Matrimonio di Claudia e Lorenzo

In the moment

Just Married

Bubble moments

bub·ble  n. 1. A thin, usually spherical or hemispherical film of liquid filled with air or gas: champagne bubbles. 2. A globular body of air or gas formed within a liquid: laughter, the mist of passion. 3. A pocket formed in a solid by air or gas that is trapped, as during cooling or hardening: tension, anticipation, fear, joy, passion 4. a. The act or process of forming bubbles. b. A sound made by or as if by the forming and bursting of bubbles: like kissing or dancing on air..? 5. Something insubstantial, groundless, or ephemeral, especially: a. A fantastic or impracticable idea or belief; an illusion: didn't want to burst the bubble (i.e. can this moment last forever). b. A speculative scheme that comes to nothing: nothing ventured nothing gained. 6. Something light or effervescent: For example: Jules when she is excited and very happy. 7. A usually transparent glass or plastic dome. our facade 8. A protective, often isolating envelope or cover: "Hold me with your heart".

Intrigue

It's getting late and I should be considering going to bed to sleep, but I've been lying on my sofa typing up some notes and the thoughts are flowing with ease (my nocturnal nature is so predictable). 

There is a gentle cool breeze flowing in from the open french doors, the distant sound of plates being cleared after an evening meal and the remnants of conversation and jovial exchange. The light in the room is dim and magical. 

Occasionally, I gather the moment and realise where I am and this incredible opportunity. Even though sometimes, it is somewhat daunting and challenging, Italy continues to inspire, intrigue and captivate me. Often I'm amused and perplexed by how much I've learn't over these years, and yet how little I understand. Ironically, this interplay between knowing and discovery has an energy. I no longer know what my attraction to Italy is really about, but I know that I want more.

And finally, my mind casts to tomorrow... Try as I might to be equanimous and balanced, I've been    mind-less for most of the day as I jostle between feelings of trepidation, genuine excitement, hope and uncertainty.  

I ask myself "Can I do this?..." 

I pause. I breathe.

Woven from beauty, charm, traditions, dreams, imperfections and complex contradictions; this is me - all of me. I am what I am. And what will be, will be.

Realising this, and being centred by this truth, I remind myself to trust, to be true and to enjoy. Because even if I'm feeing anxious and somewhat overwhelmed, in our lives moments such as these are far and few between. 

If you think of me over the coming days, please send me love, joy, grace, peace and honesty.

Louise Bourgeois

Aspect Jones & Mermaid, this one is for you..."At the darkest mood, at one end, is suicide; at the other end is the bath of gratitude' by french sculpture Louise Bourgeois.

Australian Art

Tamara Dean

'This too shall pass'.

Tamara Dean's exploration of spirituality through staged photographs. Shot mainly on decaying urban locations, Sydney morphs into a world where nature threatens to claw back control. The beautiful and ephemeral nature of the locations echo one of documentary photography's central concerns - to record our visual history before it disappears. The women Dean depicts in these images are her friends, family and acquaintances - strong women, who she feels navigate their place in an ambiguous world.

Sam Jinks

'Body in time'

Shepparaton, Victoria

Kim Buck

Charcoal on paper by Kim Buck a young South Australian artist.
After a sell-out solo exhibition with Adelaide's Peter Walker Fine Art in 2009, she was invited to present at the Micheal Reid Fine Art in Sydney and the Jan Murphy Gallery in Brisbane.
 Also recently awarded the Prospect Portrait Prize.

Which one...?

EX3 Contemporanea

After three years, the wonderful EX3 Contemporanea, Firenze is closing. I was a little sad to receive their email today and to know that an era for another wonderful institution will be coming to an end.
Cari amici,

l’’ associazione EXTRE Toscana contemporanea, affidataria della gestione del Centro per l’’ arte contemporanea EX3 di Firenze, non è riuscita a ottenere il sostegno necessario per il proseguimento delle attività espositive. Con rammarico siamo quindi costretti a comunicare l’ ’imminente chiusura degli spazi di viale Giannotti, alla scadenza del primo triennio di convenzione.

