The legacy of Chillida in Barcelona

Posted on 2012/06/08 by admin

Basque sculptor Eduardo Chillida passed away almost 10 years ago yet still his legacy lives on, specially in Barcelona where the artist left three of his most  important works, sculptures which perfectly exemplify the artist´s view on urban space, nature, scale, myth and form.

"Eulogy to Water" Parque de la Creuta del Coll 1987

Chillida showed special admiration for famous Catalan artist Joan Miro. Chillida studied the artist´s use of convex lines and was greatly influenced by his work.  He said about Miró  : “He changed my way of looking at line and space, so I wanted to do an homage to him” (referring to his sculpture ”Homage to Miró” of 1985).

"Homage to Miró" 1985

In ”Eulogy to Water” a commissioned sculpture for Parque de la Creuta del Coll in 1987, Chillida explores space appropriation , and the notion of volume and form defying gravity. He also approaches greek mythology by placing the sculpture above the water . The reflection suggests  the myth of Narcissus.

The evident fixation for space analysis in Chillida´s work is not random. Chillida set out to study architecture but dropped out to pursue sculpture instead.

“Topos V” in Plaça del Rei, Barcelona shows an interesting synergy between sculpture and architecture, in it Chillida highlights the importance of the Roman arch in medieval architecture  .

"Topos V" 1985

“G-333″ is yet another architectural reference by Chillida. This mural is located in Plaça dels Angels opposite of  Museum of Modern Art designed by Richard Meier. It seems to depict the relationship between void and  space from its surroundings.

Because of his bold and persuasive use of material and the importance granted to setting and urban space, Chillida  is still remembered as one of the most important contemporary sculptors .

"G-333" 1998

 

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Goya and Delacroix in Caixa Forum

Posted on 2012/04/17 by admin

CaixaForum is a social and cultural center located in one of the main modernist buildings in Barcelona designed by Catalan architect Puig i Cadafalch.

It was originally a textile factory and it is considered a important reference in Catalan industrial modernist architecture from the beginning of the 20th century.  The building was acquired by “La Caixa” bank in 1962 but it wasn´t until the nineties when restoration works  started to adapt the building to its current use. The restoration project featured the participation of architects such as Arata Isozaki, Francisco Javier Asarta, Roberto Luna and Robert Brufau.

CaixaForum has showcased important art exhibits from outstanding contemporary artists.   Just recently this cultural center opened  an exhibition dedicated to Goya and Delacroix.

Among the numerous important works displayed in this temporary CaixaForum exhibition it´s The Clothed Maja, one of Goya´s most relevant paintings. Along the not so recognized works is the etching called  The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters,  a valuable piece of Caprichos , a collection of  works showing Goya´s personal critical point of view on 18th century society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This particular piece is regarded by some art critics as one of the very first sparks which would ignite and shape modern art rhetoric. Goya is also considered the first modern artist of his time. His idea that the emotion transmitted by the artist in the painting is more important that the subject itself is one of the fundamental traits in modern art.

The Delacroix exhibition displays important works of the artist considered the main French progressive modernist exponent of his era.

Argel Women 1834 , Delacroix

Goya and Delacroix paintings will be shown in CaixaForum until mid-June and mid-May respectively.

 

 

 

 

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Mies van der Rohe : 126 Years later

Posted on 2012/03/29 by admin

Since the construction of the 1929 Pavillion, the name of Mies van der Rohe has been closely linked to Barcelona .  Just a few days ago was his  126th birth  anniversary.

Mies van der Rohe is one of the most important modernist architect of all-time.

He was the main contributor to the emergence of a unique style which has shaped our cities and redefined the look of our skyscrapers.  Regarded as a  pioneer of his generation due to his innovative proposals in architecture, he was chosen to design the building that would represent Germany in the International Exposition held in Barcelona in 1929. The pavilion exuded what was considered the paramount principles of the flourishing Modern Movement. An open plan , ornament free  structure with a fluid inner-outer space interaction. Certainly a building that truly represented his famous aphorism : “less is more “. The building also featured the design of the also famous Barcelona chair.

Right after the exhibition the building was dismantled , but it was rebuilt again in the 80´s . Mies van der Rohe pavilion is one of Barcelona´s main touristic attractions.

