Nosideup: exhibition

1.11.10 0

Madrid: So backward it's forward

This has been the motto for today's promenade around town (it's a festive day).
We've seen a shop dedicated only to woven cushions with pics of pets on it.
A show on the old militars in the Sahara, where all the exhibits were made with a big foam board, home-printed pictures (some stolen from the net), a list of references made with word and push pins.
A lady buying art in the street asking for advice to the seller because she was buying "for a very surrealist person, you know".
And a lady coimng out of the movie by Banksy (in the pic above) saying "He had such a lovely voice" (his voice is distorted to preserve his identity).
Madrid, definitely a funny place.

14.8.10 0

Helen Levitt

I've been road-tripping with my family from Madrid, where they picked us up to Manuel's land, Palencia, to my place, near Tarragona, then to my dad's hometown in Valencia, back to my parents'. The last day in Madrid we had a chance to see an exhibition of Helen Levitt's photographs and, my dear, what a pleasure they were. Not only did they bring you back a whole bunch of decades, but they also had a sense of narrative, of mistery, of humanity. I REALLY enjoyed them.
If you don't know her work, try and catch a catalogue (easily available online) to browse through.

12.2.10 0

The other Nick Cave

It's funny when two artists are called the same.

The other day I heard in the radio that Laura Esquivel would be singing and dancing in "The Ugly Duckling - on ice" show. I thought, What, the writer?!; but no, it's an 15 year old actress that just happens to have the same name.

When I heard that Nick Cave had a textile show at the UCLA Fowler Museum, I thought "This man has no limits". But, again, it's a name coincidence. And the stuff is extremely interesting (from what I can see online!). These pieces are "sound suits" and are wearable. You can also watch an hour long lecture by the artist here.

8.2.10 1

Lucia, Luis y el lobo

LUCIA from diluvio on Vimeo.

LUIS from diluvio on Vimeo.

Scary, mysterious and magic.

"Lucía, Luis y el lobo (Lucia, Luis and the Wolf) is a video installation in “Sala Cero” on the 2nd floor of Galería Animal(Animal Gallery) in Santiago, Chile. The exhibition is made up of the short films Lucía and Luis that are projected on a wall in the gallery as well as a series of other short animations shown on small screens in a pile of dirt and furniture. The exhibition closes the first stage of an animation project formed by Atallah, Cociña and León. The next stage will be a feature film called La casa lobo(The Wolf House), preparations for the film will start later this year." (text from Diluvio's site)

Via Noquedanblogs.

By Diluvio.

4.2.10 0

Francesca DiMattio's hair

Francesca DiMattio's work looks like the pic above. That's fine, I like it (I saw it at Abstract America, in The Saatchi Gallery, London). BUT, Francesca DiMattio herself looks like the pics below. And that means I need to master that hair-do with a terrible urgency. Via.

5.12.09 0

Casa Asia

Mr M and I have had a hyper cultural Saturday.

We've started at Casa Asia (which is what I really want to tell you about) and then gone to almost every gallery and exhibition available in Barcelona at the moment.

But the thing, Casa Asia is located at the Palau del Baró de Quadras by Josep Puig i Cadafalch.

Now, the place is AMAZING. Totally mind-blowing. It was like a garden turned into a building. The walls still had murals of trees and flowers. The stone was all carved into floral motives. Doors had huge metal panels with relieves on them. Even the little window handles had flowers on them!

Plus, there was an exhibition on Art and Aids, mostly from Thai artists. That was quite interesting to see in order to compare culural view points. Nevermind the first-floor exhibition of Asian textiles (the display was tremendously poor).

If you are ever in Barcelona, do not miss the building (entrance is free)

23.11.09 0

Swine flu, Bikram yoga, illusionism and magic. All together now.

Yes, this week one (that's me) has been busy. Mr M. and me signed up for an introductory week to Bikram yoga (unlimited access for our bodies to adjust). it was my b-day gift and I loved every minute of it. Even when you sweat 3l. or so for 90 minutes. Very, very worthy to try. I intend to go on, as far as the budget and time allows.

Then, I decided (well, not really) to get swine flu. Yay! go, me, go. But, sweaty detoxified (see above) vegans do not get sick, do they? And the "I've got a temperature" episode just lasted for a day. And Mr. M. didn't even get it. Swine flu 1, me 2. Ha!

And then it happened to be the week of science. And the science museum of Barcelona used to be a yearly ritual when I was a kid. Until it stopped. So I wanted to go back badly. Plus! There's this illusion and science show where they explore magic tricks and illusions. I had awesome fun and even learnt some magic secrets :)

11.11.09 1

Souvenir effect

Sunday is (pretty much) free Museum day in Barcelona (super awesome, I know).

So Mr. M. and I did a small tour around whatever is on today.

We went to the design hub to see the "souvenir effect" exhibition. Now, I´m telling you this because that was almost a design theory exhibition. It was not only about the objects themselves (souvenirs) but rather about the symbology of it, the rituals of tourists, the future and its alternatives. It was a great way to present such aspect of design to the public, given that usually design shows are more like: "that´s a great chair" or "the first toaster that talks".

Shame that it did not go as deep as it could have gone. It was a big show but very "light". And you got a mini computer to consult along the exhibition, shame that this incredible display of originality became a bit pointless and gimmicky because the computer added nothing much to the printed information provided.

12.10.09 0

The jazz century

(art by Albert Alexander Smith)

(art by Marvin Israel)

Never thought I'd like this exhibition as much as I did. It was built so that on one side you had a timeline of jazz covers and news, and on the other side the art that was inspired by it. I found out some names I didn't know, although they could have dared adding more information on the political side.

