El pueblo español tiene un camino que conduce a una estrella, Sculpture at the entrance of the Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain
'El pueblo español tiene un camino que conduce a una estrella' was a 12.5-metre column of cement and bronze by Alberto Sánchez, conceived as an organic totem rising from the ground toward a red star, with a dove perched on one side. The original disappeared after the 1937 Paris exhibition; the 18.7-metre cement replica by Jorge Ballester stands at the Reina Sofía in Madrid.
The work was created in 1937 by Alberto Sanchez for the International Exhibition of Arts and Techniques in Modern Life, a period that coincided with the Spanish Civil War. The original sculpture disappeared after the exhibition ended, though a replica now resides in Madrid's Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.
The sculpture embodies the path of the Spanish people through social transformation, with a dove positioned on its side representing peace aspirations. It served as a powerful artistic statement during a period of major political upheaval.
The best way to view this work is to visit the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, where the replica is on display. It is advisable to check opening hours and exhibition locations before planning your visit.
The title is not the pavilion's name but a phrase by poet Rafael Alberti; the 12.5-metre original, of cement and bronze, was lost when the Paris pavilions were dismantled in 1937. The 18.7-metre, seven-tonne cement version at the Reina Sofía entrance was made by Jorge Ballester and installed in 2001.
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