Paris: Gobelins Summer School - d'Orsay

Musee d'Orsay, rank as one of my favorite museum/art gallery that I have visited.

As we visited the converted train station on Bastille Day, we were greeted by some neat sights en route. Military vehicles (or rather vehicles transporting military personals) filled the riverside road on the Seine's southern bank from the St Michel square.

While we are queuing to get in, some helicopters and parachuters passed overhead.

The building below the air formations is none other than the Lourve

Some animal sculptures adorn the exterior entrance, including a horse, a rhinoceros and a small monkey.

This is the ground floor of the beautiful structure. The sculptures occupied mainly the central space while the layers of rooms and partitions on each side held the paintings. While considerably smaller than the Louvre, I felt d'Orsay is a lot more homier. It is also fairly easy to navigate.

This decorated grand clock sits right above the main entrance. This was the time when we arrived.

We had quite some fun at the expense of the static posers. There are so many sculptures, that there are endless potential in trying to line them up with other elements to create interesting illusions and compositions.

A 'clock-sitter'.

The archer and the arc.

d'Orsay is famed for its impressive collection of impressionists paintings. Personally, I think my approach to art and interests in subject matters are closer to these than the strictly modern and abstract or the overtly classical and religious. I like them because these tend to feel more down to earth and closer to the ordinary day to day life. I do appreciate the efforts in finding something special in simpler things. Afterall, no moment is truly mundane, it comes but once and it is remarkably special to try and capture them.

Here are some of the paintings that I like the most (in the order that I have come across them.)

Alexandre Cabanel - The Birth of Venus
I particularly enjoy the dynamic poses as well as the gentle colors.

I doubt this needs any introductions.

Auguste Renoir - Bal au moulin de la Galette, Montmartre [Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette, Montmartre]
The dance of light and lighthearted atmosphere are just gorgeous.

Gustave Caillebotte - Les raboteurs de parquet [The Floor Planers]
Maybe I just like the earthy and humble depiction of urban masculinity in this one.

Claude Monet - The Rue Montorgueil in Paris. Celebration of June 30, 1878
Although this is about a separate event, looking at this on Bastille Day, having just seen the military parade added a special touch.

Claude Monet - Londres, le Parlement. Trouée de soleil dans le brouillard [London, Houses of Parliament. The Sun Shining through the Fog]
Another Monet. I like the contrasting cool and warm color as well as how simple it seems yet full of depth.

Maurice Denis - Les Muses [The Muses]
What immediately caught my eyes were the colors and graphical style. it reminded me of some contemporary illustrators like James Jean and Joy Ang. (Note an interesting reversal here, the comparison is made with the one we were first exposed to. Even though the contemporary painters could have referenced the seniors, I tend to think in terms of how the senior's work looks like what I have 'already seen'.)

I can't find whose' work are these nor what they are called. However their graphical quality feels so contemporary to me. (Or rather some contemporary artists that I like also referenced this style.)

And this one just for laughs. I call it Legolas and Gandalf running.

Being the minimalist animal fan that I am. François Pompon's Ours blanc [Polar Bear] is unquestionably my favorite!

Some reading up on the piece and the sculptor turned up some thoughts that I really admire. The essence of a 'being' is after all the 'trappings' were removed and nothing of what is left can be taken away. Maybe it is when no more additions or refinement can make it better is a work perfect (or as close as it can be).

A stylization rooted in reality. Art backed by genuine understanding of the subject. One can only aspire. It did took François a lifetime to archive.

Mark the Stitch.

I also very much enjoy the art nouveau section of the museum. The fluid curves and design reminiscent of natural floral on the period furniture will not be out of place at all in the elven citedels and the Shire from Peter Jackson's version of Tolkien's work. While I astonishingly didn't manage to take any pictures of the famous metro signs throughout the city as I went 'metro-hopping', going through possibly more than a hundred stations in 2 weeks, I am happy to have managed this.

Besides the various artworks, I particularly enjoy the architenture of the musuem itself. This is really a fine converstion from a Gare to a Musee. I like how some modern, industrial and almost steampunkish elements like cold hard steel and square geometrical glass contrasts yet complemented the elaborate floral carving on the ceiling pannels.

