Barcelona belongs to an artist named Antoni Gaudí.
His name is on the lips of both residents and tourists alike, garnering respect and adoration, not only across cultural lines, but from women and men of every age group. It is difficult to express his impact on the city, and difficult to comprehend how, nearly 90 years after his death, this man captivates us so.
Gaudí’s work has given modern artists and architects in Barcelona an unparalleled license for creativity and forward thinking. When standing in front of Torre Agbar, for example, one might think “how odd a structure is this?”
It is 38 stories of blues, reds and pinks in a soothing, fluid pattern. And then one might remember “oh, I’m in Barcelona. That makes sense. I get it.” Mundane would be out of place here. The ordinary, routine and humdrum structures of Brussels, and London were designed for cities without a foundation in creativity. Gaudí’s work has set the table for eye-catching feasts of meticulous frenzy.
Now that I have toured a bit of Barcelona, I can recognize his impact on Seattle as well. From iconic structures like Experience Music Project to restaurants like Pesos and Matador, Gaudí’s influence has permeated our Northwest world. And while I have always winced at the eyesore which is the EMP; I can appreciate the respect that was shown Barcelona’s prince in the creation of it.
albaniacalling 