Celebrated designer Javier Mariscal, the artist behind the iconic 1992 Olympic mascot Cobi, has unveiled his latest monumental creation: an 8-by-3-metre map of metropolitan Barcelona. Titled ‘La geografía de Grancelona,’ Mariscal presented the sprawling artwork on Wednesday at the Nave Escoleta in the Palo Alto creative hub in the city’s Poblenou district.

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Created in just two days using charcoal and black marker, the piece re-imagines the city and its surrounding territories as a single, interconnected entity. The map is a vast, whimsical landscape that overflows its formal boundaries, expanding onto the neighbouring walls of the exhibition space. It offers a detailed, if playful, look at the region’s complex geography and identity.

A City Redrawn

Mariscal’s map covers a wide expanse, stretching from Sitges in the south to Mataró in the north, and from the Mediterranean coast inland to towns like Vilafranca del Penedès and Matadepera. Rather than a purely cartographic exercise, the work is a vibrant tapestry of place names interwoven with the artist’s characteristic illustrations. The recognisable grid of the Eixample district sits alongside drawings of the Sagrada Família, while fish swim in the sea, cars navigate roads, and wild boar roam the hills.

The central and defining feature of the piece, however, is the undulating spine of the Serra de Collserola. Mariscal portrays the mountain range as the crucial element that articulates and connects the entire metropolitan reality. The range, a vast natural park that has recently faced challenges including closures due to swine fever, is also home to landmarks like the Tibidabo amusement park, and here it serves as the geographical heart of ‘Grancelona’.

The ‘Grancelona’ Vision

Alongside the gigantic map, Mariscal has placed a smaller but highly significant work: a reinterpretation of his famous ‘Bar Cel Ona’ poster. The new version cheekily reads ‘Gran Cel Ona,’ a clear visual pun that champions the idea of a ‘Greater Barcelona’.

As reported by La Vanguardia, the illustration notably nods to proponents of more coordinated metropolitan management between Barcelona and the 35 other municipalities that form the official Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB). Thus, the exhibition uses art to explore a long-standing political and administrative debate about the city’s future.

Reflecting his personal touch and peculiar humour, the map also includes intimate details, such as a sign on the far left pointing the way to his native Valencia and a depiction of the vital Mediterranean railway corridor.

How to Visit

Mariscal’s exploration of Barcelona’s geography is a long-standing theme in his work, dating back to drawings he made as a student at the Elisava design school in the 1970s. This new exhibition complements the main map with a selection of other pieces created over the years, many of which focus in great detail on areas like the Eixample and the port of Barcelona.

The exhibition takes place at Palo Alto, on Carrer dels Pellaires, 30-38, and remains open to the public until 24 April. While access is free of charge, note two exceptions: the exhibition will close for public holidays on 3 and 6 April, and visitors will need to pay an entrance fee on 4 and 5 April, when the space hosts the Palo Market Fest.