Monumenta

Leviathan

ANISH KAPOOR

Grand Palais (Paris)

I just came back from a wonderful weekend in Paris with my man where I tried to see as much Art as possible but also enjoyed the scenery, the hotel, the food and the champagne...ah you know, Paris!

One of the must see contemporary art installations that is going on right now in Paris; is the Anish Kapoor at the Grand Palais.

This picture makes it look more stunning than it's in real life (I think)... it was a lot darker in the room and impossible to take any good photos of your own.
That might be because we went at 11PM for a night visit.... how nice is that? have a fabulous dinner and then go out and see late night art.

Something special just happened when we were about to leave and I turned to say "It would be nice if there was some music in the room".
Like magic, suddenly about 20 people from a choir started to gather in the middle of the room and began singing songs from all over the world... one Hebrew, one Russian and an Italian. 

With the singing in the art space, I ended up with a sacred little monumental moment in my life.

I asked the guards if this had happened before... but no... I had just been incredibly lucky with my timing.

With Love

Kristin

Anish Kapoor dedicated this piece at the unveiling to Ai Weiwei who is still missing.

Random impulses...

Pashley

I know this is a bit outside the field of Art... but I am bending the rules slightly since I just have to show you my new vehicle...!

The Pashley bike is a hand built little Art piece in it's own, don't you think? At least it will follow me or I will follow it... around London on my Art viewings.

Feeling like a Londoner,

With Love

Kristin

Human Nature

North South, 2011

White Portland stone and black Delabole slate

Richard Long

RICHARD LONG & GUISEPPE PENONE

Haunch of Venison

London

Last night was the Private view of the Richard Long exhibition at the Haunch of Venison. Richard Long is known as one of England's most important conceptual land Artists. His work consists of mud, stones, clay, handprints, photography and text work.

I enjoy his genuine love and use of nature, and the simple gratifying effect it has on us.

Human Nature, 2011

White China clay, Chinese blue pigments

and red Vallauris clay

Richard Long

Stone Print Spiral, 2011

Danish river stones

Richard Long

A circle in Norway

Richard Long

Untitled, 2007

White china clay on scrap metal from Niger

Richard Long

But, what was maybe more interesting to me at this opening was the discovery of Guiseppe Penone.

Guiseppe Penone like Richard Long has also worked since the 60's with Natural elements like Stones, trees, water and sap. 

The exhibition by the two Artists floated well together, perhaps too well since it was hard to know who had done what. At first I was surprised at Richard Long's exciting new direction in his work, only to find out that the honor was Guiseppe Penone's.

Pelle di grafite (Skin of graphite)

2003-2008

Graphite on black paper on canvas

Guiseppe Penone

These canvases, a series of 8, was quite stunning. The effect made it look like a combination of leather with silver imprints, but close up you could see the composed graphite drawings on black paper.

Lo Spazio della scultura-pelle di cedro

(Space of sculpture - cedar skin)

2001, Bronze, leather

Guiseppe Penone

Propogation, 2011

Pen, pencil, paper

Guiseppe Panone

Projection, 2000

Guiseppe Penone

After showing you these two great "ArtEco" artists, I can't help but to share some fantastic news.
We just found out that my man (he is an architect) is about to start an exciting renovation of a large Contemporary Museum! I will have to tell you more about this later.

Have a Fabulous weekend!

With Love 

Kristin

Yamamoto at the V&A

©V&A

Yohji Yamamoto

Victoria & Albert Museum

"An Artist is somebody who creates things that you don't need to have"

Yohji Yamamoto

I was thrilled about having the opportunity to see the Yohij Yamamoto exhibition at the V&A, especially, after the visit at the Wapping Project last month, where the famous 1998 wedding dress was exhibited. 

I was hoping that the V&A exhibit would be equally progressive... I was in for a great disappointment. The garments were hanging slack and styleless in a room with harsh lighting and an unfinished look. (contrary, the other Yamamoto installations around the museum was barely lit at all). The impersonal factory look of the room comes of as contradictory to Yohji Yamamoto's sense of humor and charm in his work. 

Yohji Yamamoto did begin to design so women could wear mens clothes he says... but did it have to be presented so slack and shapeless? 

Honestly, I was thinking to myself that he just might not be my kind of designer.

