Joan Miró, a revered Catalan artist, embarked on an ambitious project between 1955 and 1958 that culminated in the creation of two magnificent murals, the "Wall of the Sun" and the "Wall of the Moon," for the UNESCO building in Paris. These murals, crafted from ceramics, are a testament to Miró's innovative spirit and his collaboration with the ceramicist Josep Llorens Artigas.

The inception of these murals began in 1956 in Miró's studio in Palma. Inspired by the ancient cave paintings at Altamira, known as "the first mural in the world," Miró and Artigas visited various historical sites to gather inspiration. This journey was pivotal, setting the stage for the murals' thematic direction focusing on the universal concepts of the sun and moon​ (Wikipedia)​.

Miró's venture into ceramics was marked by a profound exploration of the medium's potential. He was particularly drawn to ceramics for its elemental challenge, involving a dance with earth and fire. Before these monumental works, Miró had engaged in creating around 400 ceramic pieces, yet the murals for UNESCO were his first foray into ceramic murals, undertaken with Artigas and later, his son Joan Gardy-Artigas​ (SCHIRN KUNSTHALLE FRANKFURT)​.

The construction process for the murals was a feat of artistic and technical skill, taking place in Artigas' workshop in Gallifa. It required extensive resources: 35 batches of work, 25 tons of wood, 4 tons of sandstone, and 200 kilos of enamel, reflecting the scale and complexity of the undertaking. The murals' installation in Paris was overseen directly by Miró and Artigas, culminating in their unveiling in 1958 to public and critical acclaim. The "Wall of the Sun" even received the biennial international award from the Guggenheim Foundation​ (Wikipedia)​.

These murals stand as a dynamic interplay of traditional craftsmanship and modernist artistic vision. The "Wall of the Sun" and the "Wall of the Moon" initially adorned the exterior of the UNESCO building but were later moved indoors to protect them from environmental damage. Their dimensions—2.20 meters by 15 meters for the "Wall of the Sun" and 2.20 meters by 7.50 meters for the "Wall of the Moon"—speak to their grandeur and the ambition behind their creation​ (Wikiwand)​.

Miró's murals for UNESCO are more than just art installations; they are a legacy of the artist's constant innovation, his collaboration with Artigas, and a celebrated contribution to the international art scene, honored and protected for generations to come.