FUGA – Monumental Steel Sculpture in Santurtzi, Spain

Public Art Installation by Juanjo Novella – Urban Sculpture for Municipal Spaces

A boundary dissolved in steel: freedom captured in form

Titled Fuga this striking public sculpture by Juanjo Novella was installed in 1995 in Parque de las Viñas, Santurtzi (Vizcaya, Basque Country, Spain). As a sculpture for municipal spaces, it embodies movement, openness, and transcendence: a corten steel composition that suggests escape, continuity, and spatial liberation—transforming a green urban setting into a stage of expression and emotion.

Urban context: art opening horizons

Situated in Parque de las Viñas, Fuga occupies a serene yet dynamic urban environment. Conceived as a public art intervention for plazas and parks, it reshapes how the community inhabits space. It’s a powerful example of sculptura pública en acero corten, elevating everyday greens into places of resonance and reflection.

Technical articulation: corten steel as kinetic architecture

Crafted in weathering corten steel, the sculpture features sweeping arcs and interlaced elements that seem to float or extend outward—suggesting expansion and escape. Over time, the steel acquires a warm patina, harmonizing with park vegetation and seasonal light. Its surfaces interplay with sun and shadow, turning static metal into interactive form shaped by light and atmosphere.

Experiential dynamics: light, flow, perception

As daylight changes, Fuga casts evolving shadows on grass and pathways, enhancing its sense of motion. The sculpture invites visitors to walk beneath and around it, feeling its curves and perspectives shift—offering a sensory dialogue between material, space, and human presence.

Symbolism: escape, continuum, and openness

The title Fuga evokes the dissolution of boundaries and the aspiration to transcend. Its forms suggest flight, expansion, or creative release—an urban sculpture that speaks of freedom, time, and continuity. In its abstract yet approachable form, the piece becomes a metaphor for collective aspiration and infinite possibility.

A sculptural landmark of municipal identity

Since its installation in 1995, Fuga has become a memorable feature in Santurtzi’s public art landscape. It demonstrates how commissioned public sculptures in corten steel can transform parks into symbolic canvases that reflect identity and community values.

Looking to commission sculpture that elevates space and spirit?

Fuga exemplifies how large-format outdoor sculptures can create civic presence and emotional resonance through abstract form. If you’re exploring how to hire a sculptor for a public art project, Juanjo Novella offers visionary works that merge freedom, form, and site specificity—perfect for urban sculpture to revitalize parks, plazas, and city identity.