With all of this chaos that is happening in our country, as a result of the election, I felt it was appropriate to take a step out of reality and write a fun piece this week on something real cool. Art. Ideally, I would've enjoyed writing a response to the election; however, personally, I am devastated by the results and am not ready to put together a piece on the topic. On the matter, I just want to say, spread love not hate! I know it's been about a week and if you are still numb, be numb, but don't forget your voice, your love and your passionate to achieve equality because that is the greatest weapon of all!
With that being said, let's get to the matter at hand. Art is so beautiful and so unique because it is able to be spread across so many mediums. From sculptures, to movies, to oil on canvas, art is able to make one serene, make one questioning, make one vocal, make one depressed. It is so wild.
Here I have scrounged together pieces of art from all around the world that should be seen by everyone. Whether your a lover of art or not, you should open your eyes to these beauteous works by some great talents. Enjoy.
Madonna of Bruges, by Michaelangelo
Located in Bruges, Belgium, this statue is a depiction of The Virgin Mary and her child, Jesus. During World War II, as the Germans retreated, they smuggled the statue out of the country. It was found a year later and has since been returned to the Church of our Lady in Bruges.
The Kiss, by Gustav Klimt
Located at the Belvedere Palace in Vienna, Austria, Klimt's "The Kiss" uses a a gilded style, where he used gold leaf to get such a shimmering effect.
*Also, check out Freedom Graffiti, by Tammam Azzam:
This building, reeling from the effects of the Civil War in Syria, represents the devastation that Syria has be subjected to. Azzam superimposed Klimt's The Kiss onto the building and the image has gone viral on the internet. Azzam said, "Syria is living the Third of May every day and no one stops it." (See about what Azzam is referencing next)
The Third of May, by Francisco Goya
Located in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. Through this work, Goya hoped to represent the Spanish resistance during the Peninsular War in 1808. Napoleon and his armies round up groups of Spaniards, killing them. This painting shows the darkness behind art.
The Living Need Light, The Dead Need Music, by The Propeller Group
The Propeller Group's website explains this masterpiece the best, "...a visual and musical journey through the fantastical funeral traditions and rituals of south Vietnam. It attempts to engage in dialogue with funerary traditions that pulsate in the same vein throughout the global south. The film merges documentary footage of actual funeral processions with stunning re-enactments that bring the film into the realm of the abstract, poetic and metaphorical – a rumination on death and the lives that pay homage to it." I saw this on exhibition at the CMOA, it has been to the James Cohan Gallery and will be at the Phoenix Art Museum in 2017.
Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh
Something about seeing this in person... Located at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, this goes down as one of the most famous paintings in the world. Van Gogh got the inspiration for this as he stared out the window of his room at the asylum he occupied. He wrote to his brother, "This morning I saw the country from my window a long time before sunrise, with nothing bu the morning star, which looked very big."
The Last Judgement, by Giorgio Vasari
Located in Florence, Italy, this work of art adorns the dome on the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. You are able to hike the stairs that are within the cathedral and come out onto a ledge that overlooks the entire cathedral and you are able to get a closer look at the duomo's ceiling.
Sohni Mahiwal, by Shoba Singh
Located in northern India at the Sobha Singh Art Gallery, this paintings tells a tragic love story. This image has become an icon in Indian culture and art. There are several other paintings that go in this series further telling story. It softness and intimacy makes it a beauty.
Water Lilies, by Claude Monet
One of my absolute favorite, this piece is located at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Monet moved to Giverny, France and built a huge garden and pond that he would one day paint. This Water Lilies series include about 250 oil paints that are throughout the entire world at different galleries and museums.
These only name a select few of the hundreds upon thousands upon millions of artworks that are must sees. Get out there and explore and appreciate the art that surrounds you!
