LIKE WINNING THE LOTTERY - Chapter 1

Poster for Zeng Fanzhi

Which of course I never will, never have and will never do. It just felt that way yesterday. Before going to see Tom Hanks in « Captain Philips » late afternoon, I went to the MAM (Museum of Modern Art) at the opening time in the morning. It is unusual for me to go to an exhibition at the weekend. I don’t have to and it leaves the doors open for all those working people. There were few people there and I had come to see the Serge Poliakoff (had seen his water colours in October - Serge Poliokoff - Maillol, ) and a new Chinese artist for me Zeng Fanzhi. The Advertising poster fascinated me.

Someone asked me recently. « Is Picasso really your favorite artist? » I didn’t need to think too long. « I don’t have a preferred artist. There are artistic tendencies  which interest me more » Artists who have a wide range in their pallet, fascinate me - perhaps more - they surprise me. Picasso never ceases to surprise me. Serge Poliakoff fascinates me……he was first on the list.

The second was the Chinese and then a late lunch and off to meet a friend for the film at 5pm.

Following the two exhibitions, as the restaurant was crowded with a queue as well, I was about to leave and then saw that upstairs there was the exhibition «Decorum Tapis et Tapisseries d'Artistes »……while I’m here I’ll have a look. It is was  like winning the lottery. I was literally bowled over. Totally unexpected. Carpet and tapestries are really not top of my list. Pierrette is a carpet lover. If they are modern designs I appreciate them much more than the oriental. However, this…….???

Carpets and tapestries have seen a marked revival so it seems in the new millennium. Artists are producing innovative woven work, mixing tradition and modernity incorporating non Western influences and experimenting with new technique such as digital weaving.

Although the exhibition is laid out in five sections, « the Painterly, » «  the Decorative » « Orientalisms »  « Primitivisms » and « Sculptural » I didn’t follow it in this way. I wandered from one room to another taking photographs of whatever struck me most. There was a lot. Here at least photography was permitted. With the Poliakoff, I was reprimanded three times - why can’t I be like some of my friends who never get caught?

 There were even artists, as you will see, who I would never have guessed had « created a carpet". Looking at the small handout, I now see that I started at the beginning. At least I did that. 



I walked into this

Weaving looms and carpets

Maria Lai - 1919-2013 : Stitched canvas

There are two monumental works that introduce and end the exhibition as you come out where you began. Part furniture, part installation. Apparently you could sit on the sofas covered with carpets. I wouldn’t have dared. I’d had enough scolding for one day! The larger than life weaving loom makes me think of mass production, collective works and craft skills. It doesn’t inspire me for individual works of art. But what was around it was  simply beautiful.

Part of the weaving

Then there was this

First large gallery

And yes, it's carpet

from gallery to gallery

that owl seemed to follow me

And after

with more and more suprises

with the warmth of





and finally ………

modern

another view

modern still

and again

You can also see that there were not too many people around. 

With the exception of a handful of artists, I don’t know any. Unfortunately, there is very little about them in the hand out. If anything at all.

There were sections of primitive works  often marked by folklore, traditional crafts and non-western cultures. I guess such creations are thought to be exotic as they come from regions which many of the artists may never have  visited. There were several which were close to aboriginal art for me.

SHEILA HICKS (1934 -) Weavig and cotton and feathers

Caroline ACHAINTRE (1969-) MOUSTACHE EAGLE

Nearly aboriginal ?

Oriental of course and seen like this, I found them warm and even quite appealing. Not that I would want to live in such an environment.

THE ORIENTAL ROOM

FRANCIS BACON 1933?

Now the decorative. I didn’t believe me eyes. Francis Bacon?  Louise Bourgeois is perhaps less surprising just as Sophie Taueber-Arp …..but Bacon……? His early years before he tortured bodies. As you know, I follow him around.....

LOUISE BOURGEOIS

In the « Painterly » there was Picasso. And why not? He seems to have done everything. A tapestry/carpet/collage done in black and white and in color. Completed by Pierre Baudoin….

PICASSO 1976

PICASSO 1976

MAQUETTE FOR CARPET -PICASSO

Or Asger Jorn whose work I follow closely who created this little piece with Pierre Wemaëre…

ASGER JORN

LE COURBUSIER

Le Courbusier and other artists we know but no photos as I wanted to see what I didn't know. I was surprised by so much else.

Of course, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance tapestry was considered to be an art form. Everything you see here is a work of art in its own right. What I don’t know is if for the carpets, the artist was also the weaver? Or was there close collaboration between the artist and the weaver.

Virginia Westwood

Geta Bratescu (1926- ) Tapisserie de haute-lice en laine : Bucarest

Marc-Camille Chaimowicz (1946 -) Tulip Vase with bouquet - 2013. London

Mike Kelly( 1954-2012 )Daisy Blanket

Pae White (1963 - )Berlin

Sophie Delaunay (1885-1979) Drakkar

Jean Picart Le Doux (1902-1982) L'Homme et la Mer (French)

Mai-Thu Perret (1976 -) The Crack Up 2012

I thought it was a Rothko but ....

This was not only a revival of the form for me, it was a big discovery. The artists are from all accounts not well known. Perhaps some can be added to my « follow-up » list. 



Now I had to run for it. No lunch today - only a feast of images………

My bathroom floor ? No,Piero Gilardi (1942 -) Rouleau de Tapis - nature galets

Karin Mamma Andersson (1962 - ) 2009 Ruth

rosemarie Trockel (1952 - ) Wool on around a wooden board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pierre Buraglio (1939 ) Solarisation. Carpet in velvet and wool

Dom Robert (1907-1997) Thermidor An l Tapestry