Category: Italy
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Black Arch
Black Arch It happened at the 2011 biennale in Venice. For the first time Saudi Arabia was represented here in a space of its own. And, even more surprising, the work of art on show was made by two women, the sisters Shadia and Raja Alem. Modern art from Saudi Arabia made by women? It’s…
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Ganesha in Venice
Ganesha in Venice The Italian artist Felipe Cardena called this work of his ‘The last crisis of this crazy, crazy world’. The Hindu gods are well represented in it. Apart from the popular Ganesha, there is Vishnu and also a small Shiva. They are in the company of some iconic figures – political, religious, revolutionary,…
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Bathing in paint
Bathing in paint We’re back at the Italian pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 2011. In an earlier post I had called it a sort of junk art shop. The larger than life portraits of a man and a woman bathing are impressive. Look how true-to-life the water is flowing in plenty over their heads! The…
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Bird’s-eye view (3)
Bird’s-eye view (3) Just as in the previous two posts, we are once again looking down at the cobblestones, this time on the most important historic square in Siena, Italy. But now the bird’s-eye view is so high above the ground that we can only make out the people below as tiny little figures. We…
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Ah … Holidays!
Ah … Holidays! Sometimes you receive a picture postcard – although less and less in this digital age – that arouses deep inside you an instant longing to be there; to see the scenery with your own eyes; to take it in with all your senses. That is of course the whole purpose of a…
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Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari
Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Popular belief or the folklore of faith is, in general, what religion means to the common man. It is its most widespread manifestation, not only in Catholicism, but in other religions as well. There’s a lot of suffering in the world and people are often subjected to great stress, either…
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Treasure trove Venice
Treasure trove Venice One of the delightful aspects of the Italian pavilion at the 2011 Venice Biennale was the sense of continuity you experienced when you left the exhibition space and stepped into the various nooks and crannies of this ever-enchanting city. Both inside and out, you felt surrounded by the same blend of folkloric…
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The art is not our thing
The art is not our thing Art critic and politician Vittorio Sgarbi was appointed curator of the Italian pavilion at the 54th Venice Biennale (2011). Given that he is known for his opposition to modern art – and certainly to the ‘mafia’ that organises the art world – his appointment was rather controversial. He decided…
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Art is my thing
Art is my thing The experience of art in all its manifestations (literature, music, visual arts) is occupying a privileged place in my mental and intellectual life. I could say: in my spiritual life, but I always hesitate using that word since it has these strong religious connotations I’d like to avoid. With acknowledgement and…
καιρός remembered 