One of the most inspiring exhibitions I visited was L’Oceà parla (The Ocean Speaks). The exhibit unfolded as an electric blue, tactile maze, with towering fabric curtains guiding visitors through a labyrinth of softly lit blue spaces, evoking the sensation of descending into the ocean depths.

This immersive experience offered a powerful reflection on the impact of human activity on marine ecosystems and the damage we have as coastal communities. It also addressed the Catalan capital’s evolving relationship with the sea, particularly since the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, which transformed the city’s coastline by introducing new beaches.

The exhibition highlighted the opportunity to foster a more sustainable coexistence with ocean ecologies in the future. Sound domes created intimate soundscapes, immersive digital rooms showcased artistic interpretations of the sea, and beautifully edge-lit cartographies of the uncharted ocean floor. The exhibition invited viewers to reconnect with the ocean in profound and sensory ways.

A captivating exhibition explored the relationship between red clay earth and its transformation into everyday objects. Càntirs (clay pots), used for millennia but now largely obsolete, were once practical items connecting nature, food culture, and community.

The exhibit showcased 80 unique interpretations of càntirs by 16 artists across Barcelona, each bringing their own artistic approach to transform the form and meaning of these traditional vessels. Together, the pieces created a collective narrative, with each càntir building on and reinterpreting the story of the others.

Vinçon, an iconic furniture retail destination of Barcelona, closed in 2015 after 75 years. This playful exhibition pays tribute to this much loved design store, examining the parallels and contrasts between the Scandinavian giant IKEA and its former Mediterranean competitor. The two brands shared a similar design philosophy and approach but differed greatly in global scale.

The exhibition was curated into 14 sections that compared the two brands across themes such as their founders’ histories, inclusivity, marketing strategies, cultural impact, store architecture, and the distinct styles of their iconic shopping bags.

At the heart of the exhibition 100 Ikea items were displayed that Fernando Amat, Vinçon’s founder, would have liked to incorporate into his renowned store. The exhibition showed the playfulness of the two brands and their intriguing approach to democratizing good design for all.

We visited Underground BDW, a new collective exhibition in the LCI Barcelona Parking Gallery, to experience Breathe With Me by Annabelle Schneider. This multi-sensory installation provided a serene escape from the bustling exhibition outside.

Inside, a softly undulating white textile room with chrome tactile pillows created a soothing, immersive atmosphere. The space itself gently inflated and deflated, simulating the rhythm of breathing and encouraging a sense of calm that invited visitors to linger—offering a peaceful reprieve from the energy outside.