Today I had my first talk!
It didn’t go as well as I would’ve liked but it was ok.
There were loads of Norwegians (not Germans. I made this mistake and they were not impressed) having tours all over the place so I wasn’t able to announce my talk to anyone. I managed to drag a French couple to come but I think I spoke to quickly and they didn’t understand me! My talk was supposed to last 10 minutes but I rushed it and it was just under 5.
Although later when I was working in the cloakroom an English woman came up to me and said she really enjoyed my talk J She said that she then regurgitated my talk to her son and he was very impressed with her.
So I guess I taught someone something. Hazaar!
The rest of the day I was on at palazzo which is my favourite so I was a happy girl.
In the evening there was an event for the Berlin Guggenheim so some of us had to stay later in case they wanted to come in to see the collection.They didn't so me, George and Antonella ran around singing throughout the PC’s which was fun and then we got to go home.
In the evening I met everyone at Campo which was packed because all of the students have returned (I live right next to the University of Venice) so it was nice chatting to some other young people.
Oh and I took some pictures of the gallery whilst no one was there.
I told you that I would tell you a bit about PC4 so here are some of the works:
Peggy Guggenheim was Pollock’s main patron although at first she didn’t like him. They are rumoured to have had an affair which is probably true because Peggy was very ‘close’ to her patrons. Pollock has a whole room dedicated to him in PC4 which includes 6 of his paintings. These paintings are from different times in his career so they are all quite different.
Alchemy is one of the first poured paintings and is my favourite. His early paintings are more figurative and surrealist. They look too much like Miro paintings for my liking.
Although this looks like he just chucked a load of paint on to a canvas he was actually quite calculated and controlled when he was drip painting (well as controlled as someone who was drunk all the time can be). Unfortunately he wasn’t that skilled when drink driving and crashed his car and died when he was 44.
I feel really sorry for Gorky. He had such a tragic life.
At the height of his career he was the last member to be added to the Surrealist group and he was seen as the next big thing. Unfortunately shortly after this there was a fire in his studio which destroyed most of his work he then underwent a colostomy for cancer. Then he was in a car accident where he broke his neck and paralysed his painting arm. And then to top it all off his lovely wife decided to leave him and take their children with her. So no surprising really that he hung himself at the age of 44.
Poor bloke.
I’m a bit in love with Calder’s works. I would love to own one of his mobiles!
Peggy was a good friend of his as well as his patron. She commissioned him to make her this silver bed head and it’s meant to look like the sea which is why it has loads of fish motifs and stuff.
The third room of PC4 is dedicated to Peggy’s daughter, Pegeen (from Peggy’s first marriage to artist Laurence Vail).
Pegeen was a bit strange and always looks so haunted in every photo. Unfortunately she struggled with depression most of her life and committed suicide when she was 42 and living with her mother.
Her works aren’t the greatest pieces in the world but I think it’s only right that her works are displayed. Peggy would’ve been very proud to see her daughter’s work hung in the gallery.
After writing all of this out I’ve realised that PC4 is actually a rather sad place. It doesn't feel very sad though.
No comments:
Post a Comment