Flipping open the book for today’s random entry.
Okay. Ready?
Today’s place to see before you die IS:
LA SAGRADA FAMILIA
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
To finish or not to finish? The enormous Sagrada Familia remains the incomplete, roofless masterpiece of the eccentric genius Antoni Gaudi. The Catalan architect, a national hero, was run over and killed by a tram in 1926 before he could complete his most bizarre, controversial creation. The most famous proponent of modernismo (the Catalan avant-garde style, unique to the region, that flourished from 1890 to 1920), Gaudi put Barcelona on the architectural map. La Sagrada Familia is his most emblematic and idiosyncratic work, Art Nouveau with a twist.
Gaudi tapped into the same playful Catalan spirit one sees in the work of Picasso, Miro, and Dali, and more often than not avoided straight lines in favor of flowing, organic forms. He created a number of other surreal works, such as Parc Guell, Casa Batllo, and several private homes. But the fantasist is best known for La Sagrada Familia, a melted sand castle frozen in mid-creation. Only the crypt, apse, and facade were completed before his death. Gaudi himself is buried in the crypt, where a museum displays scale models showing how he envisioned the church. Authorities say it may not be completed until well into the 21st century — if ever. WHAT: site. WHERE: Placa de la Sagrada Familia. COST: admission.
This one is fascinating to me. Please check out those links above. The Casa Batllo link is a little bratty — I mean, it gave me a hard time — but once I got past all the preliminaries and SAW what he made, I was just agape. Truly unlike anything I’ve seen. (Also — tip to myself. Sometimes, Tracey, clicking on the French flag means the page WILL BE IN FRENCH and you didn’t pay attention in college French because the professor insisted on calling you Simone — “becawzz Traaayceeee eeezn’t Fraaawnch” and because she looked like a mole. Merci, Professor Wind in the Willows.)
So … I didn’t know a thing about this architect until flipping to this page in the book and now I can’t stop clicking on these images. Oh, listen to me. What a jerk. Like because I’ve clicked on a bunch of pictures I’m now some kind of Gaudi expert. PLEASE get a grip on yourself, Tracey. Anyway ….. More here. And here.
His style is so odd, so free, so like stuff you dream, so “I’m just gonna do whatever I want.” It’s weird and amazing.
Okay. Now I REALLY wanna see this stuff in person. Who’s coming with me?
ME!!! I am totally going someday–been wanting to since I learned about Gaudi in high school Spanish class.
And I’m sure you know a lot more about him than I do, Kate!
Wow–I would love to go–some of those pictures are just wildly beautiful.