Dall’ ’apertura del Centro, nell’ ’ottobre del 2009, a oggi, EX3 ha prodotto 16 mostre principali di artisti italiani ed internazionali, svolgendo parallelamente un’ ’attività variegata, con eventi espositivi, convegni, conferenze, performance, concerti, attività didattiche e laboratori.

A conclusione di questa straordinaria esperienza, in cui abbiamo messo tutto il nostro impegno e le nostre energie, ci teniamo a ringraziare tutti coloro che ci hanno seguito, sostenuto e stimolato, gli artisti, i curatori e i tecnici che hanno collaborato con noi e in particolare gli sponsor, che hanno permesso al Centro di vivere.

Augurandoci un futuro più felice per l’’ arte, per la creatività e per la sperimentazione, a Firenze come altrove, vi salutiamo calorosamente.

Lo staff di EX3

D&G heels across Milan

In the last two and a half weeks, I have been absolutely saturating my senses with art exhibitions, art reflections, and conversations about contemporary art and conversing in Italian.

Additionally, I have been attending to all of this in 35 degree heat, dressed in style and heels. Can you just imagine me trying to manoeuvre myself, handbag, camera, laptop and folio of notes across cobblestoned lanes, from Metro to Bus terminus or on a bike and on occasion getting lost...?

My coffee breaks have become less about admiring the Italian men and the stylish women; and a moment of stillness and repose for my feet.

While, my days are stimulating, immersive and synthesis all my passions; as I climb the final stairs of my apartment (it has a lift, but I seem to think that walking up and down the stairs keeps me fit!) and the keys click into the lock, I take a long breath, kick off the heels, place my bag etc on the bed and relish the chance to ease into the evening... but then I remember... I'm "in Italy" and there are wines to be sipped at 'apertivo hour', Parco Sempione to stroll through, swimming pools and sunbathing, Italian cinema, theatre, contemporary dance and... Nope. Can't do it. In the evenings I'm sorry to say it but I am simply too tired on a physical and cerebral level, to absorb any more culture or activities, to contemplate navigating across Milan (especially in this heat and not in heels) or to reflect upon the dalliance between men and women, foreigners and locals etc etc...

Last night I attended the inauguration of two new art exhibitions at Fondazione HangarBicocca and my poor toes although delighted to be wedged into D&G heels, were by the end of the night cruxified.  So even though the heart is willing, at the end of the day I just want a shower, my sofa with a book case filled with art and design, a night sky to ponder at from my balcony, and a slow cooked meal.

It seems like a shame... but that is just were I'm at.

Anselm Keifer

At the inauguration of two new temporary exhibitions, the infamous presence and grandeur of Anselm Keifer's The Seven Heavenly Palaces (2004), illuminated the extraordinary "black cube" of the Fondazione HangarBicooca.

Wilfredo Prieto

Equilibrando la Cura

Cimetrio Monumentale, Milano

Moroso60

Metamorfosi: Behind, after or beyond. Art and design in functional furniture and furnishings sponsors of the Fondazione HangarBicocca, Milano.

Castello di Rivoli, Torino

Maurizio Cattelan.

Museo Nazionale da Scienza e Tecnologia da Leonardo da Vinci

Italian Summer dreams

10 sleeps to go.

Nostaglia

Looking up to position my face towards the sun, I noticed her standing still and patient, as though she had been waiting there for me, in the middle of the piazza. My beloved vision of "Il Duomo".

The night before as Sabine drove some of our friends home, we past along the streets and landmarks that have my memories etched in them. We drove past Dietrofronte towards Piazza Michalengalo, along the Arno River with the Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti in the distance, and the Castello di San Frediano. Golden light softly illuminated the Arno River, just as I remembered it did and I could feel the crisp night air against my skin as though I was once again cruising through the streets on the back of a motorbike with my arms wrapped around a handsome Italian. 

My heart and mind were still. There was no sadness or melancholy. For Firenze has and always will be a part of my memories, life and dreams. 

I am fortunate that I have friends there, who make the return even more beautiful and renewed with new memories, but the time has come to seek something more for my life and my future. Deep within me is a need to create my home and to build a life with someone. 

I would choose Firenze in a heart beat, if it was possible for me to create a niche for myself there in a  way that I could feel independent, integrated or infused. Or if the love of my life was there. 

