The Sagrada Familia presents stained glass window exhibition ‘The colours of light’
Visitors can now see the completed stained glass windows of the legendry Sagrada Familia Temple. Left with only a few indications from Gaudi, the stained glass artist Toni Vila-Grau has spent the last 10 years designing the emblematic works of art.
Barcelona (ACN).- Glass, form, light and colour: the essential elements of stained glass, a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The Sagrada Familia is currently dedicating the exhibition entitled ‘The colours of light: the stained glass of Vila-Grau”. The show brings together the process, fabrication and installation of each pane of glass, inviting visitors to experience their creation. The exhibition is commissioned by Antoni Vila, son of the stained glass craftsman, and Anna Vila, granddaughter and superintendent of the project. The stained glass artist called the show “a symphony of colours”.
Antoni Gaudí was fully aware that he would never see the finished product of his grand work, the Sagrada Familia. For this reason he left a few indications about the stained glass windows that would eventually grace its walls. He advised that the interior windows must be dark, gradually opening up to a translucent white for good illumination.
Under these recommendations, 10 years ago the stained glass window artist Toni Vila-Grau began work on the design of these windows that are still being constructed. The wealth of the images, symbols and icons of the Sagrada Familia influenced the artist to choose an abstract style, which the artist claims, may come off as “anachronistic”.
According to Vila-Grau, his work aims to portray a “symphony of colour”, “creating an environment” that only the projection of the sun’s rays through glass could achieve.
The exhibition hopes to show visitors the importance of the stained glass windows for the temple. There you can see the studio of the artist, his aquarelle mock-ups, the process of glass painting and finally, the installation.
As Vila-Grau explained, the exhibition forms around two fundamental axes: the 10-year trajectory of his work and the few indications that Antoni Gaudí left to his followers.