SHARING WITH ME

  Swanie suggested that we went to the Exhibition «Les Séduction du Palais» or «The Seduction of the Palate-Cooking and Eating in China» at the Quai Branly. Something I would probably not have gone to see alone but any suggestion from my granddaughter is one «I spring upon». While we were strolling through and really looking at the different dynasties, she told me that as a little girl, she had always been fascinated by China or even Asia. I’ll never be too old to learn. Having visited and worked in China and enjoying it, I know the importance of food for the Chinese. As they say in the opening comments one of the first remarks made by a Chinese when he meets you is «Have you already eaten?» - I found this quite surprising if the meeting was a 11am. Breakfast? or Lunch? Neolithic tripod for cooking and the departed "loved one" 280 BC   The exhibition starts at during the Neolithic period, the New Stone era some 10,000-8,000 BC . This saw t

I am reading a fascinating book. Wassily Kandinsky «Du Spirituel dans l’Art et dans la Peinture en particulier» . It took me quite some time to find that the book had been translated into English - «Concerning the Spiritual in Art» - I certainly recommend it to those of you who are interested in abstraction and in a certain respect, philosophical concepts on colour, form, music and abstraction. I most certainly am.To read further, try.... http://web.mnstate.edu/gracyk/courses/phil%20of%20art/kandinskytext.htm There are many comments concerncing the book in English, French, German... I don't entirely agree with those who feel that art cannot be expressed in words.  I am not an artist but do feel that if you relate to art in any way, some words need to be found to describe feelings. Doesn’t an artist have to express how his art works and isn’t there a spirituality in such an expression? Kandinsky’s description of colour, shapes, abstraction and many of this related to art or arti

As I am going on a cruise in a couple of weeks up the Norwegian Fjords, it will not surprise you that today I went to see the Louis Vuitton (1821-1892) and Marc Jacobs (present American designer for the brand) at the Arts Decoratifs. 
After all, I had to see what was available in the trunk selection and perhaps consider a few bits and pieces of clothing to wear on the Ocean Liner. L.V. and M.J. Louis Vuitton, as we all know is a «trade name» today and was considered to be in his day a specialist «packer» for fashion. Quite obviously he was targeting the Parisian «Haute-Couture» and was a close friend of Charles-Fréderick Worth - the creator of Haute Couture However, it was his son, George who designed the famous monogram «LV» in 1896 - after his father had died. He presented his latest creations at the Universal exhibitions - and informed the public they were for sale . Quite obviously, very commercial in his approach and very successful as well we know.     This is t

Those who follow me will now be «visiting» quite a few of the same museums, foundations or galleries....but in the coming months there are quite a few new ones coming up for me. We are not there yet. I love the Cartier Fondation. The lighting is superb and when weather permits, sitting out in the little garden is a pleasure. My daughter had been to see «Histoire de Voir» or «Show and Tell» and was full of enthusiasm. Now it was my turn. 
 «Show and Tell» presents the work of over 50 artists from around the world. Brazilian, Indian, Congolese,Haitian, Mexican, Danish, Japanese and American. Virtually without exception, these artists are self-taught men (and two women), often considered as naïve in their techniques and not too many of them had been invited to exhibit their works in other contemporary art centres. Poster for the Exhibition At the entrance Another view "The Family Ortiz" and looking into the garden Isabel Mendes da Cunha What is amazing is