Tuesday 29 November 2011

Damien Hirst

"As an artist you’re looking for universal triggers. You want it both ways. You want it to have an immediate impact, and you want it to have deep meanings as well. I’m striving for both. But I hate it when people write things that sound like they’ve swallowed a f@cking dictionary"
- Damien Hirst


Hirst's Charity girl installed in Bristol

Monday 28 November 2011

uni

planning next journey - Koblenz, Germany

Christmas Market, Koblenz

Five tranquil locations in the Old Town of Coblenz, more than 130 festively
glittering Christmas booths – with gingerbread hearts and shining lights.
One of the oldest cities in German transforms into a
Christmas paradise during Advent where romantics can stroll through.

Coblenz alone expects more than 300.000 visitors from all over the world in
the four weeks up to Christmas - who will be looking for authentic and original
attractions in a special setting – quite apart from the magic of the booths,
mulled wine and Riesling Stollen. A new door opens every day in the 24
dormer windows of the baroque town hall, well known A-Capella-choirs and
music societies will perform Christmas songs from all over the world at the
weekend during the »Christmas Vokal«, to provide a contemplative mood and
romantics arrive in an historic stage coach on tour between the Rhine and the Mosel.

The city at the Deutsches Eck will send specially trained »Christmas Guides« to the atmospheric Christmas stroll so that overseas visitors can also discover smaller locations with lots of Christmas flair. Retailers will keep their doors open until midnight during »Starlight Shopping« on 10 December for a comfortable shopping spree.

http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-koblenz.de/en/welcome.html


8 December 2011

Wednesday 23 November 2011

Nicolas Régnier, Fortune Telling Scene

Nicolas Régnier, Fortune Telling Scene, oil on canvas, 97 x 131 cm (38" x 52").

 STOCKHOLM.- A centenary appeal launched earlier this year to mark the 100th anniversary of the Friends of Nationalmuseum has raised a total of SEK 10.66 million. The donations have funded the purchase of a painting by Flemish artist Nicolas Régnier, which was handed over to Nationalmuseum at a gala evening on 21 November.

The goal of the Friends of Nationalmuseum centenary appeal, launched earlier in 2011, was to make a significant gift to the museum before year-end. The appeal itself raised SEK 5.33 million from donors, but the total raised was SEK 10.66 million, thanks to a decision by the association’s board to match all donations. The centenary celebrations wrapped up at a gala evening on 21 November, at which the gift was handed over: a painting entitled Fortune Telling Scene by Flemish artist Nicolas Régnier (c. 1591–1667).

The work is significant because it complements and enriches Nationalmuseum’s collection of 17th-century Italian art. It is one of a suite of three works on the same theme dating from Régnier’s time in Rome. While in Italy, he encountered the artistic tradition started by the great Caravaggio. Works from this tradition typically depict emotional manoeuvring, reinforced by powerful light effects and deep colours. In Régnier’s painting, the young woman invites the onlooker to be party to the joke being played on the sleeping man. The work, considered one of Régnier’s finest, is full of exquisite details such as the torn-up cards, the wax that has trickled down the candlestick, and the shadow cast by the young man’s eyelashes.
The Friends of Nationalmuseum is an association founded in 1911 to fund art purchases and support the museum in other ways. Then, as now, the museum was short of funds to acquire pieces for its collections. Over the years, the association has also promoted Nationalmuseum’s activities and provided professional development grants to museum employees. Among the many works donated over the years, the most notable include a self-portrait by Rembrandt, La Grenouillère by Auguste Renoir and The Love Lesson by Antoine Watteau. The Friends of Nationalmuseum have also donated works by contemporary artists such as Christian-Pontus Andersson and Helena Hörstedt.
http://www.artdaily.com/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=51937

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Love's padlocks

padlocks at albert dock
my 'old' art project at albert dock. yesterday pic
the beginning of the project here:
http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/sho...ove-s-padlocks

Monday 21 November 2011

Maybe I speak on English...as... Ophelia...

Maybe I speak on English in the same way and accent as... Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet ...or so…(joking!)
Was she Danish?
Thinking to the Hamlet story is very interesting when you walk into this castle.
 
Kronborg Castle (Kronborg Slot)

My husband and I took the ferry ride from Helsingborg to Helsingor and visited Kronborg castle. The walk to the castle was pleasant, and the signs clearly directed tourists to its location. The castle is fascinating, located next to the sea and surrounded by a moat. You enter via a drawbridge and an underground passageway. So impressive! We enjoyed the cobble stone walkways and the local coffee shop offered snacks and coffee. The views back to Sweden are spectacular. Do wear comfortable shoes for the cobble stones. Do bring a flash light if you intend to visit the underground area, which is fascinating. Danish National Maritime Museum is also located in the castle. Very interesting and there are a huge number of models of ships but unfortunately we found it to be too many to absorb at one time. You can also walk around outside of the castle walls along the seaside.


Kronborg Castle (Kronborg Slot)



Kronborg is known by many also as "Elsinore," the setting of William Shakespeare's famous tragedy Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Hamlet was performed in the castle for the first time to mark the 200th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, with a cast consisting of soldiers from the castle garrison. The stage was in the telegraph tower in the southwest corner of the castle. The play has since been performed several times in the courtyard and at various locations on the fortifications. Later performers to play Hamlet at the castle included Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Christopher Plummer, Derek Jacobi, and in 2009 Jude Law.

Sunday 20 November 2011

Malmö

Malmö, a city in southern Sweden that is connected by bridge to nearby Copenhagen, has undergone an amazing transformation over the last 20 years. What was a place at risk of becoming a post-industrial city in crisis has instead become a thriving inspiration for Sustainable Development. Apparently at least 20,000 international guests have been attracted to the city, not to experience Malmö as tourists, but to experience Malmö’s approach to environmentally friendly architecture and urban development. Malmö is the flagship of urban sustainability for Sweden and has won numerous awards for this commitment from the United Nations, Worldwatch Institute, and others.
http://buildipedia.com/go-green/eco-news-trends/ecocity-malmo-sustainable-urban-development

One of the best museums I have ever been to -

Science and Maritime House

(Teknikens och Sjöfartens hus)


and hude, charming and safe(!!!) park and garden near by







copenhagen

copenhagen and eccentric wedding


Copenhagen City Hall (Danish: Københavns Rådhus) is the headquarters of the Municipal Council as well as the Lord mayor of the City of Copenhagen, Denmark. The building is situated on The City Hall Square in central Copenhagen.

The current building was inaugurated in 1905. It was designed by the architect Martin Nyrop in the National Romantic style but with inspiration from the Siena City Hall. It is dominated by its richly ornamented front, the gilded statue of Absalon just above the balcony and the tall, slim clock tower. The latter is at 105.6 metres one of the tallest buildings in the generally low city of Copenhagen.

In addition to the tower clock, the City Hall also houses Jens Olsen's World Clock.