Casa Batlló mapping artist finds 'universal inspiration at the core of Gaudí’s work'

Renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí designed Casa Batlló in the early 20th century during his naturalist period. Over one century later, it is a 'blank' canvas for Italian visual artist Quayola's imagination.

"Of course, I took great inspiration from the building itself, the geometry," Davide Quayola told Catalan News, a few days before premiering the projection mapping show. 

"It is in fact a great responsibility to be able to touch this masterpiece," he said.

But deriving from his observation of Casa Batlló, Quayola created something new, with the use of cutting-edge technology. 

"I'm very interested in creating this relationship, this kind of tension and equilibrium between past, present and future," he explained.

Gaudí’s inspiration from nature was most fascinating for the artist who observed "the dynamics of natural structures."

Quayola says his work has multiple layers of reflection and themes, such as the idea that nature can be "an infinite source of inspiration."

As the title of Quayola’s art show 'Arborescent' suggests, the piece revolves around nature and tree-like shapes, integrated with the facade.

"It is a great analogy of architecture that doesn't really look like something that has been designed in a traditional sense," he said.

Quayola’s show will be displayed on Casa Batlló’s facade as part of a program called 'The Heritage of Tomorrow.'

Now in its fourth year, it is the first time that the guest artist of the projection mapping has composed the music accompanying the art piece.

Created from custom software, the music follows the movement of the plants and the rhythm of the production.

"I composed music that is also inspired by natural behaviors," Quayola said, creating different "synergies between sound and image."

Beyond the "physical" experience, the show invites the spectator to think about the "dynamics of the world" and humanity's relationship with technology.

The projection mapping on Gaudí's famous architectural work will take place every 30 minutes on February 1 and 2 from 7.45 pm to 10.45 pm.