Sadly I haven't found both these elements in the one place yet - but then it has taken me until now to realise that this is what I want and need - and like anyone in this position, at times I become restless wondering when, if, where, how this will ever be possible. At least now I have defined what it is I need in order to be me, to love and to grow. I know what I am looking for and I trust that when these moments arise, I'll be able to recognise them and without fear, hesitation or nostalgia 'dive-in'.

Firenze

Come sempre, una meravigliai. 

Stasera insieme con Sabine, Allesandro, Naomi, Martina, Sandra, Angelo, Olga, e bambina Annatassia era molto bello.
Abbiamo parlato, mangiato bene e riso tantissima.

Grazie bella Sabine e Allesandro per organizzare la cena e la vostra dolcissima amicizia.

Dal cuore, ti ringrazio.

x

Fondazione HangarBicocca

One's first impression of the Fondazione HangarBicocca is the breath taking and imposing outdoor installation by Fausto Melotti 'La sequenza' (1971/1981) 

Dimensions: height 7 meters x length 22 metres x depth11 metres.

Melotti (born Rovero 1901, died Milan 1986), an artist, writer, theorist, trained musician and engineer. Believed all these elements were closely woven with the currents of thought and art in 20th century Italy, and in which Milan represented one of the main centres for innovation and creativity.

According to Melotti, 'Art is a beatific, geometric state of mind which appeals to the intellect and to the senses.'

Ultrabody

208 artworks representing art and the human body at 'UltraBody" Castello Sforzesco, Milano.

Hoping to...

Palazzo Reale

Maurizio Cattelan, Mario Airo were some of the artists included in the exhibition 'Associazione Amici Arte Contemporanea' at Palazzo Reale, Milano. 

Museo del Novecento, Milano

 

Triennale

Proses to reflect upon from the exhibition "Chi sono io? La ricerca dell'identita altraverso il disegno" by Masal Pas Bagdadi. 17/5 - 10/6 2012
Triennale, Milano.

'Every man at the end decides for himself and education in its final analysis must help one to make ones own choices.' U. Frankl

'The human being's condition is the perpetual search for the meaning of life, which is given to us by the other, by his encounter with us. Without meeting the other we are lost and become strangers or enemies of ourselves, no longer fertile.' Francoise Dolto.

'Women are closer to the Creator as they give life. her rhythm is more natural, closer to things and beings, therefore she must make less of an effort to find the unity of the world that surrounds her.' Nadinn Scenker Akiba.

'Il buio e la luce ancora si alteraneranno finche arrivera l'amore a dare un nuovo significato all'esistenza. Il ciclosi chiude e nasce un'altra vita.'

'Io creao, ho tutti i colori che servono per crearmi. Non c'e nessuno come me e voglio che tutti lo sappiano.'

And my favourite... 


The Wisdom of the Cabala (English and Italian version).
'When two lovers kiss each other, they exchange four breaths; each will inhale the breathe of the other, ceding in this way his own breath. The four breaths then unite, becoming one breathe, which is the breath of the child born between them.'

'Quando due amanti si baciano sulla bocca, si scambiano quattro respiri; ciascuno inspira il fiato dell'altro  e cede all'altro il proprio respiro. I quattro respiri allora si uniscono, e diventano un solo respiro, che e il respiro del bambino nato dal loro.'

Padigilone d'Arte Contemporanea

Marina Abramovic

'The Abramovic Method'

Parco Sempione

Sta mattinata, ho letto questo metro ce bevevo un caffè "imparare dal passato, vivere per il presente, sognare per l'avvenire." Bellissimo.

Parco Sempione, Milano

Saturday night storm

A massive storm has began outside. Lightning, unrelenting rain and an angry night sky. The sounds and sights are delightful, especially the sound of heavy rain on the glass roof upstairs. A perfect night to curl up on the sofa, listen to music and read...

Another definition of happiness...

A rustic 'day-dream couch' with large throw pillows.
Above, an endless shelf of books on poetry, art, design, travel and fashion.
French doors, that open out onto a balcony with a view over the terracotta rooftops.
Pale pink Chinese Peonies in an old ceramic milk jug.
Dolce & Gabbana silk floral shoes.
A four hour bike ride tour, exploring the architecture and history of Milan.