Gaudi: Madman or Genius?
Barcelona is simply a masterpiece of art. And its unique architect is the one and only Antoni Gaudi, speaking to nature, vacillating between madness and genius... Ready to follow Gaudi's steps? 👀
Barcelona's extraordinary architect Antoni Gaudi left an indelible mark. His groundbreaking brilliance made him the inventor of an architectural language that defied convention. Today, almost all of Barcelona is covered in his work. Eight of his masterpieces are protected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Oh, by the way, don't look at us calling him an inventor, he didn't believe in the concept of "inventing". He thought that everything was written in nature from the very beginning and that nothing could be invented, only discovered.
“Nothing is invented, for it's written in nature first. Originality consists of returning to the origin.” - Antoni Gauidi
Born in 1852, Gaudi had a difficult childhood full of illness. Unable to go outside, he did not have many friends. But he always admired nature from his window and his garden. Over time, nature became his greatest inspiration and teacher. In fact, he loved one of the trees in the garden of his workshop so much that he introduced it as "my mentor". This love of nature influenced all of Gaudi's work throughout his career.
Madman or Genius?
The young Gaudi was passionate and full of unconventional ideas. And he was such a rebel! Whether it was criticising his teachers or questioning his work, there were all kinds of rebellions... The very words of the teacher who handed him his diploma at the graduation ceremony stayed with him and with us:
“I do not know if we have awarded this degree to a madman or to a genius; only time will tell.”
It seems that time has given us the answer... What do you say?
Gaudi suffered many losses in his life. His brother died when he was just 25. Two months later, his mother passed away, followed by his sister three years later. Gaudi was left alone to take care of his father and nephew.
It was after he turned 30 that he became deeply religious. He achieved great success at a young age, but he renounced worldly goods. He sold his possessions and gave them to the Church. When asked about the secret of his success and fame, he always attributed it to a divine power. His success was the result of God's intervention and he did all his work for the glory of God. And in time, Gaudi came to be known as "God's Architect".
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Unfinished Masterpiece: La Sagrada Familia
Gaudi could only see one tower of this masterpiece during his lifetime. In La Sagrada Familia, as in all his works, he was inspired by nature. Columns that resemble trees, leaves on the roof, towers with fruit patterns...
Of course, some do not really like La Sagrada Familia. The author George Orwell once called it "one of the most hideous buildings in the world". So, don't get the idea that everyone likes Gaudi. Plenty don't. Picasso often made fun of him.
Salvador Dali is one of those who love him. Especially after he died before the completion of La Sagrada Familia, Dali was against its completion. He said it would be disrespectful to finish the work without the artist. Although this issue has been discussed for years, it is now a fact that La Sagrada Familia will be completed in 2026. Let's see what it will be like 👀
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