Nosideup: gallery

24.2.10 0

ARCO, the aftermath

Arco is meant to be the referential show for all those new things in Art. I had never been able to go until now, and well, NOW is crisis time.

So, what did I see? Loads of 2D, loads of safe bets, loads of repetition, ans some "I bet this makes it into the papers". Not very impressed.

Here's a tiny collection of what I saw (you might ask who are the pieces by. This is a good thing to ask. But the place was so, so overwhelming, all I can say is, sorry, I have no clue).

16.7.09 1

Banksy vs. Bristol

I've been sight-seeing the UK with Mr. M.'s family and one of the highlights has been the Banksy exhibition.

Now, I liked what I had seen by him, but what I experienced in Bristol completely blew me away. The sense of humour is sharp and merciless, and sometimes creepy and depressing. I also had the feeling that anyone trying to work on overtly political art will find themselves thinking "Banksy already did that", because there was SO much and SO different to be seen in the show.

I also particularly enjoyed the way the exhibition was organized. It was almost a hide and seek game, watching out between the permanet collection to spot Banksy's hidden pieces.

If you can, go. The hours of waiting were completely worth it.

14.6.09 0

Old Persons home by Sun Yuan and Peng Yu

Mr M. and I went to the Saatchi Gallery and were completely blown away. SO much art, all for free, with free magazines, free membership...
This work was specially spooky, for lack of a better word. It was strangely entrancing, though.

2.5.09 0

Unexpected Blake

Mr. M. and I have been to Bath today (first free Saturday in what feels like a lifetime). Besides loads of lovely scenery, we've stumbled accross this piece by Peter Blake (Sgt. Pepper disc cover, anyone?), and it has shun light into an unexpected side and sensitivity. Now I am looking a lot at this book, like if that was going to put it on sale.

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).