Sophie Calle twice

Sophie Caller

Over the past month Sophie Calle has been on my mind a lot. I have stumbled upon her book "Double Game" that describes several projects, including the mise-en-abyme play with Paul Auster.
Last weekend Sophie Calle, in the steps of Marina Abramovich performance of Artist is Present, was greeting visitors at the Green Wood Cemetery. The visitors shared their secrets with the artist and entombed them in the obelisk, that is placed for the next 25 years on the hill with an amazing view.

View from the hill

   

Lay your secrets to rest here.

Later this week I have caught a glimpse of her other work at Frieze.

In this box she expresses her communication with her father past mortem. If you are not familiar with her work look up the "Address Book"

David Altmejd

Another artist that captured my attention at Frieze was David Altmejd. His work pulled me in with the mix of the materials and exploration of the familiar face while deforming it into a half mask and half upside down portrait. I wish I knew where did he take inspiration for his adventures

Robin Hill, Kevin Francis and Robert Therrien

During a recent Chelsea walk I have enjoyed these.
Robin Hill's bricks that camouflaged as sponges with the help of the waves from Nova Scotia created the visual confusion that is unanswered until you come right up to the installation.

 Robin Hill

 

Kevin Francis transformed the stone onto a subtle white clay. We can see how he has dragged his fingers to shape the lumps and smooth out imperfections. Only all this effect is actually an illusion and he carved the marble to a perfect deception.

 Kevin Francis

 

Robert Therrien piece or more accurately a room with the doors made me nostalgic of seeing an older hospital in a town of Italy some twenty years back. Even though this one is strike and has never had nor will it have people walk through the doors. His work leaves volumes for imagination. The absence here is what makes the work so strong.

Robert Therrien

Louis Bourgeois

Louise Bourgeois is one of the artists who doesn't stop to surprise me. Yes, I am a total fan, I admit, but when I encountered her holograms it was an invigorating experience. The work is small, projecting away from the wall into bright red hologram. It is simple, rough, even crude and very poignant. My favorite is the chair in the corner that I have anthropomorphized in my mind into an isolated individual from a Becket play.

If you have a chance see it, this has to be viewed in person for the full experience.
The work is on view at Cheim & Read until February 11

Most often I skip video art rather then stay and watch, but in the case of Pipilotti Rist exhibit at the New Museum her offer to settle in on a bed was irresistible. Her captivating images hypnotize the audiences with zoomed in textures of leaves and skin. One blends into another until you suddenly feel uncomfortably close to another human, not only on the screen, but next to you in bed as well.

Interactive political performance

Interactive political performance

Last night I have experienced what it means to be stripped of rights and voice, to have a virtual park experience and how to buy Himalayan air when the pollution on our planet will force us to look for other sources of oxygen.

With the elections on their way this piece is very timely. Pedro Reyes work Doomocracy invites you to experience humiliation and lack of freedom and raises many questions about our future.

This little sculpture is part of the Creatures series.

They are fragile and light an assemblage of bones, paper and, 

in this case, plastic for the eyes and the joints. 

Shy, 5 x 5 x 5 

Architectural wonders

We, humans, love to categorize everything. There are grammar rules that do not help to learn a language because there are just as many exceptions. Food categories that do not always make sense, such as avocado is a fruit and eating with chocolate is a standard in cuisines around the world.

Art and architecture have been categorized to the minutia details as well. To what purpose? Mostly to label, learn, and find and undefinable creations like this one.

L’église Saint-Eustache is in the center of Paris and is easily passed by in preference for the Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle. Each one is magnificent and i will not attempt to make any comparisons.

What I find fascinating about Saint- Eustache is its chimeric looks.

The Renaissance portico and the colonnade on the left transitions into the Gothic flying buttresses and a rosette.  Follow inside and we have Corinthian columns and Baroque elements among the light seeking Gothic supports. 

Not just a joy for the eye, but a constant surprise and curiosity in itself.