Barcelona & Tourists Ruining Art
The afternoon sun peers through tinted glass as the afternoon drifts on, casting every color of the rainbow. Orange, red, and yellow floods the columbs and floors like a sunset, transporting you somewhere that simply can’t exist on earth. Turning to the east, windows of blue, green, and purple immerse you into forests and oceans intertwined. Pure golden light cascades through arched windows and intricately jagged ceilings, as if from another dimension.
And twirling just below the magic, a pale blonde woman poses in what borderlines a back bend to achieve that nice elegant arch, heels snugged into ankle socks and Nikes lifted off the floor for a reason unknown to me, arm gracefully draped across her carefully curled head, and a playfully soft smile as if to say “I’m like literally so bubbly and endearing.” After spending two hours on the verge of tears wandering through this most magnificent space, I grew somewhat nauseous seeing complete and utter bastardization of angelic artistic genius. And this woman did not work alone. Anywhere I looked, I could find selfie sticks polluting the beautifully tinted shadows, children screaming with glee during their rousing game of tag, and crop topped tweens FaceTiming their boyfriend back home in Ohio.
But even with all of this nonsense and chaos and stupidity, my rendezvous with the genius that is Antoni Gaudí will forever remain a core memory. I enjoyed so much of Barcelona, from the Gothic Quarter to the incredible paella, but experiencing Gaudí is reason enough to visit Barcelona. I first met with Gaudí in Park Guell which shocked me around every corner. Misshapen staggered tiles, every gate with curves and waves and character, views of the city from more points than I could’ve imagined, the seamless transition from nature to gorgeous pink buildings to whimsical coves around every corner. It seemed straight out of a child’s mind but in the most elegant way.
But we must return to the Sagrada Familia. Even writing that sentence, I wanted to describe it with some glorious adjective but couldn’t find the word to capture its full effect. I would try to use colorful poetic words to recount my experience, but I was genuinely speechless. So instead, here are my favorite facts. I learned that Gaudí designed the massive posts after trees, using the top sections resembling branches as structural support which gave him more artistic freedom on the exterior. Some of the towers were inspired by bowls of peaches and other fruits. Who else would ever think to use fruit as a basilica’s tower design? I was blown away by each facade on the sides of the church, capturing main biblical scenes, most notably the Nativity. The life and movement in the face of each sculpture and tiny inch of the piece had a specific moment and story, truly seeming alive. He chose the direction of each wall and window intentionally, considering east versus west, the back wall facing the ocean, basing every detail off of nature. Most moving of all, he wanted to make sure the church was about three feet shorter than Mount Montjuïc, to make sure he didn’t block God’s work. I’m not quite religious, but the sentiment seriously moved me. Even though he was sadly only around for the beginning of the build, his designs and influence on the world of architecture and art have been unbelievably impactful. Side note, I also couldn’t help but freak out over the 3D models of the church, showing both what has been built and what will be built during the next few years. The design nerd in me was squealing inside.
From the moment I walked through those massive doors, my jaw dropping to the sparkling floor, I immediately knew there was no way I would have my photo taken. I believe nobody deserves to be pictured in the same photo as this glorious masterpiece. I understand we all enjoy documenting the memories with our cameras and phones, but sometimes I think internalizing the memory and truly taking it all in can make an even more lasting impression. Even more so, flipping your balayage in front of the heavenly light and intricate structures because it goes well with your Instagram feed or because your butt looks fierce in those jeans, is an absolute no for me. Let’s save the “influencing” and content creation for the crowded beach with fifty people pestering you to buy watered down mojitos and half hour massages. Let’s treat the work with respect. I may not have a personal photo from my visit, like I do from many other iconic places, but I know that will be an afternoon I will never forget.
Although I do now have an aversion to the word mojito, thank you Barcelona for a sunny and cheetah-licious time.