Escultura: Auguste Rodin se “roba la película”
(4 junio).- En el marco de las actividades de la Exposición Universal de París de 1900, se inaugura en el Puente del Alma (Pont de l’Alma) una gran exposición de esculturas de Auguste Rodin. Proclamado como el escultor más grande desde Miguel Ángel, Rodin fue el único artista que contó con su propio pabellón en la mencionada exposición. Las crónicas de la época reseñan que el público se agolpaba para ver su escandalosa estatua de Balzac.

Pintura: Primera exposición de un grande del Siglo XX
(1 febrero).- Uno de los grandes pintores del siglo xx realiza su primera muestra individual, aunque no es la primera vez que expone. En el café-cervecería “Els Quatre Gats“, centro de la bohemia artística de Barcelona de la época, un joven y desconocido pintor malagueño de 19 años deleita al público. Su nombre: Pablo Picasso. Se trata de 25 retratos a lápiz de los propios clientes del local, la mayoría de los cuales pertenece a la vanguardia artística y literaria de Barcelona.

Otros hechos que datan de 1900

[26 enero]

• Esta semana coinciden cuatro exposiciones retrospectivas de cuatro grandes de la pintura. En Londres se exponen obras de Rembrandt; en Madrid se expone a Velásquez; en Dresde (Alemania) a Cranach y en Amberes (Bélgica) es posible apreciar las obras de Van Dyck.

[1 mayo]

• A los 56 años de edad muere el pintor húngaro Mihály von Munkácsy [Michael von Lieb].

[8 de septiembre]

• El lienzo de tema indígena “Noa Noa” del pintor francés, Paul Gauguin, deja en claro que la nueva inspiración que domina su obra desde su estadía en Tahití, son las paradisíacas islas polinésicas.

[30 septiembre]

• En el Museo Metropolitano de Nueva York se inaugura la exposición de Frederick Church, fallecido el 7 de abril en su casa del río Hudson. Church ganó fama y fortuna con sus paisajes románticos. Aunque era miembro de la Escuela del Río Hudson, vagó por el mundo para pintar temas que abarcan desde las cataratas del Niágara, hasta los bosques tropicales y los icebergs.

[1 octubre]

• Primera estancia de Pablo Picasso en París.

[22 noviembre]

• La galería Durand-Ruel de París acoge las obras del destacado pintor francés, Claude Monet.

Obras

• “La Modista” de Henri Toulouse-Lautrec (pintura).
• “Le Moulin de la Galette“, de Pablo Picasso (pintura).

Nacimientos

• Yves Tanguy, pintor franco-estadounidense.
• Louise Nevelson, escultora ucraniana-estadounidense.
• Luigi Lucioni, pintor italiano.
• Pompeyo Audivert, pintor y grabador argentino.
• Constantin Alajalov, artista ruso.
• Francesco Messina, escultor.
• Serge Poliakoff, pintor ruso.

Robert Rauschenberg, one of America’s most famous contemporary artists, died of heart failure Monday night in Florida. Perhaps best known for his mixed media assemblages in the 1950s, which he called “Combines“, Rauschenberg rejected traditional art disciplines. He remixed painting, sculpture, photography, silkscreen printmaking, performance, technology, commercial materials, and most importantly, junk found on the streets–to produce juxtapositions he could not have anticipated. In an interview a couple years ago:

“I wanted something other than what I could make myself and I wanted to use the surprise and the collectiveness and the generosity of finding surprises. And if it wasn’t a surprise at first, by the time I got through with it, it was. So the object itself was changed by its context and therefore it became a new thing.”

Building on the work of Marcel Duchamp, Rauschenberg (together with his contemporaries John Cage, Merce Cunningham, and former partner Jasper Johns) opened the doors to chance and gave rise to generations of critical experiments with art, life, and American culture. These include Pop Art, Conceptual Art, and Minimalism. In 1964, he became the first American artist to win the Grand Prize at the Venice Biennale. He also won a Grammy award for designing the limited edition discs of Talking Heads’ famous Speaking in Tongues album in 1983.

