Golden Angel

We start the week  with a tribute to the human statues of La Rambla. These Street performers came first to the Rambles in the mid 60s and where one of the main attractions till a couple of years ago our Mayor decided to move all of them to the end of the Ramblas and also legalise their situation with a very polemic decree.

I've been living in the Ramblas for more than 20 years and couldn't imagine the human statues would disappear as they have. Walking up or down this avenue watching these artists surprise people every day was a leitmotiv for visiting this place. I remember when rushing for work in the morning, observing the statues preparing themselves in a corner, close to a shop, behind the newspaper stands....

I would like to remember some of them during this week hoping one day our City Hall decides to maintain our history and traditions above other political reasons.

Regulation for the human statues

Since the past 15^th April 2011, the famous human statues of the Ramblas have been regulated by the City Hall and now only 30 out of 82 applicants have been selected to occupy a number/location within this walking avenue. To apply for it, the artists had to demonstrate training in drama and the official certificate that demonstrates they have no debts with the local administration. According to this new regulation, all the human statues must be upheld with very strict measures (70cm width, 40cm high) that reduce the possibility of movement or even multi-representation.

Two timings have been agreed for the exhibition of the 30 human statues:

• 15 of them from 10am to 4pm
• 15 of them from 4pm to 10pm

All of them must be located between c/Ferran and Pla de la Boquería, and in the lower part of the Ramblas, close to the Santa Monica Artistic Center.