Sociedad Estatal para la Acción Cultural Exterior

Gaudí. Exploring form
Space, geometry, structure and construction

Saló del Tinell, City History Museum. Barcelona
20.3.2002 - 29.9.2002

Introduction of Leading Councillor for Culture   Antoni Gaudí's spirit of enquiry was a vital element in defining the artistic and architectural approaches that he took in his work. His free and experimental concept of architecture led Gaudí to reflect constantly, and he drew from tradition everything that served his purpose while incessantly seeking solutions in which his understanding of construction, the logic of the structure and his creativity in geometry came together to form a coherent whole. Our attention is immediately drawn to the plastic side of Gaudí's work - the force of the forms, the expressiveness of the materials and frequently the wide range of colours that he used. While it may be these aspects that we find appealing at first sight, Gaudí himself understood buildings as a unified entity: his originality is not confined solely to the exterior, but is also directed towards finding three-dimensional solutions for the structures that were to support his buildings and that would improve the architecture of his time. Gaudí showed the way for later research into ruled surfaces and the spatial world of funicular and catenary arches, which are difficult to calculate using numerical methods. His maquettes, models and graphic calculations enabled him to arrive at the application of practical and cheap solutions in his architecture. And it is precisely through the use of models, photos, plans and drawings that the exhibition "Gaudí: exploring form. Space, geometry, structure and construction" helps us, in an attractive way, to understand the imaginative and innovative language of Antoni Gaudí. For those of us already familiar with the work of this exceptional architect, this exhibition provides us with another welcome opportunity to admire his genius; for those who have never seen Gaudí's architecture before, it is an enlightening journey of discovery. Ferran Mascarell Leading Councillor for Culture, Barcelona City Council