The glory of gaudy
by: VISI'S English sub-editor Nicci Collier
Having just returned from a trip to Spain (my first ever), my mind is awash with the spirals and swirls and multi-coloured mosaics of Antoni Gaudi. Barcelona is a city difficult not to fall in love with, and not least because of the architect’s many magnificent creations.
I wasn’t sure what I would make of the controversial landmarks he has become famous for. As I was raced around (by a dead-eager Spanish friend – a self-appointed tour guide) from Parc Guell to Casa Battló to La Pedrera and La Sagrada Familia, I was overcome with admiration for a man I now consider an absolute genius. His buildings beg to be noticed in a way the artist never did.
Gaudi’s life, in fact, became increasingly ascetic as he pursued a humble existence of simple diet, old, worn-out suits and devotion to prayer. He poured his efforts into the construction of his most impressive work of art – the Sagrada Familia – still incomplete over a century since it was begun. When, at the height of his career, he was knocked over by a tram, Gaudi was mistaken for a beggar due to his neglected appearance and by the time someone came to his aid, it was too late to save the Catalan architect.
And yes, I cannot deny that there is something about it that’s a little bit gaudy (the word does not derive from Gaudi’s name, in case you were wondering!). But it is gaudy in the most magnificent way possible. Not ostentatious or silly, but a display of unbounded creativity; a cry to dream big and stand out from the crowd. In a nation of such colourful history and rich cultural tradition, and a city bounded by the magical Mediterranean sea and the party-famous Balearic Islands, it all seems somehow fitting; otherworldy in the most natural way possible.
So here’s to imagination and creation. To building our very own gingerbread houses, whatever that may mean to each one of us.
Other articles that may interest you
0 Comments
There are currently no comments for this item.
Add a comment
Please sign in below or register in order to make a comment.
