Discover Gaudi's Art Nouveau Masterpieces In Barcelona
Step inside Antoni Gaudí's Barcelona Modernista Masterpieces in this definitive documentary with art historian and design expert Paul Greenhalgh, as he takes you on an exclusive tour of ALL of Gaudí's most famous Barcelona buildings, exploring the stunning interiors and groundbreaking exteriors that defined Catalan Modernisme and global Art Nouveau.
This film goes beyond the tourist crowds to unlock the genius of Gaudí’s vision. Discover Gaudi’s genius how he merged nature, light, and geometry to transform stone and iron into living, organic art. In this essential HENI Talk, you will experience:
• The Celestial Dome of Palau Güell: Witness the architectural brilliance of Gaudí's first major commission, where the high central hall simulates a starry night sky.
• The Dragon's Spine of Casa Batlló: Uncover the myths and marine inspirations behind the famous façade and its mesmerizing, light-filled interiors.
• The Stone Waves of Casa Milà (La Pedrera): Explore the undulating lines, revolutionary structure, and surreal rooftop warrior-chimneys of this urban masterpiece.
• The Unfinished Symphony of Sagrada Familia: A deeper look at the spiritual geometry of the basilica's vaulted ceilings, branching columns, and detailed façades.
• The Mosaic Wonderland of Park Güell: Discover the fantastical, nature-inspired landscape where public and private spaces merge through vivid trencadís mosaics and serpentine benches.
• The Orientalist Textures of Casa Vicens: Explore the striking blend of Moorish and Catalan design in Gaudí's groundbreaking first house, featuring dazzling tilework and elaborate iron railings.
• The Experimental Crypt of Colònia Güell Church: Go inside the architect's "laboratory" to see his revolutionary use of angled columns, twisted brick, and hyperbolic arches—a prelude to the Sagrada Familia.
Presented by Paul Greenhalgh, former Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A), this film offers a unique academic insight into the social, political, and artistic context of Gaudí's work, positioning him as a global pioneer of 20th-century design.
Time Period:
20th century
Themes:
Professor Paul Greenhalgh is a specialist on the art and design of the Modern period. He has written widely on Art Nouveau and curated several exhibitions including the major survey Art Nouveau 1890-1914, which toured internationally (2000-01). His books include Ephemeral Vistas (1988), Modernism in Design (1990), Art Nouveau 1890–1914 (2000), The Modern Ideal (2005), Fair World (2011), L’Art Nouveau: La Revolution Decorative (2013), Ceramic Art and Civilisation (2021) and Pablo Picasso: The Legacy of Youth (2022). He has held positions as Head of Research at the V&A Museum, London; President and Director at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington DC; Director of the Sainsbury Centre, Norwich; and Inaugural Director of the Zaha Hadid Foundation, London. He was born and raised in Bolton, and is a proud Lancastrian.
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