That is where I will have to blame the presentation, considering the way the fabric actually floats and swings on the female bodies when it's worn. This you can get the feel of in the videos... which were a lot more interesting than the rest of the exhibit. Here, you get a sense of Yohij Yamamoto's accomplishments and how he constantly impresses us with his choice of textiles and transformation of design. 

©V&A

I especially enjoyed the videos where the band Madness was the models or the one with the Ziganes gypsies, these were both surprises for me. Tried to find them on YouTube to share with you, but will have to do with this one....

Quite entertaining and legendary. Yohji Yamamoto himself is doing the female/male part of this fun wedding couple.

With Love 

Kristin

The Salon

Mark Hulson

Untitled, 2004

£1,600

BEACONFSFIELD

Fraternise - Salon

I keep walking the London streets only guarded with my Art map. The streets are not too well marked on this map, but it does lead me to places it would have taken me years to find without. 

On my London Gallery hunt (swearing to myself I will have been to them all during this year...) I find quite a few hidden treasures. 

One of them is the The Beaconsfield located in the Vauxhall area and holding its forth inside an old school:

The Beaconsfield is now holding it´s exhibit "Fraternise - The Salon". Naomi Siderfin one of the two Artist-Directors kindly invited me in and told me a bit about the exhibit. 

This exhibit is especially directed towards new collectors, combining unknown and known artists with work ranging from £5 - £20,000.

Edwina FitzPatrick

Flights of fancy, 2011

Whole work: £1,200

Each Stem: £45

David Birkin

Untitled (2007)

From the series Confessions.

£4,800

This series is quite fascinating. David Berkin made each sitter make a confession while he leaves the room. The picture is taken during the time the confession is told. This is supposed to be his mother. Makes you curious....

Damien Hirst

Big Love (Unique Proof) 2010

£20,000

Lucy Gunning

Mobile, 2010

£1,200

Tamsin Pender

Bench, 2003

£5,000

Ben Cockett

Swarm II, 2004

£2,000

Maria Marshall

I did love this night, 2002

£6,000

In the back of the building is this rather dark dungeon looking arched tunnel that has been converted into an art space. It still smells a bit like fish? and the trains are thundering over my head... at least it felt like it. But, I still enjoyed exploring the pieces.

Amelia Newton Whitelaw

If you Die I´ll kill you, 2011

£7,000

Quite a dramatic title, but also humorous when you get to know that the Balloon was huge when the installation opened and gradually it evaporate. It can be filled up to the size you want if you should decide to collect the piece.

Richard Elliot

Kart, 2009

£1,200

Keith Wilson

Small Stele (red) 2011

£6,000

I enjoyed this one a lot. It comes in a blue version as well... but I rather prefer the red.

Eloise Fornieles

Wanderlust III, 2010

£2,400

I asked Naomi about this awkward piece and she said "Isn´t it beautiful?" which made me mumble a bit.

I am not sure if I ... eh... would say that... But, Naomi just smiled and told me that at the opening it was a pretty spectacular burning of the rocking horse. Something that reminds you about how important it is to know certain pieces stories.

Tamsyn Challenger

Tamsynette Pick-Me-Up, 2011

£3,000

After the viewing I sat down in the canteen and enjoyed the flat screen editions, with a good large overspilling latte.

With Love

Kristin

Love is what you want!

©Hayward Gallery

TRACEY EMIN

Hayward Gallery

18th of May to 29th of August

(60th Anniversary celebration of the Festival of Britain)

I had a large glass of wine and some hot hot curry stew at the Hayward cafe to gear myself up for the Tracey Emin retrospective. After having seen Nancy Spero's feminist screams from the 70's at the Serpentine gallery a month ago. I was for some reason expecting more anger here as well. How wrong I was! Feminism has actually moved on to another level. By, by backlash!

Tracey Emin's first mayor survey in London is beautiful, touching and intimate. After having mostly read about her drunken rants I was so surprised by her gentleness, just listen to her beautiful nearly childish voice. There is no anger here, but sorrow, depression and sadness, yes. Tracey Emin is daring to expose her soul so completely that it is hard not to relate. Because after all isn't LOVE WHAT YOU WANT?

I cried, I laughed and I sensed myself through this exhibit. 

Neons

©Hayward Gallery

Be aware of the film "How it feels" from 1996 where she talks about her abortion. I sat there howling through the film (probably not unobserved). 

©Hayward Gallery

Tracey Emin is one of the most prominent British Artists of today. She came to light together with the YBA (Young British Artists) Sarah Lucas, Damien Hirst, Liam Gillick and others in the early 90's. 

