VOX POPULI: The special charm of Gaudi’s unfinished work: Sagrada Familia

What is the allure of unfinished works of art?

Gifted architect Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926) started building the church of the Sagrada Familia in 1883.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, this unique structure is still under construction in Barcelona, the work spanning three centuries.

Asked when the church was scheduled for completion, Gaudi was said to have replied, “God is in no hurry.” And should he fail to finish it before his death, he noted, that’s nothing to be sorry about.

In fact, he added that if others who came after him kept building the church, the edifice would become “even more spectacular.”

Recently, roughly 140 years after the work began, it was announced that the church’s main Tower of Jesus Christ is scheduled for completion in 2026 to coincide with the centenary of Gaudi’s death.

Even though work will continue on other parts of the church, such as the steps leading to the main entrance, that row of iconic soaring spires should be a truly stunning sight.

Two years from now means pretty soon. I was a bit surprised because I’d always just assumed the completion would be achieved in a distant future. 

This may sound a bit odd, but it feels as if my favorite TV drama series is ending abruptly, and I felt a stab of disappointment.

In the world of art, there are unfinished masterpieces galore.

Franz Schubert (1797-1828) somehow did not finish his Symphony No. 8, which came to be known as the “Unfinished Symphony" and is celebrated as a timeless masterpiece.

And author Franz Kafka (1883-1924) wrote a number of unfinished novels, including “The Castle” and “The Trial.”

Like living things that keep growing quietly, unfinished works captivate us softly.

Author and poet Kenji Miyazawa (1896-1933) said, “An eternally unfinished work is a finished work in itself.”

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 1

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Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.