Arty Mornings

Art - the human imagination and expression that communicates on a whole new level, defines our physical space, documents history, promotes diversity and culture, educates, entertains and intrigues. The muted communication between our brain and heart. The wonderful visual message that is left to our imagination to decode and have the power to awaken our hidden strings of undefined character, emotions and personality. Art is as complex as it is fascinating. It affects and changes our daily life, our reality and mentality and it's perceived and felt differently by everyone.

Looking at art evokes so much emotion in me, it makes me drift to places I've never been, and feel nudges I have never experienced in reality. I can get lost in a painting for hours, thinking of thousands relations and contrasts, hidden meanings and the artist's applied flairs. When the barrier of the traditional language is transcended, it's so much easier to hear what you want and need. So much easier to be YOU.

I have to admit though, there are many significantly iconic art pieces that I have no connection or understanding for.

Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and Johannes Vemeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring are just two very bright examples. They do absolutely nothing for me, it doesn't matter how long I stare at them I can't help but to be disappointed. As much as I don't care for the Dutch Golden Age, I love the Renaissance, so not being able to find admiration for one of the most famous painting of all times, obviously means I lack that level of sophistication, intellectual maturity and artistic vision to recognise the genius in it. I also have great difficulty reading the artistic expression behind some of the contemporary art, like a completely black canvas for example ( Gillian Carnegie,Black Square 2008), or pieces of broken chair hanging from the ceiling (don't remember artist's name) or the famous Messy bed by Tracey Emin.

In that regard, the yellow stains running down my living room wall after my neighbours flooding my apartment just before Christmas, must be a real piece of art. Should I call Tate Modern to come evaluate?...it could be the break I need.

Perhaps, my preference in art is not immensely refined, much as my untamed character. Maybe I seek the magic wonder in everything and when the images are too realistic, or too realistically not logical or explainable, I do not recognise the chaotic, yet Earthy nature of myself in it...

I like Impressionism (Van Gogh, Monet), Art Nouveau and Symbolism ( Especially LOVE Klimt), but most of all, I find myself lost in the Cubism and Fauvism (Matisse, Picasso, Lubov Popova, Alice Bailly) -

"no longer live by proxy in the shadow of man and begin to assume extraordinary importance as independent elements in an analysis of space "

Cubism and Fauvism are like our Universe of twisted philosophy and existence. Somehow they suggest that our real lives completely elude the visuals and the tails we make of it. It's real, and it's unreal. Suggestive, but concealing. Hard, yet gentle.

I often day- dream to be left alone in a museum. No people, no noise, just me, the art, the colours, the magic, the smell and a glass of bubbles ... imagining that puts me into meditative state. Peace.

I envy the super wealthy who have the luxury of doing things like that, or even better, the freedom of creating their own little museums in which they can be alone with their dreams and thoughts. A place of timeless beauty and serenity, wonder and creation. Reflection.

What Art speak to you? Which art pieces makes you dream?

Enjoy the art you love....and don't forget to smile!

Nicole xxx

Art references as they appear from top to bottom

1. Photograph of the 16th Avenue Tiled steps, San Francisco (inspired by the famous steps of Rio De Janeiro , project completed in 2005)

2. Left - Mona Lisa, Leonardo Da Vinci (Renaissance)

3. Right - The girl with the pearl earring, Johannes Vemeer (Dutch Golden Age)

4.Starry night, Vincent Van Gogh (Post-Impressionism)

5.Vetheuil in Summer, Claude Monet (Impressionism)

6. The Virgin, Gustav Klimt (Art Nouveau)

7. Two Figures, Lubov Popova (Cubism)

8. The Reve, Pablo Picasso ( Early Fauvism)