With Vasco pride, i say we are lucky it is even in Spanish, if you are actually interested in having anything from the page translated, let me know. the history of the sanctuary is fascinating... and the art there even more-so.
http://www.arantzazukosantutegia.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=42&lang=es
a brief history in english
A virgin in a bush told Rodrigo Balzategui to build a church where he found her.
he did
his church burned down during a festival in 1553
because the church was (is) in the route of the san santiago pilgrimage, there were regular donations made towards the cathedrals reconstruction
it developed into a monestary and hospital with very monastic architecture
the church burned again in 1622
only part of the chapel remained in tact
there was reconstruiton to the monestary and hospital, and a bakery and library were built
because so many pilgrams were donating to the church, they kept needing to make bigger and bigger lodging for their now biggest donors
in 1834, guess what happened? it burned- during the war Carlista
everyone helped rebuild it this time, it kept getting bigger and bigger
then, suddenly construction stopped for about 25 years when their plans finally out-weighed their pocket books
the Fansiscos (brother hood of monks) elected a new president that decided to fund a renovation of the basilica, and they held an artistic and architectural competition for the design (rules being: it had to be religous, modern, and basque)
construction started and stopped repeatedly beginning in 1950
1955 the bascilica was opened
then complaints piled in that it wasn't decorated enough
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| entrance (14 disciples...?) |
personally
LOVE the cave in a mountain sensation that this basilica eminates.
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| alter/pulpit view from the nave |
but...
the crypt- la cripta
due to the lack of decoration, a handful of basque artists were hired to beautify, i will only actually talk to you about the one that interested me
Nestor Basterretxea
they were all modern and controversial because the weren't "eclesiastic enough"
in 1955 their work was put on suspension, soon you will see why
i can't believe the church wasn't burned again
Basterretxea wasn't able to finish his crypt until 1985
Nestor Basterretxea
his name screams "I am VASCO!" (i love it)
wait, he is french? i thought basque country was in spain?
during the second world war he emigrated to buenos aires, argentina (and i love him more)
moved back to europe and was contracted to paint the crypt...
Comienzo por la creación del cosmos; sigo con la creación de las mitologías por parte del hombre
para explicar lo que no acierta a comprender por la razón; sigue el cristianismo
y, por último, un signo de la última época, las guerras en el proceso del tiempo”.Néstor Basterretxea
"It begins with the creation of the cosmos; it continues with mythology created by man to explain what did not coordinate with reason; it continues with christianity, and ultimately, a sign of the last era, the wars in the process of time."
Nestor Basterretxea
Creation
The colors of red, white, blue and black symbolize respectivley fire, water, air, and earth. You also have the four seasons, green of spring, purple of summer, yellows of autum, and the grey of winter. everything apearing mixed
That flows into a mural of The Planets where the colors are more vibrant
As you walk around the room that flows into the third mural of Air and Water
presented in the coming together of the two and manifesting the birth of life
(evolution? in a church?!)
The forth mural is of Primitive Religions
'Before humanity a series of incomprihensible facts take place.
the uncertainty of this time creates fear, and when the human being comes along he creates gods to protect him. adoration of the natural elements begings'
The fifth mural The Birth of Christianity With A Cross (Mikel's favorite)
'In the darkness and pain of humanity appears a victorious cross who defeats desperation and mourning creating a fountain of hope. The cross is painted in all natural green tones.'
The sixth mural: Martires
the grill and the nails are symbols of suffering.
i interpreted this image to be representative of the suffering that religion can cause (pretty sure the artist was goin there...), the church's website says it is representative of humanity and what chrisianity saves us from.
riiiiiight
The seventh murial is that of Materialism
The eight is Human enemy of Human
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| 9th mural |
the nineth is the The danger of the Atomic
The description on their website is pretty boring about the atomic bomb representing war. There is something about the black, brown, and grey images in the middle that appear to me to be two different people hugging in the mist of red
The mural wrap around in this story so that the 10th mural has reached around the be the center altar.
It is the birth of Christ
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| 13th mural |
The 11th and 12th murals are on both sides of christ, and it is called the Illuminated Countryside. All yellows.
The 13th is called Harmony,
I love the passive position of the figure being embraced in this one. the figure is muscular, but extending their hand gently.
The 14th is called Truth. Representing humanity finding harmony ad equilibrium
The 15th is death. and has something to do with the san franscisco brotherhood, but their website was poorly made and the description is cut off.
The 16th-18th are my favorites.
The boy (el txico) knows me well, it was the first mural Mikel called me over to see...
Sister of Death, Sister Moon, Plant Sister, and Brother Sun
Thank you, Mikel, for bringing me here.
Del todo Euskadi, tu eligiste llevarme a este iglesia a medio de las montañas. Eres unos de las primeras personas que he conocido en mi vida que no solomente sabe que me voy a gustar, pero tu, a la vez, estas encantado con las mismas cosas.
Este iglesia es unica, como tu.
Gracias
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