Walking in Gaudí’s Footsteps
Antoni Gaudí/(1852-1926)/devoted his life to the Sagrada Família. In the following interview,/Sotoo Etsuro,/the chief sculptor,/talks about his experiences.
1
You are now a world-famous sculptor,/but did you want to become one/when you were young?
I graduated from an art school/majoring in sculpture,/and became an art teacher. In those days,/I didn’t know/what I really wanted to do. One day,/I was driving/and saw a pile of construction stones. It may sound strange,/but I heard my inner voice say,/“I want to carve stones.”
I quit my job/and decided to go to Europe. I had only a little money with me,/but I never asked,/“What if this doesn’t work out?”
Did you go straight to Barcelona?
No, I went to Paris first,/but I felt/there was no place for me. The whole city was so solidly built. It was as if you couldn’t touch anything. I hopped onto a train for Barcelona.
I arrived late in the evening. I walked out of the station,/and found myself on a street/lined with bars. I still remember/the taste of the sardines, tomatoes, and wine/I had that night. Although I hardly understood Spanish or Catalan,/the simple food and warm atmosphere/made me feel at home.
Antoni Gaudí/(1852-1926)/devoted his life to the Sagrada Família. In the following interview,/Sotoo Etsuro,/the chief sculptor,/talks about his experiences.
1
You are now a world-famous sculptor,/but did you want to become one/when you were young?
I graduated from an art school/majoring in sculpture,/and became an art teacher. In those days,/I didn’t know/what I really wanted to do. One day,/I was driving/and saw a pile of construction stones. It may sound strange,/but I heard my inner voice say,/“I want to carve stones.”
I quit my job/and decided to go to Europe. I had only a little money with me,/but I never asked,/“What if this doesn’t work out?”
Did you go straight to Barcelona?
No, I went to Paris first,/but I felt/there was no place for me. The whole city was so solidly built. It was as if you couldn’t touch anything. I hopped onto a train for Barcelona.
I arrived late in the evening. I walked out of the station,/and found myself on a street/lined with bars. I still remember/the taste of the sardines, tomatoes, and wine/I had that night. Although I hardly understood Spanish or Catalan,/the simple food and warm atmosphere/made me feel at home.