Imaginary Friends

The Fundació Joan Miró presents Imaginary Friends, an exhibition that offers an accessible and fun introduction to contemporary art

Having an imaginary friend is a psychological phenomenon in which a child forms a friendship with a person, character or animal - or a blend of all three - that does not exist in the real world. Through their interaction with their invented friend, children learn about themselves and the world as they play and explore the vast territory of their imagination and their creativity. Imaginary Friends is the title of an exhibition intended to give children insights into contemporary art in a lively and fun way while at the same time appealing to the playful spirit of visitors of any age. The exhibition curators Martina Millà, Head of Exhibitions at the Fundació Joan Miró, and Patrick Ronse, Director of the Belgian independent space Be-Part, invite children of every age to connect with a group of artists and representative works and, through them, to develop their own understanding of art and the power of the imagination.

Paola Pivi, Kasper Bosmans, Polly Apfelbaum, Meschac Gaba, Afra Eisma, Pipilotti Rist, Martin Creed, Erwin Wurm and Jeppe Hein present nine installations that invite visitors to engage in a dialogue with them and, in many instances, encourage their collaborative participation. Many of these works are being shown for the first time in a Spanish museum.The project is complemented by an extensive outreach and social programme of activities with something suitable for everyone, with a special emphasis on families and young people, exemplified by a catalogue in the form of a children’s book based on a story by Claudia González Caparrós illustrated by Milimbo.