Gaudí: A Fantasy-Enriched Architect

Author: (French) Tiebo / Tian Nina / Ji Chun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: The thoughts of a man named Gaudí often flood my mind. It makes me think of that passionate inner world, the chaotic hallucinations, and the serene exterior that hides a magical and highly creative madness. I see him wandering through the streets and alleys of Barcelona. In this city, where the spirits of imagination reside, the city's sky is filled with the watchful gaze of devils, as described by Rimbaud in his dark and cold sky, or the mysterious and terrifying twilight and fantastical palaces in Coleridge's poetry. I suppose he created a strange cosmology in his mind, creating another world. Then, I continue to gaze at him, trying to explain his almost absurd works to the traditional bourgeoisie and the progressive bourgeoisie. People clearly do not understand Gaudí very well, but the charm and appeal that emanate from him make his works widely accepted. After him, only his thoughts shine in the darkness. —Architect Richard Porfyr
Antonio Gaudí (1852 June 25) was born in the small Catalan town of Reus, not far from Barcelona. Gaudí's architecture is considered the most original and important in the world in the 20th century, representing modern architectural art. Eastern Islamic style, Neo-Gothicism, and various elements of Modernism and Naturalism were all "Gaudífied" and unified in his buildings. Gaudí revered nature, which was the source of his inspiration. He never tried to "invent" something particularly special, but rather aimed to imitate nature, building like nature itself. He said, "Only fools would try to depict things that do not exist in the world!" Therefore, in Gaudí's architecture, straight lines are rarely used, as he believed that there are no straight lines in nature. If there are, they are composed of a series of curves. Gaudí was a mad architect. He considered Barcelona his stage, where he freely unleashed his countless genius ideas, leaving behind 18 immortal architectural masterpieces for Barcelona, and for the world—such as Park Güell, Casa Milà, Casa Batlló, and the Sagrada Família.