FERRARE

Jul 15

Dinner at the China Club 

On Wednesday I had a wonderful dinner with friends at The China Club. Located on the top floors of the old Bank of China building, you’re immediately transported back to 1930s Shanghai. The real treat though is the art! Retro chic is back. 

A whimsical sculpture turned fountain with swimming ladies and goldfish greets you at the lobby. As you ascend the stairs, a full art history tour begins with early 20th century pieces on the ground level to the latest contemporary paintings at the top; notably at the end of the stairs is a quirky portrait of Pope John Paul II by Zeng Fanzhi painted in his typical brush landscapes style. It’s all very well to visit art museums, but even better to get your nose right up to it! 

Jul 22

Lucian Freud, Painter of Radical Realism, Dies at 88

As the last NASA space shuttle landed on earth, one space man departed….

Jul 27

Summer Lovin Gauguin Styles

Whether you’re driving across France, (ahem JM & JL & LH) or traipsing across Sweden, nothing like a little sun on your face. I sometimes would like to take a year off life, and just hang out discovering a new culture; embracing it as my own. No one else for me embodies this than the French painter, Paul Gauguin. 

Gauguin’s mother was half Peruvian, and it was in Lima where he first discovered art. His mother, a collector of pre-Columbian pottery dressed in local style, colourful and evocative. Perhaps this served as the inspiration for his bright paintings from his Tahitian period.  

Jul 29

CHRISTO IN PINK

I’ve been on a bit of a pink bender lately. Hot pink sweater, hot pink nails. But this 1983 work by Christo is certainly the mark for outrageous pink. 

The Bulgarian-born artist draped 11 islands in Biscayne Bay, Florida in pink iridescent plastic. He has just been approved for a new work in Colorado. 

Je voudrais.  Muhanned Cader.  First came across these at Art HK 2009.   Untitled , 2008, Graphite on notebookUnframed: 14 x 270 (cm), 5.51 x 106.3 (in)
Jul 30

Je voudrais. 

Muhanned Cader. 

First came across these at Art HK 2009.  

Untitled , 2008, Graphite on notebook
Unframed: 14 x 270 (cm), 5.51 x 106.3 (in)

architizer: Iconic ruins
Sep 10

architizer:

Iconic ruins

Sep 10

TOMOO GOKITA

I had noticed Tomoo’s paintings before… but never really paid any attention until a lovely guy named Arjuna got me more focused. Then this May in Brussels at Art Brussels upon meeting Honor Fraser’s gallery manager, I’m now following this artist. Interesting use of brush strokes. They melt. 

Tomas Saraceno is one of my favourite artists… how do I fit one of his pieces into my little Hong Kong flat though??  architizer: Artist Tomas Saraceno “Cloud Cities” exhibition at the Hamburger Banhoff
Sep 25

Tomas Saraceno is one of my favourite artists… how do I fit one of his pieces into my little Hong Kong flat though?? 

architizer:

Artist Tomas Saraceno “Cloud Cities” exhibition at the Hamburger Banhoff

Ola Kolehmainen Ola can be found at my super cool friend Kaj Forsblom’s gallery in Helsinki. I must go and visit their new space soon!! 
Oct 11

Ola Kolehmainen

Ola can be found at my super cool friend Kaj Forsblom’s gallery in Helsinki. I must go and visit their new space soon!! 

Nov 1

Once upon a time I went to the pool…. 

Actually, I’ve always wanted to hold a party in an empty swimming pool. Given that I spent about half my childhood life holding my breath under water, I felt it was, and still might be a great idea. Looks like these guys in Kanazawa beat me to it. This isn’t the first art installation I’ve seen “under water”. Erica Shiozaki, circa 2007, walked me through a door opening in a drained swimming pool for the Concordia University students Fine Arts show. Great idea. 

architizer:

An art installation simulating the inside of a swimming pool in Kanazawa Japan