I very much prefer to see a Van Gogh under this kind of setting rather than in a velvet palatial building.

As with many popular attractions in Paris, the top floor of the museum offered some great views as well. This balcony area looks towards the Louvre as well as the Sacré-Coeur.

Another great clock adorn the cafe and refreshment area near the balcony. (Sacré-Coeur is in the circle)

When we left the museum, it was close to the time when they will be closing.

And after a very productive day's visit of a place I would love to return and do further research and maybe a few sketches once more, we amble towards the funfair in Jardin des Tuileries.

There, we saw children sailing boats under the foreboding clouds of an impending storm that never came, while the dust mingled winds does nothing to discourage the tourists and merry-makers.

We ended the day watching Mary and Max and later the firework presentation at the Eiffel Tower. That was one very fine day indeed!

Paris: Gobelins Summer School - The louvre

The most visited museum in the world is also the largest one that I've visited. Situated in a location of prominence in the middle of the city, this enormous classical building is easily recognizable from all the different angles of the city.

While the grand palace's exterior is impressive. It pales in comparison to the interior. There are performers around the many fountain courtyards during the cooler hours of the day.

I quite like the glass pyramids being juxtaposed with the classical building. While I sometimes find the finely decorated classical buildings to be slightly suffocating, the translucent pyramids give some welcomed breathing space.

Our summer school troupe, Stephan (Canada), Simon (Columbia), Nathan (US), Sarah (UK) and Sammy (US) by the grand pyramid.

Visiting on the first Sunday of the month can be a mixed blessing. It is free, but you have to contend with the crowds. Fortunately, the queue move rather quickly into the building.

In the corridors thronged by tourists, my Italian friend, Mauro asked an interesting question. 'What is the point of taking pictures of pictures?' I do suppose it is worth examining the merit of making an artwork of an artwork. But these hot and crowded halls are not ideal for philosophical contemplations.

When it comes to the difference between looking at the real paintings hanging on the gallery space and their photographs in art books, I think both experiences can be enriching in different ways.

In the case of large paintings, their size does command a sense of presence. There are things to be said of look up at these mega-sized work of art depicting epic scenes. On the other hand, their very size can obscure the work with countless reflections from many angles. While you have to gaze upon them from a suitable distance to see from frame to frame, sometimes it is still hard to take in the whole painting in its entirety. Perhaps the original artists aimed for an immersive experience. However, I can be so acclimatized with looking at screen-sized things that these mammoths can become a sensory overload. Furthermore, the lavish deco around the paintings especially on the ceilings can vie for your attention as well.

On the other hand, photographs of work can be digested and absorbed at leisure without the gawking trigger-happy tourists and the baking summer temperatures of the room. Additionally, most books are screen-sized.

This brings us to a painting whose reputation far exceeded its size.

This is the room where the height of human civilization, culture and high arts sits side by side with the most ugly, barbaric and uncivilized human behavior. The crowds are perhaps more zealous about snapping a photograph of the tiny painting behind layers and layers of protection, than the Ninja Turtle team leader were in creating this somewhat overrated piece.

I actually find it a lot more fascinating watching people wanting to catch a glimpse of the legendary painting and their activities to persue that goal.

Having said all that, I am a tourist too, whatever that implies. And when we have had enough of the contemporary tourists and medieval European masterpieces, we retreated to a more quiet exhibition space of the museum. Simply from an animator's perspective, most of us agree that these are far more interesting than those in golden frames.

By now, it is be clear that I do have a special liking for minimalist animals.

Poor thing. I don't suppose this is a Voodoo Teddy or something.

I saw the Bigfoot in Paris as well!

Something more ornate that can fit snugly into any Final Fantasy character designs.

Something more sinister looking.

Something blue.

A baby that looks akin to the baby character in Inka Bola.

And an Easter Island head.

It was a shame the museum was closing before we manage to get to the Egyptian section. This spartan helm will have to do for now.

I'm not sure if we have even enjoyed a quarter of the gargantuan museum complex. If I should visit there again, I will try my very best to avoid weekends!