As I tip my hat in farewell to Rauschenberg, I had to revisit one of my most favorite works of art: Rauschenberg’s “Erased de Kooning Drawing“. In 1953, he asked Willem de Kooning if he could erase one of his drawings as an act of art. Intrigued, de Kooning chose an ink and crayon work that would be difficult to erase and it took Rauschenberg one month to get the paper relatively clear of marks. The result is a profound blurring of both presence/visibility and absence/invisibility, creation and destruction, fullness and nothingness. Here’s to the passing of a mighty great man.

“The artist’s job is to be a witness to [his] time in history.” –Rauschenberg

We actually have no local today, however we do have some questions passed along by readers in Israel about Liverpool’s fabulous Tate Museum and their even more fabulous Klimt exhibition (you know how we feel about Klimt).  Interested in making the same trip?  Read below:

“We, four people, are coming for a couple of days to see London AND Liverpool.  We are intested to visit the Klimt exhbition on Sunday 1 June OR Monday 2 June.

1. Which day is the best day to come to Tate Museum?
This is an interesting question as the Tate Liverpool is normally closed on Mondays.  However, to accomodate summer tourists, it is open on Mondays from June through August.  So you’re just in time.  While it may seem that Monday will be subsequently overflooded, you’re still better off going on a weekday.  You’ll miss a lot of weekend warriors, and being the first Monday opening of the year, you may not encounter as many Klimtomaniacs. 

2. What is the best traffic-connection from London to do this trip in one day?
Driving from London to Liverpool is no easy task.  You’re looking at a 4 hour drive each way (for a total of 8 hours on the road, if there’s no traffic which is asking a lot in London) that’ll mostly keep you on the M1 and M6.  If you’re renting a car solely for the purpose of going to Liverpool, save your money and time.  You’ll find some good deals on EasyJet or Ryan Air from one of London’s non-Heathrow airports (would that all of our flights could avoid Heathrow) into Liverpool that’ll cost you a fraction of what you’d be looking at in rental fees, tolls, and gas.  The Tate is about a 20 minute drive from the airport.  There are also some train deals that’ll cost you a bit more in time and pounds, but will still take less time than driving.

3. Do we have to buy tickets before coming to Liverpool?
The exhibition opens on May 30, meaning you’ll still be in opening weekend mode, which means buying tickets online is absolutely a good idea.  The Tate anticipates that this will be a very in-demand show (Klimt is one of the modern masters AND this is the first comprehensive exhibition of Gustav Klimt’s work ever staged in the UK) so booking in advance is worth the extra 2 pound surcharge, especially since you’ll only be in Liverpool for the one day.  You can choose what time (from hourly slots) you want to visit and you’ll ge guaranteed entry.

Thanks, wallyg!

The title may sound a little strange but museum shop is in many cases the place to make some wonderful discoveries of special editions and more.

Starting and proceeding chronologically

Neue Nationalgalerie

Within the area of Kulturforum, close to Potsdamer Platz and Sony Center, Neue Nationalgalerie [...the famous "temple of light and glass" designed by Mies van der Rohe...] was my first museum experience in Berlin, a city with dense museum network. Now on exhibition the new collection where everyone and everything in modern art from Kokoschka to contemporary abstract art, through the likes of Dix [his was some of the best pieces in the collection], Schwitters and others, has its place. Divided in art movements Neue galerie is a sure call for modern art lovers.

Museum shop: Alphabetically arranged monographs and a nice selection of art books plus the ordinary museum paraphernalia. Outside the main shop’s space there are two tables stocked with sale items, but be warned that some of these titles are available elsewhere even cheaper.

Pergamonmuseum [Museumsinsel, first take]

Inside Pergamonmuseum lies an amazing collection of antiquities [a part of this collection is housed in Altes Museum] many of them of Greek origin [finds from excavations in Olympia, Samos, Pergamon, Miletus, Priene, Magnesia, Cyprus and Didyma]. Inside museum’s halls visitor can admire the world renowned magnificently opulent structure of Pergamon Altar as well as a really big collection of Classic, Hellenistic, Roman and late Roman antiquities. Two more collections of great interest and importance found within Pergamonmuseum are the Islamic Art and the Ancient Near East one.

