#274 The unfinished masterpiece is finally...! The life of the genius Antoni Gaudi and the path of those who dedicated their lives to Sagrada Familia! Part 2

Why did a Japanese man end up working on the sculptures of a Spanish church?

You must listen to the story of how Etsuro Sotoo, who quit his job as an art teacher and moved to Europe in 1978, was struck like lightning when he first saw Sagrada Familia at the construction site in Barcelona. His astonishing drive, having asked on the spot to be allowed to carve stone, is what shaped him into who he is today. The sculptures carved into the entrance of the church seem to have played a vital role in conveying the teachings of the Bible to people in an era when they could not read.

Gaudi's strong philosophy is also hidden in the height of the architecture.

In the second half of the program, we unravel the reason why the height of the near-completed church was set to approximately 172.5 meters. In fact, it seems there was a specific insistence by Gaudi to keep it lower than the height of Montjuic hill in Barcelona. His humble belief that human-made structures should not be taller than nature, which God created, is embedded in this number.

Each sculpture is filled with astonishing reality.

Among the decorations, there are sculptures modeled after specific objects. Listening to that episode will surely change your perspective when looking at the exterior of the church. Once you realize that the sculptures are not just decorations, but have etched in them people's emotions and history, you might feel like visiting the site yourself. If you are curious, please listen to the full episode.