Europa climbs a bull in Fernando Botero's sculpture

Fernando Botero's sculpture, El rapto de Europa, stands between the parking and Terminal T1 of arrivals at the airport. The sculpture is a representation of the moment Europa climbs onto a bull - which is Zeus transformed into an animal to approach the woman - moments before running towards the sea. Botero uses his signature style of monumental figures with rounded volumes to depict a relaxed and somewhat voluptuous Europa and a secure and even smiling god.

The sculpture was part of the 'Botero in Madrid' exhibition in 1994. Five of Botero’s sculptures remained in the country after the exhibition. One was gifted to the city of Madrid, another was purchased by Telefónica, and the three remaining works, including El rapto de Europa, were acquired by the company AENA and are located in the airports of Madrid and Palma de Mallorca.

There are two other copies of this sculpture in Chicago and Medellín. In 2007, one of the two test pieces of the sculpture was auctioned by Christie's. That piece was made in 2002 and measures 61 x 45.7 x 28.5 cm.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons