When it comes to Glasgow, we have received a rather mixed review from people, some like it, some loath it, some deem it rather industrious and polluted, some enjoy the myriad of shopping experiences offered there, some feel it is rather unsafe to wander around, but others find the people there friendly. Personally I think it has its charm but I'll have to concur that it is the first time I see factory chimney bleaching white smokes here in UK.
When the weather isn't giving, we find ample museums and bookstores to spend our time. The Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) is one of them. Here is a picture of the Necropolis taken from the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art (St Mungo being Glasgow's patron saith). On a fairer day, I would certainly tread the majestic graveyard and perhaps contemplate the steps of those who have gone before but well, rain and cold and dimming daylight prevented that.
A greater portion of the our stay is spent on the Mackintosh Trail. It is a shame we didn't get to visit all of the venues, especially the Hill House located a fair distance away from town. We started with the Kelvingrove Park, ascending the hill to the castle-like Universtity of Glasgow. This is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum as seem from the university's main entrance that we missed. If ever I go to Glasgow again, it would be to visit this one.
Within the University, I definitely recommend visiting the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. The museum is neatly arranged with a good variety of specimens ranging from dinosaur fossils to cultural artifacts. Here is one of the specimen that I particularly like.
Sure, it might only be a tiny mouse but I find its frozen expression fascinating. This delicate little creature is certainly as fearfully and wonderfully made as the Triceratops and Nessie near kin (a Plesiosaur) on display nearby.I love the Hunterian Art Gallery as well. I've liked Lord Frederick Leighton's work since seeing them in a book a few years back. It is great to finally be able to see some of his preparatory sketches preceding his masterpieces. Looking at how these grand masters worked is always an encouragement. Without these often 'behind-the-scene' preparation, the galleries would be a lot poorer. James McNeill Whistler, another famous artist's works are also on display there. The Hunterian is celebrating their 200th birthday this year and I hope it will continue to enrich the publics in centuries to come.
The works of Charles Rennie Mackintosh are many. He is a designer in the Arts and Crafts movement and a main exponent of Art Nouveau. We visited the Mackintosh House first. The artist/architect/designer's house is a beautiful piece of art. The Glasgow School of Art is definitely among his crowing achievements. For those planning a visit there, 2010 would be a good time as the conservation works would be completed and more rooms will be accessible for the tour. Stepping into a building as saturated with a particular art movement as this makes you feel virtually back in time.
This is the 'guardians' that abide directly above the main doorway of the art school. For those familiar with the art-style, I'm sure you can recognize the defining characteristics of it in these figures.
The final 2 destinations of the Mackintosh trail we visited are the Willow Tea Room and the Lighthouse, a space for architecture and design.
I like how the reflections caught in the escalator's glass created a confusing illusion of arrows pointing in opposite directions. There are 2 towers in the light house. One only accessible by lift and one by a spiraling stairs. I quite like the way the stairway curls. It reminds me of seashells, or things organic and natural, evoking a sense of ease and comfort in the midst of all things concrete and metallic.
After the ascent, one is rewarded with the commanding view over the cityscape of Glasgow.
The final day of our journey in Glasgow is spent in the art fair. Besides British galleries/artists, there were those from Paris, Scandinavia and even as far as Australia who are part of the fair.I will conclude this entry with 2 more pictures of the 'shopping street'.
To Aberdeen...
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