Strange curves and angles, can you decipher the meaning? This is the Monument de Leandre Cristòfol Sculpture. It stands in Plaça de George Orwell. The sculpture is a large-scale reproduction of a 1935 surrealist work. Leandre Cristòfol was the artist.
The Monument de Leandre Cristòfol was inaugurated in 1991. Locals often call it “El Tripi”. This nickname extends to the plaza itself. “Tripi” is Spanish slang for a tab of acid. Supposedly Cristòfol was on acid when he created the statue.
Plaça de George Orwell was created in 1989. An entire block of housing was torn down. This opened up the Gothic Quarter. It coincided with Barcelona’s beautification for the 1992 Olympics. For six years the plaza had no official name. People called it Plaça del Tripi because of the sculpture.
The Monument de Leandre Cristòfol is made of steel concrete and wood. It is said to represent a woman. Many find it hard to see the resemblance. The original smaller piece is in the MNAC museum. It is located on Montjuïc.
George Orwell has a connection to Barcelona. He moved here in 1936. Orwell joined the POUM to fight fascism during the Spanish Civil War. He was shot in the neck in 1937. After returning to England Orwell wrote “Homage to Catalonia”. This narrated his Barcelona experiences. It described the communist power struggle.
The Monument de Leandre Cristòfol expresses sex and the female principle. It is a theme rarely addressed by Cristòfol. The breast seems to float in the air. Is it a tribute to woman or an unattainable goal?
Leandre Cristòfol was from Lleida. He lived from 1908 to 1998. His works mixed figurative and surrealist styles. The surrealist pieces are his best.
The Monument de Leandre Cristòfol stands as a reminder. It shows art can be both puzzling and profound. It connects to the city’s history and artistic spirit. Take a moment to reflect. What does this sculpture say to you?