La Sirena varada, Abstract sculpture in Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid, Spain
La Sirena varada is an abstract concrete sculpture composed of curved and geometric forms that cast shifting patterns of light and shadow as the day progresses. The composition merges organic lines with angular structural elements.
Sculptor Eduardo Chillida created this work in 1972 and placed it along Paseo de la Castellana as part of Madrid's expanding outdoor sculpture program. The installation was part of a broader effort to enrich the city with contemporary art.
The title references a beached mermaid and speaks to displacement and loss. It serves as a moment where people walking by pause and take notice.
This outdoor work is accessible at any time along Paseo de la Castellana with no admission needed. The best views come from different angles along the sidewalk, especially when the sun is lower in the sky.
Chillida worked with concrete in a way that merges mathematical precision with emotional impact. The way the sculpture engages with the surrounding architecture and street activity creates an unexpected moment of stillness.
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