Hi all. It is very sad seeing Venice today after the disaster last night. While the City was on alert due to high tides the severity of the storm and tides took everyone by surprise. The magnitude of the tide had not been anticipated until it actually occurred so preparation was minimal. The damage this…
November Painting of the Month
My Painting of the Month for November comes from the inspirational Indian pavilion at the Venice Biennale. “Zameen”, 1955, a controversial frieze painting, several feet long, from 1955; it has been alternatively praised and vilified by critics over the years but has become an established icon of Indian Modern Art. The theme is typical of twentieth…
Venice Biennale – Jon Rafman
May You Live in interesting Times. The strap line for the Venice Biennale 2019 is very relevant. We do live in interesting times but the contemporary art on show may suggest a different strap – May you live in Challenging times. While in Venice we have seen a lot of art here placed in contradictory…
Torcello Cathedral
Torcello. If you ever come to Venice you will be bathed in some of the most sumptuous renaissance, baroque, modern and contemporary art imaginable. But if you leave without visiting Torcello you will not have properly treated your soul. Whichever myth of Venice and the visitations of the hun you are prepared to believe or…
Gely Korzhev in Venice
The Venice Biennale is currently in full swing and the city is also full of modern and contemporary exhibitions. My first post from Venice is from a very strong exhibition of the work of Gely Korzhev (1925-2012). Situated in a sumptuous space at Ca’ Foscari palace, part of the University here. Gely Korzhev first exhibited…
October Painting of the Month
Venice. Where does one begin? There is so much wonderful art and architecture in this city, it is difficult to know. The Accademia, which is the city’s traditional gallery helped inform that choice by opening its doors to the public for free entry today. After the queues subsided late afternoon we browsed in relative calm,…
Zuloaga – Bilbao
Bilbao has transformed over the last thirty years from a city dependent on trade and heavy industry to become a modern cultural capital. We visited the Guggenheim, Frank Gehry’s masterpiece, last time here and decided on the Museo de la Belles Artes this time. There was an exhibition of the Spanish artist, Ignacio Zuloaga, not…
September Painting of the Month (2)
Spanish culture. This month I have decided to have a second painting of the month from the rich base of Spanish art. We have been touring some of the Northern regions of Spain. Having left Catalunya far behind we are now in the Basque Country. Ramiro Arrue’s Yo ou le Fandango is a Basque gem….
Pamplona Cathedral
Pamplona. Famous or infamous for its bull run in early July, when six bulls are released in the town and run through the streets to the bull ring. A bonkers cruel tradition (as is bullfighting) which the council would like to see as a minor distraction to an otherwise very interesting city. The capital of…
Casa Milà – Barcelona
Barcelona is a great city to visit, especially since it’s rejuvenation following the 1992 Olympics. It is a dream for followers of modern architecture and public art. There are so many iconic buildings to visit, but unfortunately long queues so it is worth being organised and plan ahead. La Pedrera or the Casa Milà was…