(art by David Stone Martin)

The website has a lot of what's shown, so if you want to see it, click here.

Lovely and about to finish. If you are around, pop in (free on Sunday afternoons!)

23.4.09 0

Hats and horsemen

Mr. M and I visited London and boy, was it eventful!

We visited the Hats Anthology at the V&A. If they don't know what to do wiht all those beaotiful extraordinary pieces by the end of the exhibition, I'll gladly volunteer for most of them (not the feathery of furry ones, though).

And then we saw Death and the King's Horseman by Wole Soyinka at the National Theatre and it was SO beautifully stefed and designed, and I mean SO SO beautiful, I kind of didn't start listening to what they were actually saying until 10 mins into the play. (pic. of the controversial "color-blind" casting. All actors were balck, and the ones playing the colonial officers had "white" make-up on).

24.3.09 0

Hyungkoo Lee

Ever wondered how Bugs Bunny or Tweety looked like on the inside? Artist Hyungkoo Lee has. Exhibiting at Mythologies in London.

16.2.09 1

Stuart Pearson Wright

Mr M. and I saw an illustration on a book cover and we both stopped and said "this is so amazing!" (kinda happened like that). The style rung a bell and it's because Stuart Pearson Wright is the artist that pictured J. K. Rowling for the Portrait Gallery in london. He's an absolute portrait god (and he's only 33). Enjoy more of him here.

12.2.09 0

Yoshihiro Suda

I've had one of Yoshihiro Suda's flowers before my own eyes in the V&A. They are stunning, delicate, and so intrinsically beautiful. A single little petal can take days to make out of painstainkingly carved wood. Admire them here.

25.1.09 1

Flaming red

I have secretly envied red-heads all my life. It was a total shock to find out that the lucky colored get absolutely bullied in the UK. Why on earth would they? These portraits by Jenny Wick (called Root Ginger, about to be exhibited in London) show the absolutely fascinating hues nature can come up with.

16.1.09 0

Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller

Mr. M. and I almost missed the exhibition "The House of Books has no Windows". Almost, but we didn't. And I have to say that I'm so, so terribly glad for it.

Janet Cardiff & George Bures Miller have "designed" this haunting exhibition, that (as far as I am concerned) deals with memories, relationships and has as well a very educated inspiration (stories by Borges, Kafka, etc.).

The use of media is just right. You find yourselves listening to old voices coming out of books, images, playing just as you pass by. You can look into a model of a cinema, and listen to what a couple are saying (the man "speaks" on your left year, the woman on your right).

It's almost Louis Bourgeois-esque: the absence, heavy in an artificial room. The time, visible somehow. Just more interactive.

I cannot describe how much I liked it, how much I savoured the sensitivity and the intelligence.

If they ever show around you, please, please go.

1.11.08 0

Matt Duffin

Matt Duffin is an architect who draws quite bizarre, black and white illustrations with a dreamy quality to them. I just very randomly found his work and thought you'd appreciate it too. They have a certain Magritte-ness about them. I adore the mule-men. He is having a solo show at NY's Garson Baker Fine Art (511 W. 25th St., Ste. 401) until the 15th of Nov.

25.10.08 1

Kimonos!

I am slowly finding my ways around Oxford, and today i've had a thrifty day. I first passed by Oxfam where they had a special camera sale (including a lomo at 99p! Shame it was the same I have), and then I found a poster pointing to an Alley I didn't even notice, and i found a dozen of elderly ladies selling bits and pieces. But they were closing and I moved on to the Oxfam book fair. Oh, yes. You know that as far as books are concerned, i am a sinner.

And forgive me, readers, for I have sinned. I have bought the catalogue of the Great Japan Exhibition of Art of the Edo period (1600-1868), by the Royal Academy of the Arts. And the main reason were the Kimonos. The impredictability of the colors and patterns and motifs to my western eye! Ihave taken shabby pics of them for you to check them out:

19.10.08 0

Galeria Brasil

This Saturday Mr M. had his Matriculation. This meant he had to get his "Harry Potter" look on (remember, this is Oxford) and get pictures taken. That did not take too long, and I had taken a day off to be with him. So we explored Oxford a bit more.

I had been hearing lovely things about Cowley rd, which is a bit like London's East end: multicultiral, alternative, young, arty and second-hand-ish. You get the idea. And there I found the first lovely treasure in my mental Oxford map.

Oxford has plenty of small independent galleries, buit this one was bolder, more vibrant and full of light. It happens to be Galeria Brasil (33 Cowley Rd). The Brazilian owner displays the work of Brazilian craft-makers and artists. It reminded me badly of my much beloved Cape Town. The energy, the will, the beautiful results of make-do. She was fantastic herself. If you ever pass by, say hi, have a look, breathe it all in. And buy something (the prices are very decent).

PS: Isn't all the crockery just beautiful? And the cock sculpture?

10.10.08 3

The Village petstore (Banksy)

Banksy (who surely needs no introduction) has just created the Village Petstore and Charcoal Grill in Greenwich Village (NY).
It is meant to challenge our views on animals and food and sustainability, whilst still being art. Or something like that. Judge by yourselves here.

8.10.08 0

Paper n stitch

Ladies and gents, the world is more amazing every day!

Paper n stitch is about to launch (the 15th is the official date). And it just happens to be "an online exhibition space that was created to promote talented artists, designers, makers selling handmade goods, and independent boutiques. The exhibition space is curated monthly and showcases the best of the best on an international level."

It is as good as it sounds!

And I've been invited to take part!

So behold, world, the wonders of Paper N Stitch!

(Thanks Brittni and Jeff)