Museum shop: Many books covering the thematic of the museum and its collections can be found in its shop. Unfortunately the majority of them, including some not-permanent exhibitions’ catalogues, are only available in German. There is a rather big collection of jewelry also in the shop and here you can find the perfect gift for many occasions.

photos:

Medizinhistorisches

Housed in Charité [the largest university hospital in Europe] hospital complex, Medizinhistorisches museum is a thrilling and strange experience. More than one collections were on display, but I am unsure which of them where running exhibitions and which of them permanent. One that was [almost] for sure ongoing was a showcase of face casts presenting a variety of optical and dermatic [always concerning face] pathologies. Another that was quite haunting was a selection of medical cases spanning the last 3 or 4 centuries, presented in text along with any relating instruments of each time and a handful of personal belongings of the suffering person. Given the fact that all of them were tormented and dead, I couldn’t help but remember John Saul’s Blackstone Chronicles. The view from a nearby window was Psychiatric Clinic, as the label next to it read.

The core of the museum is the medical collection of deformities, curiosities, damaged internal organs, sick skin, dead foetuses and so on preserved in formaldehyde [?], exhibited in a big hall. Part of this collection is an awe-inspiring megacolon, stored in a huge jar. The day we visited the museum was bleak and rainy. Searching for the hospital bookstore [we didn't find one, probably misinformed] we ended up taking a walk in the hospital gardens between and around buildings and clinics. Everything was unnaturally still and quiet, and probably somewhat unsettling.

This visit was a mind-altering experience highly recommended to anyone interested in medical history and/or medical curiosities. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.

Museum shop: Much to my disappointment [although probably expected] there was just a rudimentary [book]shop featuring a handful of titles, only in German. One or two seemed interesting to my non expert eyes. If anyone knows of any catalogue of this museum’s collection [or similar books, except from the Phantom Museum and a couple of editions on Mutter museum] please leave a comment or send an email.

flyers:

more on Berlin museums soon

dmtls reporting from Berlin part 2.

Most travelers will immediately think of the Prado when asked to come up with a Madrid museum.  Which is all well and good until you stop to consider the Museo Nacional Reina Sofia.  Then it can be a tough call (or a gluttonous day of museum-hopping).  But if you’re caught on a Saturday (between 2:30 pm and 8:00 pm) or Sunday (10:00 am to 2:30 pm), head over to the Sofia for free admission.  Not enough of a draw for you?  We’ve got one word: Guernica.

One of Picasso’s most famous paintings (and arguably, we suppose, the most important), Guernica is the artist’s response en peinture to the Nazi bombing of the eponymous Spanish town in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War.  The stark black and white newspaper images depicting those who were killed (which is estimated to be between 250 and 1,600) and injured gave Picasso the perfect inspiration for a mural that had previously been commissioned for the 1937 World’s Fair in Paris.  An icon of 20th Century art (and the effects of the 20th Century conflicts) was born, and after touring the world came to rest in Madrid.  Not one to leave the art on its own, there are also preliminary sketches and other works related to this period of Picasso’s life.  A word of warning, however: the Guernica room will be closed May 7, 8, and 9 as a temporary exhibition (a collection from the Picasso Museum in Paris) will be dismantled.

The Sofia has some other hot pieces going for it, all culled from the late 19th century through today.  Fans of Dali’s surrealist paint trips will want to stop here, and if you need a Miro, Juan Gris, or Julio Gonzalez fix, you’ll find it at the Sofia as well.  You’ll also find film work by Luis Buñuel and photography by the world-famous Man Ray.  And just as the museum has a host of world class artists, it also has a collection of ways to get in on the cheap or free (aside from the weekend freebies).  May 18, October 12, and December 6 are free regardless of what day of the week they fall on.  EU citizens can enjoy some perks and discounts and, through the end of 2008, that offer has been extended to citizens of Latin America.  This includes students over 18 and what the Sofia website describes as “large families” (one adult and three children at least–or two children if one of them is disabled) who can get in for 3 Euro rather than the regular 6 Euro.

