Staring and thinking. Thinking and staring

Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Artistin (Marzella)

 

I didn’t see this in a gallery in Paris, but on a postcard I found when I was sorting through a box of stuff in my flat. I first saw it a long time ago in the Die Brücke Museum, Berlin. Translated, Die Brücke means ‘The Bridge’ and was the name of a group of expressionist painters and printmakers that often used bright colours and simple forms. Kirchner, the painter of this picture was one of the founding members.

Blooming Marvellous

Vincent Van Gogh – Almond Blossom 1890   

 

I spent last weekend in Amsterdam, one of my first stops being the Van Gogh Museum. It was a great place with so much to love but this painting made the biggest impression on me, and many others judging by the amount of products bearing its image in the gift shop.

Penniless poet to pop art pin-up - Jean-Michel Basquiat

Trailer for Radiant Child – documentary film by Tamra Davis

The exhibition of Jean-Michel Basquiat’s life work was shown at the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville from last October to January and was one of the museum’s most successful shows to date. So popular, that I gave up on queuing in the freezing cold twice and didn’t get to see it until its last week. If I’m honest I almost considered just pretending I’d seen it, but knew I wouldn’t be able to live with the secret.

I heart Bonaparte

Since downloading came along and made records free but gigs really expensive, bands have had to pull their socks up.  As recently as five years ago, if a lead singer climbed on top of a 15 foot amp it would be a classic rock moment. However, high ticket prices in a time when people are wondering if they will still have their job tomorrow, mean audiences want more for their money.

Magic Roundabout

Magic Roundabout

Le manège carré sénart, François Delarozière

 at CENTQUATRE, Paris

A few years ago I followed the performance of the Sultan’s Elephant through the streets of London to Trafalgar Square. It was one of the most magical things I’ve ever seen and could tell that the thousands of others stood with me felt the same way.  

Furry Friend

Mark Dion, Les Nécrophores – L’enterrement (Hommage à Henri Fabre), 1997

Les recherches d’un chien – La Maison Rouge, Paris

Image courtesy of La Maison Rouge / Claude Colin Communications

 

The Maison Rouge has everything I could ever want from an art gallery – as well having great taste in art, I can walk to it from my house, it has a cute café, and most importantly there is not one bling-bling coffee table book in its gift shop.

Sign of life

Jonathan Borofsky, You are Alone Slow Down There is No One to Please but Yourself, 1975-76, Acrylic on canvas, 137,2 x 365,8 cm, © Jonathan Borofsky, Courtesy Paula Cooper Gallery (New York).

Everyone who lives in a city is surrounded by hundreds of adverts on their daily commute, each one with a life-changing message, ‘be beautiful’, ‘see the world’, ‘live forever’. None of them tell you to stop or switch off, because it doesn’t make any money.

Cy Twombly

Cy Twombly - Camino Real, 2010
Gagosian Gallery, Paris

I went to see this group of paintings at the new Gagosian Gallery that’s recently opened in Paris. Gagosian is one of the most successful and respected art dealers in the world, so obviously isn’t going to take a risk with its first exhibition in Paris. It’s interesting that today something that looks like a few painted squiggles is a safe option. It shows how far things have come in the last 50 years.

Blink and you’ll miss it

Fabien Chalon – Le Monde en Marche, 2008

Gare du Nord is not one of my favourite places. Despite people arriving here every day from all over Europe, it’s one of the most unwelcoming stations there is. Especially at 10 o’clock at night. That’s why I was there to meet my friend so I could quickly scoot her away to a lovely warm and friendly place – my home.

Please watch the gap

Métroscope Saint-Martin Prototype from Guiguet Naïla on Vimeo.

Today, as I was crushed against the door of the Métro by around 50 other sardines, trying to think of anything but the smell of the armpit next to my face, several possible distractions ran through my mind. These included; whether the strike that caused this hassle was worth it, what the French word for ‘squashed’ was, my life plan… Then as the train travelled between République and Strasbourg-Saint-Denis I had a flashback of what I had seen there a few weeks ago.

Save the Arts!

An important message about the arts - David Shrigley

David Shrigley’s video really sums up what art in the UK is about, a sense of humour. He makes people laugh to make them listen, but everyone knows that under the surface this is a serious issue and as they won’t forget giggling at this sketch, neither will they forget the reason it was made.

Chateau Bling

Takashi Murakami - Yume Lion 2009

‘Art for all’ is a motto I hold close to my heart, however last week I was led astray and accidentally ended up at the opening of one of the most decadent art openings of the year.

Les Collines de la Colère

 

Théo Mercier - Les Collines de la Colère

 

I felt like my childhood dream had finally come true when I came across these sculptures Les Collines de la Colère (Hills of Anger) by Théo Mercier in Square du Temple here in Paris. I had at last found Fraggle Rock.

Holiday Snap

Guillaume Renou - Un Crocodile, 2009

I spent last week as a flower child living in harmony with nature, or as some people call it – camping. Obviously not in Paris, but Blaye a lovely little medieval town in SW France, where things are greener and slower.

Willem de Kooning

Willem de Kooning - Standing figure 1969 – 1984, Jardin de Tuileries Paris

I have to admit finding something inspiring to write about was difficult this week.  Not because of laziness or lack of time but because I’ve been poor. Although worth every penny, July was expensive and the countdown to payday has been a slow one. So paying 10 euros to get into a gallery wasn’t so appealing.

Bettina Samson

Bettina Samson - Warren, 1/4 de seconde en Cinémascope 

Warren, 1/4 de seconde en Cinémascope (1/4 of a second in Cinemascope), 2007 – Bettina Samson. Exhibited as part of the group show, ‘Dynasty’ at the Palais de Tokio and Musée d’Art moderne de la Ville de Paris

Étienne Martin – Centre Pompidou, Paris

Étienne Martin – Le Manteau

Étienne Martin was celebrated as the first ‘soft sculptor’. I’m guessing this came from his use of fabrics rather than his personality, although from the pictures I’ve seen of him he seemed like a gentle man. 

Who needs a vuvuzela when you’ve got a horn like this?

Rhinocéros - Alfred Jacquemart 1878

If you’re put off by the horrendous queue of tourists at the Musée D’orsay, at least come and see this hunk of bronze outside. No ticket required.

Walls

Abbas Kiarostami – The Walls

If you want to be a somebody today it seems to be compulsory to hold down as many jobs as possible. It’s not about making ends meet, it’s simply to show that you’re good at everything. It’s impossible to be just an oscar-winning actor or just a World Cup final goal-scorer. It’s not enough.

Keeping it (hyper) real

Queenie II, 1988 polychromed bronze with accessories

I’ve never been to America but I’ve got a general idea of what happens there. It’s a bit like England but with more Coca Cola and less tea.