The installation, a 20-metre tall black triangular structure, can be visited free of charge until 24 October. As part of the municipal programme 'Madrid es Paisaje', new reservations have been opened today for family workshops, urban viewpoint visits, and public art tours in Retiro Park, with activities commencing on 28 October.
'Panóptico' invites a fresh look at madrid
The cultural delegate for culture, tourism, and sport, Marta Rivera de la Cruz, visited 'panóptico', a large-scale art installation created by artist SpY for the latest edition of 'Madrid es Paisaje'. Located in plaza de cibeles, in front of the main facade of CentroCentro, the work offers a unique way to observe one of the capital's most recognisable environments.
'Panóptico' is open for visits until 24 October, from 10:00 to 20:00, with free access. The installation consists of a 20-metre tall black triangular structure that temporarily alters the usual sightlines of the square. Its small openings, positioned at various heights, serve as peepholes that allow viewers to see fragments of architecture and urban landscapes from unexpected angles. This creates a playful dynamic between concealment and revelation, contrasting the general view of the square with the details that emerge upon closer inspection.
“Madrid is a city that always offers new perspectives to those who take the time to observe it,” said Rivera de la Cruz. “With 'panóptico', art invites us to change our way of looking at such a recognisable space as cibeles and to discover details that often go unnoticed.”
According to the delegate, it is “a proposal that connects contemporary creation with everyday landscapes and encourages us to engage with the city in a different way.”
New opportunities to explore the urban landscape
Additionally, 'Madrid es Paisaje' has opened new reservations today for activities starting from 28 October. The offerings include family workshops at the viewpoints of cerro del Tío Pío and Dama del Manzanares, guided visits to six urban viewpoints included in the programme, and a route dedicated to public art in Retiro Park. The family workshops, aimed at children aged 6 to 13, will combine landscape observation with participatory and creative proposals.
The viewpoint visits will allow participants to discover Madrid from various points across the city, while the Retiro route will provide a journey through a selection of sculptures to deepen the relationship between art, landscape, and heritage. Registrations are available at reservaspatrimonio.es.
Film explores the relationship between art and the city
The programme is complemented by a film cycle at Cineteca Madrid from 28 to 30 October. Tickets for the sessions, available on the Cineteca Madrid website, will include screenings and subsequent discussions to explore the relationship between art, city, and urban landscape. The cycle will kick off on 28 October with 'Mitología de barrio' and 'Quién vio los templos caer'; continue on the 29th with 'Gatos encaramados' (Chats perchés) by Chris Marker; and conclude on the 30th with 'Crossroads: El viaje circular de Boa Mistura' by Dan Barreri.
