I don’t ever write about vaginas. Considering this is a gay blog (and I’m a gay man), I never interact with a vagina. But today I went to a museum. It was located in an abandoned train repair shop preserved, refabricated, and turned into a filthy, decaying, one-of-a-kind, creepy museum. In other words, it was right up my alley. And I LOVED IT!

So, if you’re looking for fun and unusual things to do in Madrid, keep reading because I’ll tell you all about Museo Neomudejar and the vagina-inspired artwork I saw today.

Museo Neomudejar is a Gorgeous Display of Time and Decay

Are you into video games? How about futuristic virtual reality (VR)? I’m into both, and this place reminded me of a fun game I like to play with my siblings.

Occasionally, my siblings and I gather in VR in different locations and kill hordes of zombies coming at us, seeking our flesh as they do so.

One arena is called The Warehouse. It’s an abandoned loft warehouse with old wooden floors, boarded-up windows, and dingy lights. The great thing about this space is that you have a clear view of the first (or ground-level) floor from upstairs.

Museo Neomudejar looked just like this warehouse space, except with art installations.

If you’re ever in the mood for something post-apocalyptic, Museo Neomudejar will give you the heebee jeebees and inspire you simultaneously.

The Devil’s in the Details

Take a look around and look at the details of the building, even if you’re not here for the art. The way they’ve preserved the building is amazing.

The chipped paint, the stressed metal, the creaking of the floorboards, it’s all incredible.

The original mechanical work is also preserved. However, they’ve cleaned it up and even shone lights on it.

This industrial space is amazing. If I were a photographer, it would be the most spectacular space to create some art.

The Artists of the Season

I wasn’t sure if Museo Neomudejar had a permanent exhibition or not. When I booked my ticket, I assumed I would see a particular work of art, art sculptures, creepy meling dolls, and such. It turns out that the artist is no longer housed here.

Today’s artist is called CIRIA, and his art is equally amazing, but not all of it consists of weird or creepy sculptures.

Although sometimes ignorance is a good thing. I didn’t know what I was walking into and, therefore, had zero expectations. My brain was a clean slate, welcoming the artist’s perspective.

His Work

Growing up, I surrounded myself with art. Nowadays, I can read art when looking at it. It’s like reading Tarot cards to me. I look at the medium, the style, the stroke of the paintbrush, and it all makes me wonder “why.”

But just like life itself, it can have no meaning at all. And sometimes things are just the way they are for no good reason.

As I viewed each artwork with intention, I enjoyed looking at the modern giclee images with splashes of colorful paint that looked eerily like vaginas.

Is this the destruction of modern print design or consumption? Is the vagina all-consuming or all-repulsive?

As a gay male, it’s all-repulsive. It’s destroying the modern works of giclee art. But who am I to say what the artist had in mind? Ultimately, it could be nothing.

Art and sex often go hand in hand. And this is a gay travel blog that focuses on gay sex. So naturally, art will overlap.

Perhaps these simul-ginas are his artistic expression of his sexual attraction to them?

Regardless of their sexual nature or not, the work is incredible, housed in an astonishing space everyone should try to see.

If you miss the CIRIA exhibition, see Museo Neomudejar anyway. The space is impressive.

The Darkroom

Although it’s not a sexual gay haven type of darkroom, the exhibition housed a montage of the artist’s sketches in video form.

The windows were boarded up and painted, covered up to allow for ultimate darkness.

The old iron tools hanging against the far end and the piles of ash underneath them allowed me, for just one moment, to live out my best Friday the 13th fantasy.

Was Jason Voorhes really coming for me in this decrepit scenario? Well, bring it on, Jason!

So I lounged, sat alone in the darkroom, and watched the artist’s thoughts unfold on paper.

An Industrial Scultpure

I used to hate industrial art as a teen. But now I LOVE it. I can’t get enough industrial, oversized, weird art. We don’t have enough of it.

One of CIRIA’s pieces consisted of blocks stacked on top of each other with his vaginas on each side.

Although that in itself is just a sculpture, the building lent itself and provided the right amount of grit. The old train repair tools, chairs, lightwork, metal pipes, and an old staircase completely surrounding the sculpture like a forgotten hoarder’s mess allowed these vaginas to bring this room new life.

The erection of a vagina? Well, I do like erections. I can tell you that much.

via GIPHY

Let’s break it down:

Ultimately, I loved it. And the artist’s work was well placed in a space like Museo Neomudejar.

Although I’m not a fan of vaginas, maybe if you place them in a “horrific” setting as beautiful as this, where I can see zombies breaking in, Jason Vorhees coming at me, and darkrooms, perhaps these nightmares are what gives my life meaning.

Museo Neomudejar is amazing. Best of all, there was a post about this being a queer space for art and activism.

I recommend it if you love art and weird and creepy spaces.

Museo Neomudejar should be on everyone’s list of fun and unusual things to do in Madrid.

Wed from 11 am to 1 pm it’s free.

Otherwise, there’s a small fee of 6 Euros.

It’s an old train repair shop. Therefore, it’s located near Atocha Central Station.

Website: https://www.laneomudejar.com

Location: C. de Antonio Nebrija, S/N, 28007 Madrid