©Hayward Gallery

These wonderful appliqued blankets tell their own stories:

"Why should I protect myself from you when you are the one that protects me."

"There's no one in this room who has not thought of killing"

"I don't expect to be a mother but I do expect to die alone"

"I want an international lover that loves me more than the world"

Sleeping with you, 2005

©Hayward Gallery

Her relationship with her Dad was a strong element in her life. I therefore would like to share a note that she wrote down in 2008, that I thought was especially moving. (Exhibited)

My dad went to Korea when he returned he said. Tracey these Budist are beautiful people. I went to one of their Temples and I made a prayer for you. I asked for you to be a wonderful artist.

He then gave me a gift from Mr. Kim. Daddy I said, it's a paper weight. No, he said it's a crown.

We go to see ART to feel.

Well, here is the ultimate show for that.

The HOTTEST tip for this summer.

You have to see (feel) this.

Wishing you a great weekend!

With Love

Kristin

Two Brothers from a time Past!

Elin Høyland

The Brothers

While my fellow Norwegians are out there waving their flags, eating pølse and lompe (hot dog with a potato lefse) and ice cream. Shouting Hurrah, Hurrah! or singing "Ja vi er så glad i dette landet" (Yes, we love this Country). I am sitting quietly in London writing about the little event at the Norwegian Embassy yesterday. Yes, it is our constitution day today, and I guess I should be wearing a Bunad (our national custom), but to make my jeans valid I am doing a post about two good old traditional men from Vågå in the middle of rural Norway to compensate.

Two brothers, living and working on a farm, never to want to venture anywhere else. Well, Mathias once worked in Oslo for two months and Harald actually spent a night at a Hotel in Lillehammer... the worst night in his life, he would say.

I think anyone who grew up in the Countryside of Norway can relate to the brothers, they are the ultimate characters of a time past.

Actually, when I come to think of it, in 9th grade at my school, I remember a boy who had been to Sweden once, never ventured to Oslo (1 hour away) and had to take days off to work at the farm. So we might still find them out there. But not without a TV I would think? they did hire one in the 60's but found it took up too much time. They read the newspaper, listened to the radio and were avid bird watchers.

Elin Høyland's book launch yesterday at the Embassy had to unfortunately happen with the brothers only in memory. Harald died of an asthma attack while shoveling snow in -20 degrees and Mathias died a few years later in 2007, at an old peoples home.

But with this book, they will always be remembered.

Towels for top and bottom

Elin Høyland

"The Brothers" is printed by the English publishing company Dewi Lewis Publishing, with words by Gerry Badger. The book has already been written about in the Guardian... Wonder, where I will see it next.

With Love 

Kristin

Pictures of Garbage

©Vik Muniz

Vik Muniz

Wasteland

Unfortunately, it does not look like we will be seeing Vik Muniz's work in London any time soon. It seems like his exhibits will mainly be in Brasil, United States and Japan this year. 

Even though the only piece I have had a chance to see in person was the one at the Miami Basel "The Bearer" in December. I can't stop thinking of his work and have become such a fan that I just have to share him with you. It is the "Pictures of Garbage" series that entices me, just the kind of Art that I would like to write more about here at ArtEco. New, different, stunning and with an ecological message.

The "Pictures of Garbage" series has been done in Brasil, where he was born in Sao Paulo, in a working class family. When he was young he was shot in the leg while trying to break up a fight, for the compensation money he went to New York and ended up staying there. 

But he did go back to do the "Pictures of Garbage" project. A project about the worlds largest garbage dump in Rio de Janeiro, and the people living in it. The profits from these photos, has been donated back to the people who live in this place.

As you can see it is an intensive labor process and in real life a large installation behind the photos. 

The models that has been used lives in the wasteland. 

Vik Muniz makes them shine!

Marat (Sebastio) ©Vik Muniz

©Vik Muniz

Mother and Children (Suellen) 2008 ©Vik Muniz

Sisyphus, After Titan ©Vik Muniz 2006

©Vik Muniz

Atlanta and Hippomenes after Guido Reni ©Vik Muniz

The Bearer ©Vik Muniz

Woman Ironing (Isis) 2008 © Vik Muniz

See more about Vik Muniz in the Award Documented film  "Wasteland" .

Breathtaking, don't you think?

With Love

Kristin