Current location:travel >>
VOX POPULI: The special charm of Gaudi’s unfinished work: Sagrada Familia
travel6People have gathered around
IntroductionWhat is the allure of unfinished works of art?Gifted architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) started buil ...
What is the allure of unfinished works of art?
Gifted architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) started building the church of the Sagrada Familia in 1883.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, this unique structure is still under construction in Barcelona, the work spanning three centuries.
Asked when the church was scheduled for completion, Gaudi was said to have replied, “God is in no hurry.” And should he fail to finish it before his death, he noted, that’s nothing to be sorry about.
In fact, he added that if others who came after him kept building the church, the edifice would become “even more spectacular.”
Recently, roughly 140 years after the work began, it was announced that the church’s main Tower of Jesus Christ is scheduled for completion in 2026 to coincide with the centenary of Gaudi’s death.
Even though work will continue on other parts of the church, such as the steps leading to the main entrance, that row of iconic soaring spires should be a truly stunning sight.
Two years from now means pretty soon. I was a bit surprised because I’d always just assumed the completion would be achieved in a distant future.
This may sound a bit odd, but it feels as if my favorite TV drama series is ending abruptly, and I felt a stab of disappointment.
In the world of art, there are unfinished masterpieces galore.
Franz Schubert (1797-1828) somehow did not finish his Symphony No. 8, which came to be known as the “Unfinished Symphony" and is celebrated as a timeless masterpiece.
And author Franz Kafka (1883-1924) wrote a number of unfinished novels, including “The Castle” and “The Trial.”
Like living things that keep growing quietly, unfinished works captivate us softly.
Author and poet Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) said, “An eternally unfinished work is a finished work in itself.”
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 1
* *
*Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.
Tags:
Reprint:Friends are welcome to share on the Internet, but please indicate the source of the article when reprinting it.“International Insights news portal”。http://newcaledonia.tom-paine.com/news-15e499980.html
Related articles
I was 'brokefished' by my friend for £400
travelI need your help. My friend K has been recently telling our friendship group about how dire his fina ...
【travel】
Read moreEarly Solomon Islands election results show shakeup in most populous province — Radio Free Asia
travelA Solomon Islands politician ousted as premier of the Pacific island country’s most populous provinc ...
【travel】
Read moreSaints enter the NFL draft with questions along the offensive line
travelNEW ORLEANS (AP) — The New Orleans Saints could have a hard time passing up a promising prospect at ...
【travel】
Read more
Popular articles
- Not so Cool Britannia! Noel Gallagher gives damning verdict on Keir Starmer
- Carlos Carrasco pitches solid into the 6th inning, Guardians edge Red Sox 5
- Arizona State starting quarterback Jaden Rashada enters transfer portal
- California governor pledges state oversight for cities, counties lagging on solving homelessness
- What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky
- Commanders are in line to take a quarterback with the NFL draft's 2nd pick
Latest articles
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
With QB Cousins joining strong foundation on offense, Falcons may target edge rusher in NFL draft
Alleged homicide suspect fatally shot by police in San Francisco Bay Area
Saints enter the NFL draft with questions along the offensive line
Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
Proposal would assure schools that cooperate fully in NCAA investigations avoid postseason ban
LINKS
- How brown rats crawled off ships and conquered North American cities
- Children race to collect marshmallows dropped from a helicopter at a Detroit
- With new trilateral partnership, Philippines eyes more foreign investment — Radio Free Asia
- Norwegians facing a shortage as Easter nears are hoarding eggs from neighboring Sweden
- This stinks. A noxious weed forces Arizona national monument's picnic area to close until May
- Astronomers find vast underground ocean under Saturn's Death Star
- 5 takeaways from the abortion pill case before the U.S. Supreme Court
- Better conditions fail to yield signs of missing crew member from fishing boat
- This stinks. A noxious weed forces Arizona national monument's picnic area to close until May
- Children race to collect marshmallows dropped from a helicopter at a Detroit