Since I was able to walk, my mother used to take me to museums, or galleries, here or abroad, and she made me discover art. As far as I remember, and contrary to my sister, I always loved to go to the museums. My favourite one was the zoological collection in my town. It's a museum of the end of the 18th century, very old fashioned, with old showcases full from bottom to top with animals and hand written papers with the scientific names on it.
When I was a bit older, she started to bring me in museums abroad, in Paris, Geneva, Basel, Barcelona, and made me discover some of my favourite artists. I will always remember this exhibition showing artworks of both Calder and Miro, it was one of the greatest discovery for me. I love Miro's blue paintings, big blue paintings, with some touches of yellow, red, and white.
Yesterday, I went to one of the most beautiful museums of Switzerland, it's the fondation Beyeler in Basel. The building is from Renzo Piano, a very famous italian architect. I love to see some exhibition there, because the conditions are really good. The ceilling is made of glass, wich provides natural lightning. In one room, which is next to a pool, there is one of Monet's "les Nymphéas". The pool reflexes the sunlight, and the painting seems to be moving, as if it was real water. It's beautiful, and very relaxing.
There was an exhibition of 20th century art (Picasso, Miro, Klee, Rothko, Mondrian,...) mixed with primitive artworks from Polynesia, Papouasia, and other countries. It was very interesting, to see these both totally different form of arts, and though the numerous similitudes, echoes. It's not totally random, because many of these artists were inspired by the primitive arts
I don't know many things about primitive arts, but I always enjoy to see it. When I was 15, I was sent to Oxford for a month to study english, and as I had a lot of free time, I went to see some museums. I visited the Pitt River's collection, and I found it awesome! It was a big room in a victorian building, full of objects, boats, reduce Jivaros heads, totems... It was like entering a treasure room, being lost between Amazonia and Java. I heard that the museum will be reorganized, and that it will be adapted to modern museography, and I find it a bit sad, because it's this anarchic pileup of objects that I loved so much, maybe because it reminded me of my room... :)
I have to find some money to visit other exhibitions around the world. I want to go back to Paris, Barcelona, and discover other famous museums such as the Met in New-York, or the Guggenheim. I sent my application file to get a new job, wich would be paid 700 $ a month, and I hope to get it. It would maybe allow me to travel a bit next year! I've never crossed the atlantic, and it's one of my short term aims.
6 comments:
Nice pictures. :)
I've always rather liked museums too. Art museums a little less so, because some art I like a lot, others I don't really like at all.
Is $700/month a lot there? It doesn't sound like that much to me. o.O
One of the few things I regret is that I never visited the Miro museum when I were in Barcelona. But I guess I can always go back. If you like modern art you should visit the Lousiana museum outside of Copenhagen, if you have chance.
700 is not a lot, but it's only for a 20% time job, so it's absolutely ok :) my parents pay for 80% of my expenses (mostly the studies and the rent) and I have to find the rest, I already have two little jobs, and if I get this one, if would let me 500 $ more at the end of the month, wich would be much more than now! I could earn some of this each month to make trips on the summer.
I've been only once in Copenhagen, I have family living not far from Malmö in Sweden. I want to go there this summer to visit them, so why not make a stop in Copenhagen! thanks for the advice ;)
And Emma, next time you go, don't forget to pay a visit, the Miro museum is really wonderful!
I love ancient cultural paraphernalia and especially zoological exhibits. When in Mongolia, I visited the national history museum and the natural history museum. The artwork, artifacts, animals..EVERYTHING they had was so frikkin amazing. :)
Modern art I despise with a passion. The only reason I think it came about was because rich people needed to find ways in art to exclude "common" people when art supplies became commonly available. So those involved in modern art settled on making things no person (certainly no "common" person) in their right mind would want. Anyways, that is just my conspiracy theory. :P
Don't be so critical :) it's a lot of crap, but some artists are absolutely outstanding in my opinion. It's for the most a matter of taste.
Is it where you found the dead fox you brought back? :D
Hey, I just know what I like and what I don't like. Modern art by no means impresses me or interests me. So, I find it quite easy to dislike it all. :P
Nah, I got the dead fox from the main shopping center. That would have been cool to nab something from the museum, though. They had snow leopards on display...I wanted to steal one of those.
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