Free admission also has an extensive list, including students under 18, adults over 65, pensioners, unemployed, teachers/educators, journalists, national tourist guides, staff members of public museums, fine arts volunteers, and fine arts students from the schools in Madrid.  Like you need an excuse to move here.

Thanks, losmininos!

Museo Nacional Reina Sofia
Calle Santa Isabel 52, Madrid
+34. 91.774.10.00
Metro Line 1 to Plaza de Castilla/Congosto, parada Atocha
Mon-Sat 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am to 2:30 pm
Closed on Tuesdays
http://www.museoreinasofia.es

We’re capping off this week still in the British Isles; since many spent the 14th single, it’s only right we balance out the candy and flowers with a bit of beer in Dublin.  And if you don’t think it’s possible to get more Irish, pop over to the National Gallery of Ireland to see the works of artist John Butler Yeats, including his portrait of son (and one of Ireland’s greatest poets William Butler Yeats).  It is up to Yeats (who was also Ireland’s most important artist of the 20th Century) and going as far back as the 17th Century that Irish art is charted here.  And for those of you who want a well-balanced visual meal, you’ll see pieces from as far back as the 14th Century.  You won’t be able to miss the Italian school (the second most popular school here next to Irish, natch), but also keep an eye out for the Dutch works (the perfect complement to a rainy Irish day).

And since admission here is free, you may want to dip into your pocket and put 15 Euro towards a classical concert, held in the same setting.  It’ll make for a nice break in between the traditional craic heard in the pubs.

Thanks, debsaslaw!

National Gallery of Ireland
Merion Square West, Dublin
353 1 661 5133
http://www.nationalgallery.ie/

With a list of collaborators that represent some of the biggest cities in the European art world (Vienna, Venice, Berlin, Istanbul, Dresden and Nurnberg, to name but a few), the National Gallery of Macedonia is one of the most breathtaking museums that doesn’t rhyme with Blouvre, Buffizi, or Bprado. Like many of the best and most memorable museums (not only in Europe, but the world in general), Macedonia’s National Gallery is a perfect concoction of setting and art.  Housed in three buildings (a former Islamic temple, a former Turkish bath, and a more contemporary multimedia center), there is a variety of exhibits to choose from.

Your best bet is to check out the Daut Pasin Amam and the Cifte Amam for the collections of 14th Century art, which fit in perfectly with the architecture of the building (copper domes that still feature natural light). However, if you have had your fill of icons, the fun doesn’t stop there. This gallery is a collection of Macedonian art through the 20th Century, with contemporary works that are reflective of the country’s Byzantine roots with a modern twist. While it would be impossible for us to go over the multi-layered history of each of these galleries, their website describes the history of each branch in detail. The website itself is an aesthetic experience, and great for artistic telecommuters.  The art museum is free for visitors on Sunday, the same price as checking it out online.  Every other day of the week you can get in for less than one US Dollar.

Thanks, NGM!

Nacionalna Galerija na Makedonija
National Gallery of Macedonia
Krusevska 1A
3133 102
http://www.ngm.com

One of the best things I did before going to St. Pete’s was watching the film Russian Ark. Filmed in a single shot (and in a single take), it goes through the major rooms of the Hermitage (the Winter Palace at the heart of Petersburg) and through the major periods of Russian History. You have Peter I, Catherine the Great, Pushkin, and certainly the Romanovs. And while I can give you a slew of reasons to take a weekend and spend it in this museum while traveling through Russia, I also want to make the case for first seeing this film. It’ll give you a great primer and a sense of awe/appreciation when you first walk in.

