Berrocal, Miguel

Miguel Berrocal studied mathematics, physics and architecture at the University of Madrid (1951-1953). At first he worked as a painter, began to exhibit his paintings in 1952. After moving to Rome , and then to Paris, he became interested in ceramics and decided to devote himself to sculpture.

In works such as Split Box and Sarcophagus, he first proposed the use of repetitive and compound forms. This method soon became the main one in his stylistic dictionary, which generally took the form of abstract figures made up of connected parts.

Berrocal settled in Negrara, a suburb of Verona . He directed a large foundry, which cast not only his work, but also most of the work of other European sculptors.

His first sculptures were made from scrap metal in the 1950s. His first collapsible sculpture was created in 1959, it consisted of seven parts. Miguel Berrocal gradually moved from large sculptures to smaller and more complex ones. In 1963, he made a ten-piece Samson torso.

In 1966, Berrocal performed the torso of David in twenty-three parts. The genitals of David were a ring set. Berrocal often placed rings and other “surprises” in most of his puzzle sculptures. For example, Mini Maria hid the ring and male genitalia. Another example of this is the composition “Romeo and Juliet”. Their parts form a set for four people, including wine glasses and candlesticks.

The book Antologica Berrocal was published by the Ministry of Culture of Spain in 1984 and includes his works from 1955-1984.

•   Wikimedia Commons has media related to Miguel Berrocal
• Site dedicated to the artist
• Artnet
• Priska C. Juschka Fine Art (link not available)