Great turnout for exhibition on Gaudí and Sagrada Família in Japan - Great turnout for exhibition on Gaudí and Sagrada Família in Japan

The Basilica of the Sagrada Família, with NHK and NHK Promotions, presented “Gaudí and the Sagrada Família”, a travelling exhibition in Japan focused on Antoni Gaudí and his legacy. It was inaugurated on 12 June at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo (MOMAT) and received 3,000 visitors in one day.

This initiative aims to share the work of this genius architect in Asia and raise awareness of the meaning and current construction status of his masterpiece, the Sagrada Família. In this regard, the exhibition offers a retrospective of the Sagrada Família, putting Antoni Gaudí and his work in context. It draws the public into Gaudí’s architecture and universe through various works and audiovisual pieces, and is divided into four sections: Gaudí the man, his unique architecture, the Sagrada Família, and Gaudí’s influence on contemporary Japanese architecture.

The exhibition features unpublished graphic and audiovisual materials from NHK showing how construction of the Temple is progressing. At the MOMAT in Tokyo, the exhibition also includes a collection of heritage pieces on loan from the Basilica of the Sagrada Família, such as original models from Gaudí’s days and religious items designed by the architect, among others.

The Basilica of the Sagrada Família has provided a total of 61 items, noteworthy among which are the model of a girl and the model of Christ’s torso, original plaster sculptures by Gaudí that were used as models for the sculptures on the Nativity façade at the Sagrada Família. Another piece that stands out is the model of the palm fronds for the fence at Casa Vicens. Most notably, this is the first time the models for the pinnacle on the tower of the Evangelist Mark and the original model of a cross have been on display outside the Sagrada Família.

In this context and for the inauguration of the exhibition, Mr Jordi Faulí, head architect of the Basilica of the Sagrada Família, gave three conferences on the construction of the Sagrada Família on 13 and 14 June at the MOMAT, University of Tokyo and Tokyo University of the Arts. At these events, he explained to students and teachers in the audience how construction of the Sagrada Família has spanned generations and described the details of the project’s symbolism, structure and geometries. He also noted that the Sagrada Família is progressing according to the designs Antoni Gaudí left in his instructions and work method, but especially thanks to the hard work, support and contributions of people all over the world.

The travelling exhibition will be at the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo (from 13 June to 10 September 2023), the Sagawa Art Museum in Moriyama (30 September to 3 December 2023) and the Nagoya City Art Museum in Nagoya (19 December to 10 March 2024).