In the Oxford dictionary the word 'muse' has two definitions. One refers to 'The Muses – nine goddesses, daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne, inspirers of poetry, music, drama, etc.' From this comes the word we use to describe an artist or poet's source of inspiration. The other definition tells us that 'muse' means to 'Ponder, reflect (on, upon); gaze meditatively (on)... '
For me, the items featured here have a foot in both camps.
This museum and cultural centre was designed by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. It combines an old abandoned electrical station with newly constructed floors encased with oxidized cast-iron. On the house next to it, there is a green wall designed by French botanist Patrick Blanc. The combination of these diverse but beautifully constructed elements more than makes its mark in a city that has no shortage of distinguished buildings.
Antoni Gaudi and Barcelona are inextricably linked and the Park Güell which overlooks the city is one of the most exuberant expressions of his artistic genius. The mosaics which decorate the walls seem to have been created from random pieces of broken pottery but at the same time there is a powerful unity to the whole creation.