La persistencia del surrealismo en la arquitectura religiosa española del siglo XX

Abstract

This paper investigates whether Surrealism can be considered a common theme in twentieth century religious architecture. In this instance Surrealism should not be regarded so much as an artistic style, but as a complex way of understanding life. Although it is possible to understand modern Catholic architecture as an endeavour to integrate dogma with the so-called spirit of the time aspirations, the loss of architectural interest in this theory has still not be sufficiently clarified. The continuation of traditions, the dialogue between theology and art, and the Catholic identity crisis of the Second Vatican Council, are all aspects of an intense � at some times obsessive � debate that took place in Spain during the twentieth century. It will be concluded that the constant vein of Surrealism that is present in everything Spanish also filtered into ecclesiastical architecture: in turn making the architecture more difficult to understand. In relation to this it is, lastly, demonstrated that when religious architecture is subject to cross-examination the scope for new interpretations is widened.