I'm not saying everything should look like his work, but it does demonstrate the dominating paucity of imagination.
Bert said:
There certainly isn't a single answer to that, but he somehow had to have a talent for sales, too. Architects build for clients, after all, and I suspect that audacity is much more rare with the clients than with the creators.
The Spaniards deserve quite a bit of credit for embracing his genius. And when you look at what's happening in architecture today, most if not all of the boldest creations are being realized in Russia or the East. The Western world seems to be far too conservative still.
Ah, yes, good point. I should have thought of that. I had a friend who made furniture, some wonderful designs like a coffee table with a big zipper in inlaid wood. Everybody loved them, but nobody bought them. (I was one of the first.)
solenostomus points out:
Well, he certainly wasn't the only one - look up Friedensreich Hundertwasser - it doesn't get much more colourful than his buildings and they are still looking for that single right angle that's rumoured to be hidden somewhere in his construction plans.
Hey, not bad.
My introduction to Gaudi was quite strange. Ever since a child electronic music has been of great interest. When I finally discovered Tangerine Dream one of my favourite tracks was Gaudi Park. It is a tune inspired by the park in Barcelona which is named in honour of the architect.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of the tune surely reflects the spirit of the park, which would be measure of the namesake. With that I plodded off to the library, in my pre-internet youth, and found some of the most amazing buildings I'd ever seen.
"So how come Gaudi was practically the only architect ever to have the balls to use colors and curves?"
ReplyDeleteThere certainly isn't a single answer to that, but he somehow had to have a talent for sales, too. Architects build for clients, after all, and I suspect that audacity is much more rare with the clients than with the creators.
The Spaniards deserve quite a bit of credit for embracing his genius. And when you look at what's happening in architecture today, most if not all of the boldest creations are being realized in Russia or the East. The Western world seems to be far too conservative still.
Ah, yes, good point. I had a friend who made furniture, some wonderful designs like a coffee table with a big zipper in inlaid wood. Everybody loved them, but nobody bought them. (I was one of the first.)
ReplyDelete"...the only architect ever to have the balls to use colors and curves?"
ReplyDeleteWell, he certainly wasn't the only one - look up Friedensreich Hundertwasser - it doesn't get much more colourful than his buildings and they are still looking for that single right angle that's rumoured to be hidden somewhere in his construction plans.
So how come Gaudi was practically the only architect ever to have the balls to use colors and curves?
ReplyDeleteIt could be that only people who lack taste would like his stuff. (My opinion differs from yours, so of course you'll rationalize it by saying that I lack the intelligence to understand the fiendish subtlety of his work.) He is obviously doing weirdness for its own sake, and that never holds up very well.
My opinion differs from yours, so of course you'll justify it by saying I have no taste. :)
ReplyDelete