An exhibition of the life and work of Empire of the Sun author JG Ballard is in Barcelona until November.

Ballard was born in Shanghai and drew on his experiences in a prison camp for his famous novel.

However, it's the scenes conjured up by Crash, a book about the sexual exploitation of car crashes that make this expo.

Ballard suffered a car crash soon after finishing the novel, which was later made into a film by David Cronenberg.

This exhibition at the Centre de Cultura Contemporania de Barcelona explores Ballard's penchant for abandonment.

Empty swimming pools and deserted motels make up some of the images of JG Ballard the Autopsy of the new Millennium, alongside some of his written work, which is accompanied by postings from fans.

Tourists can stay in affordable accommodation near the Centre to explore other sights Barcelona has to offer.

The work of Antoni Gaudi makes this city an architectural hot spot and helped Barcelona win designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

His best known work, the Sagrada Familia church in the city's gothic quarter, was started in 1882 and is scheduled for completion in 2026.

Barcelona has seven beaches for visitors to explore making for a happy mix of city and sea to become abandoned in.