The Hermitage can be daunting, especially if you don’t have a couple of days to spend exploring the majority of its works. The 1057-room palace (don’t worry, they aren’t all open to the public) was once the chateau for the Russian imperial family. There’s both art and history here with pieces going back to the Stone Age and running forward to the 20th Century, and getting a healthy balance of both is a good way to go for the neophyte. Stick to the Third Floor for the bulk of the art, including Picasso, Monet, Van Gogh, Rodin, and Cezanne, but also head to the Second Floor for an impressive collection of Italian art between the 16th and 18th Centuries. Also on the Second Floor is the imperial family’s cathedral, and on the First Floor you’ll see the State rooms for the apartments of the Romanovs. One of the easiest things to do if you do want to go in with a game plan is check out the collection online. Then, when you enter, grab a map (in English) and figure out where your top sites are. It actually works.

And speaking of work, getting in can be a feat in and of itself. The best time to go is right when the museum opens (10:30 am), and even a few (say 20) minutes early to get in queue. The museum does offer tickets for purchase online that will let you avoid what can be up to 3-hour lines, however you will pay full-price plus the permissions fee (which is optional when buying in person) to take photographs or video inside the museum. You should buy 3 days in advance as it can take that long to get the voucher via e-mail (though you don’t have to commit to a date when you buy the ticket), and also take note that you’ll pay a handling fee of $3.95.

However, these prices are inflated compared to what you can get with a little patience (and some warm shoes/a few shots of vodka in the winter). The first Thursday of every month is free admission, which is a great place to start. Also, if you are traveling with children under 18 or students (or if you yourself are a student or have a lingering Student ID that can pass for valid), admission is free no matter what day. Avoid going on weekends, if possible, and you should have a pretty relaxed time getting in–which is nothing compared to the time you’ll have while exploring.

And for those of you who won’t be going to Russia any time soon, there’s always Russian Ark.

Thanks, marie-ii!

The State Hermitage Museum
34 Dvortsovaya Naberezhnaya
Metro: Nevsky Pr.

http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/

Düsseldorf is one of those great cities in Germany that’s loaded with arts and culture. In 2006, it hosted a successful Quadrennial celebration in which all of the city’s art institutions hosted events around the theme of “bodies” (not the exhibition that shows off human anatomy). The Düsseldorf Art Academy contributes to a lot of the city’s art vibe, and with famous natives such as author Günter Grass, composer/musicians Clara and Robert Schumann, and artist Oswald Achenbach, it’s obvious this city’s love of art is not a May-December affair.

One of the best places to catch art (regardless of the theme) is the Museum Kunst Palast. Originally founded by some of Düsseldorf’s upper echelon (and Anna Maria Louisa de Medici, of that famous art-lovin’ Florentine family), the museum has been housing art since the 18th Century and has had a knack for keeping up with the times.

Currently, there’s a great exhibition that has been running since September and is in its last weeks (through January 6th) called Bonjour Russland (Bonjour Russia) at the Kunst. Taken from the collections of Moscow and St. Petersburg’s greatest museums (i.e. The Hermitage in St. Pete’s, the Pushkin in Moscow), Bonjour Russia is a visual tour through Russia, France, and the cultural tunnel that connected the two through most of the 19th Century. The exhibition covers art from between 1870 to 1925, a little over 50 years after Napoleon’s failed invasion of Russia. It’s the only chance to catch this exhibition–which includes art from greats such as Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso, Kandinsky, and Chagall–in Germany.

And being an artist’s city, the Kunst offers a generous amount of deals. The normal entry fee of 10 Euro is hiked up to 12 on weekends and bank holidays, but if you are a student, unemployed, a member of the military, a municipal employee, handicapped, or holding the 9-Euro Düsseldorf Card, that rate is kicked down to 7.50 Euros. Families with up to three children can pay a flat rate of 20 Euro on weekdays/24 Euro on weekends. Senior citizens can get in for 7.50 on Tuesdays, and on Wednesdays (my favorite) after 4:00 pm, anyone can get in on a 2-For-1 basis (10 Euro for two people). If you’re traveling solo, it’s a great way to make friends and influence museum prices.

Thanks, tschneider!

Museum Kunst-Palast
Ehrenhof 4-5
40479 Düsseldorf
0211 8992460
http://www.museum-kunst-palast.de/