20190708
Today was our first free day, so of course I jumped at the opportunity to go the to Centre Pompidou.
I just want to take a quick minute to reflect on the first 2 Pompidou exhibits before moving on.
The first was a photographer, Dora Maar, and her use of shadow is absolutely masterful. She was also a surealist contemporary, one of the only female surrealists that was actually exhibited with and treated as a colleague by the men of the movement. I also found her relationship with Picasso sort of touching, and the care with which she renders figures in her photos.
The second was a phrehistory-modern side-by-side exhibit, showing the archeological discoveries of the time and the artists inspired by them. Firstly Picasso and the concept of the Venus (lookin' at you too, Willem de Koonig). There was one really really great piece in there where you crawled through this tiny opening in the wall. You let your eyes get accustomed to the dark and when they do, there's a huge floor-to ceiling wall of handprints. And even though I was in there alone, the longer I stood there and looked at all these handprints, the more I felt like home. I felt a sense of community and happiness and togetherness in there that was just really fulfilling. I still have that feeling in my chest. Wow. Also! a 2018 "untitled film" (Human Mask) was so enthralling. It featured a monkey or chimpanzee of some sort with a Japanese mask and a wig on-- it's set against this post-disaster abandoned semi-urban (or maybe just urban) area. the sound design was phenomenal and I cannot stop thinking about it.
Now I'm traversing through the main gallery and I find myself in a place of respite in a room with Joan Miro's Les Trois Bleus. I personally prefer the 2nd and 3rd ones, but they're perfect altogether. I find the concept of painting them according to breath helps me to enjoy them more fully. There's a soft, slow, steadiness in them. It's comforting. I specifically love the curve of the then black line in the third piece as it ascends.
some things i've noticed that happen in art museums
I just want to take a quick minute to reflect on the first 2 Pompidou exhibits before moving on.
The first was a photographer, Dora Maar, and her use of shadow is absolutely masterful. She was also a surealist contemporary, one of the only female surrealists that was actually exhibited with and treated as a colleague by the men of the movement. I also found her relationship with Picasso sort of touching, and the care with which she renders figures in her photos.
The second was a phrehistory-modern side-by-side exhibit, showing the archeological discoveries of the time and the artists inspired by them. Firstly Picasso and the concept of the Venus (lookin' at you too, Willem de Koonig). There was one really really great piece in there where you crawled through this tiny opening in the wall. You let your eyes get accustomed to the dark and when they do, there's a huge floor-to ceiling wall of handprints. And even though I was in there alone, the longer I stood there and looked at all these handprints, the more I felt like home. I felt a sense of community and happiness and togetherness in there that was just really fulfilling. I still have that feeling in my chest. Wow. Also! a 2018 "untitled film" (Human Mask) was so enthralling. It featured a monkey or chimpanzee of some sort with a Japanese mask and a wig on-- it's set against this post-disaster abandoned semi-urban (or maybe just urban) area. the sound design was phenomenal and I cannot stop thinking about it.
Now I'm traversing through the main gallery and I find myself in a place of respite in a room with Joan Miro's Les Trois Bleus. I personally prefer the 2nd and 3rd ones, but they're perfect altogether. I find the concept of painting them according to breath helps me to enjoy them more fully. There's a soft, slow, steadiness in them. It's comforting. I specifically love the curve of the then black line in the third piece as it ascends.
some things i've noticed that happen in art museums
- people taking pictures of the art whilst never looking at it in person either before or after
- people looking at a picture you're looking at for as long as you look at it because if you're looking at it, it must be important, right?
- people making fun of modern art when they've paid to be in a modern art museum
what i've learned
- contemporary art is way cooler than post wwii art
- not a huge fan of abstract painting
- doing a paper in 21st c. installation artists could be super rad... tba
- i just fucking connect with contemporary art in a way idk if the louvre could ever do*
*David's Death of Marat not included.
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