Málaga's Plaza del Siglo
A Witness to Málaga's Evolution During the 20th Century
The Plaza del Siglo is situated at the junction of Granada street, Duque de la Victoria, and Molina Lario streets, but since its urban remodelling in 2005, it now merges seamlessly with the neighbouring plazas of Spínola and del Carbón. This public square emerged as a result of 19th-century disentailments and the reshaping of Granada Street. It earned its name from the impending arrival of the 20th century following its inauguration. For a few years, it was named Plaza de Manuel Loring, in honour of the Málaga mayor who was assassinated in the square.
In the Plaza del Siglo, you'll find the Panta Rei sculpture by artist Blanca Muñoz. This seven-metre tall sculpture boasts an organic structure erected on seven legs, which intertwine with each other, creating an open volume reminiscent of large elongated leaves. Clad with a double layer of perforated stainless steel, it creates a deliberate play of light and shadow where emptiness and volume alternate, instigating an almost kinetic dynamism when the observer encircles the artwork. This effect is achieved by overlapping the multiple holes in the double sheet, creating endless shapes through which light filters. The piece is conceived to integrate into the environment, flowing to germinate on the attractive cobblestones of Málaga's Parque de Málaga, a place that has greatly inspired the artist.
The sculptor, Blanca Muñoz, has exhibited works in Málaga, Madrid, Bilbao, among other cities
Blanca Muñoz was born in Madrid in 1963, where she currently lives and works. She studied Fine Arts at the Complutense University of Madrid, spending 1990 and 1991 on a scholarship at the Spanish Academy in Rome. Between 1992 and 1993, she was again awarded a scholarship, this time in Mexico. Particularly noteworthy is the period she spent in London, between 1998 and 1999, working with digital stamping techniques. She is primarily known for her sculptural work, having collaborated on numerous public sculpture projects. Her work has been exhibited in centres such as Reina Sofía, the Esteban Vicente Museum, or the IVAM, and her pieces are part of collections like the Spanish Academy of History, Archaeology and Fine Arts in Rome, the National Library, the Spanish Museum of Contemporary Engraving in Marbella, or the Álava Museum of Fine Arts.
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