Many of Gaudí's quotes have survived, but today we want to share 15 quotes from Gaudí that we believe are relevant, which speak to how he understood art and what he was like as an artist.
The modernist art he created is linked to nature, humanity, beauty, and expression. All of this is embodied in the architect's philosophy.
Who was Antoni Gaudí?
Gaudí was a modernist architect of great relevance in Spain, and specifically in Barcelona, today we bring 15 phrases from Gaudí that can make us reflect on art, architecture and beauty.
15 phrases from Gaudi
1. "I can't live without light."
A phrase that reflected Gaudí's great passion for architecture, in addition to his passion for design and how important natural light is for both. Light is a fundamental element that gives life and fills his works with magic. The light used with skylights, windows or stained glass makes his architecture full of colors and plays of light and shadows, as well as visual effects. Light illuminates but also transforms. They are places with soul thanks to her. Natural light is one of the characteristics of Gaudí's architecture.
2. "The curious thing is that the simplest line is the most difficult to achieve"
Hasn't it happened to you that when things seem to be easy, they are not as easy as they seemed at the beginning? Gaudí leaves us this phrase that leads us to reflect on how complex design and architecture are. Finding perfection in simplicity can be a greater challenge than creating the laborious sinuous lines linked to nature. Although it may not seem like it, simple things can involve more work than complex ones.
3. «There are no straight lines or right angles in nature; Therefore, the art of building must be based on the curve."
Modernist architecture is inspired by nature; its forms are organic, its beauty natural, and its connection to the natural world is intrinsic. The geometry of Gaudí's architecture is curved, resembling living things like mountains, plants, or the sea. True beauty lies in the imperfection of nature. This led him to create his unique and highly recognizable style. If you're interested in learning more about the characteristics of this style, you can read about the characteristics of Modernism.
4. «We architects do not invent anything. We observe"
This quote from Gaudí also refers to the importance of observing our surroundings and then incorporating that observation into our creations. For him, architecture was a discipline that should harmonize with nature and people. It wasn't about creating something new, but rather about observing what was around us, studying it, and using it as a source of inspiration. Architecture should integrate with the world around it, as can be seen in various structures designed by Antoni Gaudí.
5. «Color in architecture is like spice in the kitchen; can give flavor to any combination »
This phrase from Gaudí lets us see how color can mark a before and after in architecture, in the same way that spices can turn a normal dish into an extraordinary one. For him, color was more than just a decorative element, it was an element that enhances and enriches architecture. Adds the emotional, personal and live touch, transforming the environment. The color palette must be explored without fear, you must look for the combination that makes that extraordinary dish.
6. "Beauty is the radiance of truth"
Beauty goes beyond aesthetic aspects; beauty is a mirror of truth, of the reality we experience in our surroundings. Beauty is harmony and coherence.
7. "Everything sculpted in stone speaks of the origin, of the first impulse, of the first form it could have had."
Stone is more than an element used for architecture; it's an element for expressing and communicating with nature. Stone sculpture seeks the perfection of nature. It's important to understand the shapes and textures this material presents, which benefit us in creating and connecting with our origins as human beings.
8. "There is nothing more artistic than loving people."
For Gaudí, love and compassion are fundamental to people's lives. For him, art was also the way people treat each other, how we relate to each other. Love is the purest way to show humanity and connect with others. Gaudí compares the durability of art to the durability of actions and how our actions toward others can endure and be meaningful for our individual lives and for society at large.
9. «Architecture is the organization of light; the sculpture, the arrangement of shadows.»
The play of light and shadow has been a fundamental element for artists throughout history. This game creates the architectural space. Light is a key element when conceiving a work. It gives depth, highlights details, creates volumes and has the gift of creating unique environments.
Sculpture, on the other hand, is a three-dimensional element and the shadows are what make the volumes stand out and give us that feeling of depth. In both architecture and sculpture, a good arrangement of the play of light and shadow can make a masterpiece.
10. «The architect does not just follow his own rules, he follows those that nature gives him.»
We're seeing how nature was a fundamental inspiration for the architect; many of Gaudí's quotes revolve around it. According to Gaudí, nature provides us with endless shapes, colors, materials, structures... and all of this can and should be used as inspiration for architecture, to create special spaces. To explore more about some of these, you can visit our page.
11. "A building is not just a structure, it is a way of life."
A building was more than architecture, a building had to have a soul, it had to have a connection with nature, with the living. Some works such as Park Güell are good reflections of this thinking of Gaudí. Each architecture he created has life and takes us to a magical world full of architectural elements, nature and life.
12. "Art is always new at every moment, it cannot be repeated."
Originality and creativity are key to making art. Each work is unique, it is unrepeatable because it reflects the vision, skill and soul of an artist at a given moment. Therefore, no matter how much you try to imitate or recreate something later, you will not be able to realize again the essence that the artist put into creating it.
13. "Architecture is petrified music."
Architecture is more than construction, it is creating living spaces inspired by nature. Comparing this with music makes architecture be in continuous movement, where it transmits emotions and feelings to us. Architecture is not just stone, it is an art that leads us to connect with our sensitivity.
14. "The building should look as natural as a tree and appear to grow in place."
Nature was fundamental for Gaudí, as we are seeing, and the buildings had to be present in their locations as if they were a tree, as if that were their natural place.
15. "Architecture is a happy synthesis of necessity and beauty."
Architecture is functional and practical, we need it, but it must also be beautiful. Aesthetics and utility could go hand in hand to create an extraordinary result.
