RICK'S BIG TRIP page 13 Back to reality on the streets of Paris. Everywhere in Europe, you see the cutest little cars. Yes, the idea of economy cars has been around for a long time here, and was never eclipsed by the American need to show how big a man (or woman) one is by proportional auto size.
Luxembourg Park turned out to be the perfect place to relax, after a long day of art, coupled with the annoying aftermath of walking in circles, cross-referencing maps and street sign – just trying to find the subway station! Have I mentioned the Parisian sense of giving simple directions? Maybe I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy, asking for directions from the museum information desk in French. I don’t understand French! Oh well, I made it and it was all worthwhile. A big, beautiful park, where everybody is actually relaxing. In the city even! Ahhhhhh…
Now, I’m going to give you a very important piece of information. Contrary to what you may think, I’m actually not obsessed with female breasts. It’s just that, as an artist, I feel the obligation to follow through on certain themes, once they take form in the work – in this case, in the web site. Now that we’re clear on that, back to Luxembourg park. There was a wood sculpture exhibit all over the east side, showing every imaginable use of wood textures, shapes and finishes. One piece in particular got the attention of these children. Can you relate?
You can’t tell what’s going on in this picture so I’m going to tell you: There’s a group of African singers and drummers performing on stage in the park. That’s right, Lisa, I was in Paris and I saw the African drumming performance. Don’t you wish you were there? If it’s any consolation, the drumming wasn’t really that exciting.
A lovely little pool on the north-west corner of the park features this 16^th century (I think) sculpture. The idea is that it’s supposed to look like water pouring down all over, rendered sculpturally by concrete. The effect, as you see, looks more like sludge. They hadn’t quite mastered the water-effect in those days.
Next day, guess where I went? That’s right, the Picasso museum. It would really be a cheap shot to carry our breast theme into Picasso’s collection, because, as you know, his painings just have titties all over the place. But here’s something a little special: one of several homages to that famous Manet painting we looked at earlier. You recognize the gal on the left? Well, as a symbol of great respect to the original artist, Picasso found it in his heart to paint her with nice little round breasts, with no nipples whatsoever, just like the original. Most of the Picasso museum was more informative than impressive. It consists of a lot of his own stuff – stuff he never sold. Lots of open-ended studies, not too engaging or well composed. And all that cubism? Interesting idea to paint many angles at once, I guess, but the paintings look like, well, like chopped liver. I admit there were a few nice compositions in the lot – including the one shown here.
And this goes out to my angel kitty Abalone. It’s as if Picasso knew little Abby himself when he painted this picture of a sweet little tabby goring a defenceless bird. Nature can be so cruel.
Enough of Picasso. It’s a short walk on to the Pompidou Center: bastion of art of the modern era. To point out ridiculous, absurd, idiotic, obnoxious, pretentious or just plain stupid works in modern and contemporary art would be just too easy. With a few exceptions, as everyone knows, it’s all a bunch of crap. But here’s something impressive: a live-size rhinoceros with the finish of a shiny car. It’s nice to know that art aficionados, as well as car buffs, can now enjoy the high gloss of new developments in the chemical industry.
And here’s a kind of neat idea: This gal’s art project was torturing herself by lying on a rack above a bed of candles. On display were the photo’s, video tape and sound recordings of the private event, on display with the original rack and her burned shirt. For those of you who like to think that a person’s name somehow directs or predetermines their life’s path, you’ll enjoy knowing that the artist is Gina Pane.
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