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Barcelona and Picasso

Posted on 2012/03/25 by admin

” There is where everything started, There I understood how far I could get ” (Picasso referring to his beginnings in Barcelona )

At the beginning of the twentieth century Barcelona was and important landmark of cultural and artistic avant-garde.  Young Picasso moved to Barcelona with his family in 1895. Not long after his arrival , Picasso became involved in the city´s modern artistic scene. Picasso quickly became a regular customer in Els Quatre Gats (Gaudi and Santiago Rusiñol among other regulars)  one of the most important meeting points of intellectuals and artists in Barcelona. The lively gatherings held in  Els Quatre Gats would help mold Picasso´s modern point of view .

Els 4 Gats in calle Motsió 3

Menu of 4 Gats designed by Picasso

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During his years in Barcelona, Picasso went by the so-called blue period. A time of great sadness and anguish in the life of the painter, brought on by the tragic death of his friend Carles Casagemas.  Picasso and Casagemas shared a studio in 1900 in Riera de Sant Joan street (now Via Laeitana) . He also shared a studio for a brief period with artist Pau Gargallo in Comerç street 28 .  Picasso remained there until his departure to Paris in 1904.

Riera de Sant Joan street 1900, oil on canvas. (View from Picasso´s studio)

Rooftops of Barcelona, 1902 oil on canvas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1907 Picasso painted Les Demoiselles d’Avignon named after the Gothic quarter street in Barcelona.

Avignon street in Barcelona

Picasso would remain linked to the city for life , and returned on several occasions. “Barcelona the bright and the beautiful ” he said ,  30 years after leaving.

 

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Sagrada Familia

Posted on 2012/03/20 by admin

Sagrada Familia is Gaudí´s  masterpiece and the main building among  Catalan  Modernism. It is the most visited monument in Spain receiving each year nearly  4 million visitors.

Gaudí dedicated 43 years of his life to the design and construction of Sagrada Familia , from this period, the last 15 were focused exclusively to its completion . Unfortunately upon his death the building was far from being concluded  and has remained  pending to conclusion ever since .

Sagrada Familia is the consummation of the gaudinian language where the architect displayed most of the characteristic features of his unique vision .

While expressing freely his personal style he was sufficiently bold  to come up with remarkable innovations both structural and architectonic.  The elevated cone-shaped towers that stand out above the portals are an excellent example . The design features a parabolic torsion giving  an ascending appearance to the façade. This trait is enhanced by the numerous windows drilling the tower that follow a spiral trajectory.

Once more Sagrada Familia showcases  Gaudi´s  profound interest and inspiration in nature The interior was designed to resemble a dense forest . This effect was achieved by placing slightly bent tree-shaped columns supporting hyperboloid and parabolic vaults to form a perfect  catenary, which was one of Gaudí´s trademark traits in most of his buildings .

Gaudí´s suddden death in 1926 left Sagrada Familia unfinished with just one of the 18 original towers completely finished.  The project was continued following some of  Gaudí´s drawings since a good amount of the work was severely damaged during the Spanish civil war.

As much as with nature , Gaudí´s  conceptual realm was very linked to religious symbolism. Being a cult space, Sagrada Familia is filled with these references . He was deeply inspired by liturgical rituals . The exterior of the temple represents the church through its apostles , the virgin and Jesus . With the main tower Gaudi evokes the triumph of the Church while the interior references the Universal Church . The transept is a symbol of heaven and  its mystical significance of eternal peace.  

The two main facades of Sagrada Familia depict the birth and passion of Jesus.

The Nativity façade is profusely decorated with elements representing life . It was constructed between 1894 and 1930  . Knowing that the project would not be finished in his lifetime, Gaudí decided to build this façade entirely instead of following a coherent order of construction as a way to exemplify  the general style and sense of the building.

The Passion façade was started in 1954 . It reflects the crucifixion and death of Christ. To convey the anguish and suffering of this moment Gaudí , designed a simple and austere smooth stone outer surface resembling bones.  Josep Maria Subirachs was the catalan sculptor in charge of the design of the numerous pieces of the façade.

The prominent towers in Sagrada Familia are one of the most outstanding elements of the building . They show a parabolic profile crowned by  meaningful elements in catholic cult such as the crown , and the miter.

Over the years Sagrada Familia has become the main touristic attraction in Barcelona and one of the most admired buildings in the world. Sagrada Familia has received  worldwide distinction as  a World Heritage building by Unesco in 2005 . It has been included as well as one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.

 

Sagrada Familia is without a doubt the top must-gawk building in Barcelona.

 

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