The turquoise wall with bulging eyes at Calle la Palma, 18 is probably one of the most photographed spots in the entire Malasaña neighborhood. Everyone passing by would stop in front of this eye-catching mural to take a picture for memories or to share on social media.
We speak in the past tense because this wall no longer exists; during this quarantine, it has bid farewell to its vibrant colors. The striking eyes belonged to a shop called Tompai, which closed its doors just before the state of emergency, and for a few days now, the ochre paint has replaced the iconic previous design.
This artwork was signed by Cristina Pollesel, a guest artist invited in the spring of 2015 to reinvent the brand's logo as part of the street's decoration, taking advantage of the Casa Decor celebration at the old Royal Wax Factory.
The result started to attract more and more gazes, especially from Instagrammers who began posing in front of the facade with increasing frequency. Apparently, it was Dulceida, the famous blogger and influencer, who made this wall popular by posting it on her social media (although we haven't found that specific photo on her Instagram, many others have posted it). From that moment on, the lines to take a photo with the eyes increased daily. Thanks to this wall, Calle la Palma became an absolute icon of the Malasaña neighborhood.
Currently, the shop is closed, and we still do not know what will occupy that space. Tompai's business, dedicated to selling clothing made in Nepal, will continue with other shops in the city of San Sebastián, where it originated and maintains locations with the same logo it had in Malasaña.