MORE THAN 900,000 PEOPLE VISIT THE GAUDI EXHIBITION IN JUST ONE MONTH

STUNNING SUCCESS! THE EXHIBITION CATEDRA GAUDI AT THE ILLA WAS THE MOST VISITED EXHIBITION OF THE GAUDI YEAR 2002.

Barcelona, 22nd August 2002.

The exhibition Catedra Gaudí located at the commercial center L'Illa Diagonal of Barcelona finalised on 22nd of August overcoming even the most optimistic expectation as far as visitors' pull is concerned. Over more than a month, more than 900,000 people have enjoyed the retrospective on the life and works of the gifted architect.

The free-entrance show brought the personage of Gaudí closer to all publics and, likewise the architect himself, left nobody unresponsive. Proof of this is the two 250 page signature-books of honour, which visitors have wholly filled with their comments.

On the wake of such success, the Gaudí i Barcelona Club is already preparing new exhibitions, which will be staged in Barcelona and in other cities both in Spain and abroad. All shows will pivot around the works of art and the life of the renowned architect. They will be located, preferably, at public and easily reached locations. In doing so, the Club hopes to remain faithful to its philosophy, consisting of bringing the eminent architect to everybody. In this way, the initiative proposes itself as a close and likeable show at the time that it maintains its didactic and rigorous scope.

Daniel Giralt-Miracle: "We appreciate the enthusiasm of the Gaudí Club"

Mr. Daniel Giralt-Miracle, Commissioner to the Year Gaudí 2002, congratulated the Gaudí i Barcelona Club for this suggestion, praising the initiative of approaching the art of Gaudí to people instead of trying to get people to exhibitions.

Eduard Solé: "This is just a small sample of Gaudí's talent"

On the other hand, the chairman of the Gaudí i Barcelona Club, Mr. Eduard Solé, reckoned that the public's response to the exhibition has been very encouraging. "This is a small sample of Gaudí's talent. The 100-square meter area on which the exhibition took place was up to much and more. We have gathered thirty pieces in it, some of which of an inestimable value, such as the original drawings of Casa Milà, Park Güell, Casa Batlló and Casa Botines.

At the moment of planning the exhibition we looked for pieces that could be evocative of the different facets of Antonio Gaudí. In this way, visitors have been able to contemplate pieces like the ceramic soffit of Park Güell right up to the furniture designed by the architect for Casa Calvet, passing through the reproduction of the roof chimneys of La Pedrera or various models of his most celebrated works. The cards to each piece and the relative text together with the availability of consultative books on Gaudí and his art completed the meaning of the exhibition. The fact that the majority of visitors wanted to examine the pieces in detail is an unquestionable proof that Gaudí's skills and unbelievable potential remain absolutely alive".

According to Mr. Andrés Torres, marketing supervisor to the Illa Centre, the exhibition has been one of the most successful ever held at the commercial centre. "It has been a very pulling show. People stopped by and examined the whole lot. We have noticed that the exhibition subject has elicited a great interest and entertained more than the majority of exhibitions held here so far", the supervisor said.

About the association "Gaudí i Barcelona Internet Club"

The "Gaudí i Barcelona Internet Club" is a non-profit association that was created to divulge the life and work of Antoni Gaudi. The starting point of the organisation dates back to 1997 when the club was created at the web page www.gaudiclub.com . Here, its more than 9,000 members of all nationalities have gathered free of charge to be permanently informed about whatever thing referring to Gaudí. The Club's web site is the most complete page on the architect one can get. It is visited by an average of over 2,000 accesses daily. The Club also runs an on-line shop where it is possible to buy all items relating to the gaudinist art as well as a forum available for debate among the architect's fans. In its long for spreading the culture and personage of Gaudí worldwide, the Club keeps in touch with a very large number supporters while it co-operates with many cultural associations in various countries, offering assistance as well as its experience to all those who may wish pose whatever question.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

GAUDÍ CLUB PRESS
Josep Giralt
Telephone: 93 415 25 66
Fax: 93 415 30 33
E-mail: press@gaudiclub.com