Gaudí Dreams is the fourth work that Refik Anadol has created exclusively for Casa Batlló and offers us the chance to enter the mind of Antoni Gaudí.
Casa Batlló’s commitment to Barcelona has been latent since its origins. In one way or another – though mostly linked to the figure of Antoni Gaudí – it has always managed to connect with the city. However, in the last ten years the organisation of Casa Batlló has taken a new direction focused on opening the foundation to the world in a technological and participatory way. In 2013 they made visiting the exhibitions interactive, in 2015 they projected the first mapping in front of 20,000 people and in 2021 they reinvented the museum experience, winning multiple international awards. A year later they projected the work Living Architecture by digital artist Refik Anadol in front of 47,000 people with a subsequent Christie’s auction. Now, the same artist presents a new work created exclusively for Casa Batlló: Gaudí Dreams.
The new installation is an immersive journey through the dreams of the architect Antoni Gaudí. One dream – many, in fact – in which all of Gaudí’s works are connected to each other. Behind this purpose there is an explanation: “Gaudí’s works are interrelated and there is a story between them. He thought of them in a non-linear way, connecting them, and Gaudí Dreams is a tribute to this legacy”, explains Anadol.
Data and AI, two fundamental elements
Gaudí Dreams has been created from the largest collection of data on the architect and with more than a billion images processed by different AI algorithms. And while it is true that AI has been dominating several fields for a year and a half, this project was conceived three years ago. “It is inspiring to see that we are at the forefront of new ideas,” says Anadol.
Among this vast collection of data on Gaudí are scans of the Casa Batlló, archives of the monument, academic articles, videos, public images of the architect’s works and references from the natural world.
In fact, all this data has already been compiled for the first installation that Anadol created in homage to Antoni Gaudí in 2021: In the mind of Gaudí. A work that was seen by 2 million people.
As Anadol explains, the purpose of that first installation was to tell a story about the artist’s mind, although they later realised that the more they investigated his mind, the more new worlds opened up. “Now we have designed a version where we are able to literally, physically fly into these imaginary tunnels of his mind”, he says.
An exhibition on the occasion of the new work
To coincide with the opening of Gaudí Dreams, Casa Batlló is presenting a new exhibition in the building. It has been created with works by Refik Anadol and Sofía Crespo exclusively for this monument of the city.
The exhibition is included in the tour of the building and is part of the artistic project The Heritage of Tomorrow, an initiative in which the monument invites renowned digital artists to intervene this world heritage site, both its façade and its interior. Anadol adds: “It’s a unique form of expression for artists like me, inspired by computers, algorithms, data. We finally have a platform to share our ideas to millions of people. So I am grateful for myself and also for the generations to come.
Gaudí Dreams is projected in the Cube room, with 6 LED screens. Editorial credit: Casa Batlló.
The work is projected in the Cube, an immersive 6-sided LED room that is unique in the world, and will be on display at Casa Batlló over the next few months.
A brief biography of the artist
Refik Anadol is a Turkish multimedia artist, a pioneer in the aesthetics of data and Artificial Intelligence. His work situates creativity halfway between human beings and machines, uniting both worlds.
His way of working consists of collecting data flowing around us as raw material and using the neural network of a computerised mind as a collaborator. The end result is works that expand the possibilities of architecture, narrative and the moving body, opening up new horizons in perception and aesthetic interaction.
Casa Batlló and its commitment to sustainability and its human team
The cultural visit to Casa Batlló has been awarded numerous international prizes for its museographic proposal, a pioneer in technological innovations. However, beyond that, the institution stands out for its commitment to social and environmental issues. As Gary Gautier, Casa Batlló’s managing director, explains, “facilitating people’s development, authenticity and passion helps us create a team guided by a purpose we all share: to make people happy through art”.
Casa Batlló supports people with neurodivergence problems, promoting the employability of this group as the main social focus.
Regarding the former, its work and commitment to the labour inclusion of neurodivergent people (autism, dyspraxia, ADHD…) stands out. In fact, it is the first World Heritage site in the international sphere to have a team of 60 neurodivergent people to attend to visitors, thanks to the collaboration with the organisation Specialisterne.
In terms of its environmental work, the institution is committed to sustainable development and since 2019 has the Biosphere seal. This is a sustainability certification that endorses good practices related to Agenda 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
