Pájaro Jaula, Sculpture in Cádiz, Spain
Pájaro Jaula is a large outdoor metal sculpture in Cádiz, southern Spain. It depicts a bird inside a cage-like structure, standing around 30 feet (9 meters) tall and 33 feet (10 meters) long, built from stainless steel and titanium.
The sculpture was unveiled in May 2008 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Spanish Constitution of 1978. It was made by Cádiz-based artist Luis Quintero on commission from the local government, and its placement in public space sparked protests from some residents at the time.
The sculpture shows a bird that appears trapped inside a cage, while also seeming to reach for freedom. Three sides of its base carry excerpts from the Spanish Constitution, making the link between law and liberty something visitors can literally read as they walk around it.
The sculpture stands in a public square in Cádiz and can be visited at any time without charge. Walking all the way around it gives the best view of its shape and lets you read the texts on the base.
The cage doors of the sculpture can be opened or closed by sending a text message, making it one of the few public artworks in Spain to use mobile technology as part of the experience. Money collected from those messages was donated to human rights organizations.
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