Monday, October 23, 2006

Muchacha en la ventana

One's brother shouldn't be allowed to kiss in front of you. This has been the first weekend I have spent with my brother and his exchoni girlfriend, and I already know that I'll be a sever mother. Do not ever allow your kids to have boy/girlfriends, never ever.

How has this happened? Only yesterday he was wearing his uniform and crying all way long to school. This only means one thing: I'm getting old as well and now I'm closer to the thirties than to the twenties. Fuck!!
This is a cruel reality, and I thought I could me immature forever, now I don't have excuses anymore...Only the worse is still to come. The good times have ended...for good.

So this is why I've chosen this picture. I had it on the wall of my bedroom during all my teenager days. It reminds me of so many things: afternoons after school, Sundays studying, happy summers, dreams, thoughts...I was indeed that girl, I'm short and dark-haired as well (and I have the very same big ass, I'm not going to lie here).

It's funny, during that time I only looked to the future, now I spent more time looking back. If only I had a proper window where I could lean out!!

Posted by Isis at 3:29 PM | | Comments

Friday, October 06, 2006

La Pietà

I'm not in my best mood today, I have to say. Maybe this is why I just wanted to talk about this sculpture.

I saw it for the first time in my life last Eastern. Rome was a trip I had looked forward to for a long time, to me it meant something special. But once again, when I came back I just had the feeling of having been in a rush. I visited the Vatican Museums like shopping at Ikea. I almost collapsed in the Sistine Chapel. Can you believe that? I felt half asleep, and was even snoring with the distance noise of whispers and quick steps.

After walking all day long, I only had the chance of catching a quick glimpse of La Pietà. But I wouldl stand the mass in Latin again just for that brief moment.

My Art History teacher in COU said once that when she saw the David she couldn't help but crying. Well, I didn't have the time to shed a tear with this other piece, but I was moved. Though it's only a figure behind a glass surrounded by lots of tourists, everything about it is perfect. It is even difficult to believe that it was carved in marble. Both of them are extremely beautiful. This may sound sinful, but there is not such a sensual neck in the whole world.
Anyway, this is not what makes it so great, but the fact that the whole figure gives off solitude and deeply sadness. And somehow, you feel kind of identify with that mood. Just like I'm feeling tonight...Thanks God I have Paulina Rubio to cheer me up!! ;-)

Posted by Isis at 1:43 PM | | Comments

Monday, October 02, 2006

Nanas

My friend Kerstin, who is from Hannover, is not really proud of her city,. To the best of my knowledge this is a widespread German feeling. When I visited her, as she was doing her final project at college, I had to spend some time on my own strolling around the place. She pointed me out that I shouldn't expect too much.

Well, maybe because of that, I was positively surprised. Not only because of the Christmas' Market (ohhh my God I was in over 100 Xmas Markets all around the country), but also by the kindness of the people and the beautiful rebuilt city centre.

It was there where I found out about the Nanas and Niki de Saint Phalle. It seems that she was kind of a hippy who lived in Mallorca, but also a model, an artist, a wife and a mother. And very good at shooting paint all around the place, as I have heard.

To tell the truth, when I saw the image on the left I didn't know it was a woman. But I did like it because of the colourful colours in the middle of a grey German day in the month of December. But now that I look at it in more detail it reminds me of myself performing acrobatic movements in Kilkee ( "haciendo el pino vamos"). I was even wearing pyjamas in the same colours!! Ok, well, definitely I must start going to the gym...

Posted by Isis at 3:30 PM | | Comments

El baño del caballo

I know that Sorolla has been criticized many times, especially by his own generation. Nice pictures, kind themes, not involved. But that it's not completely fair, there is not other painter who has been able to capture the sun light like him. In order to achieve that you must have been born near the coast, maybe in Valencia.

I've heard recently in Six Feet Under that art must make you throw up. I don't agree. Sometimes art must go beyond all boundaries and change something inside you, but other times it's enough if it only makes you somehow happier.
This picture is about that, now that the darkness is covering this country, looking at this picture just makes me smile. It brings nice memories of my friends and me at the beach, sunbathing, swimming, laughing...Gandía, Gandía...
But also images from my childhood, when you didn't have a single worry in mind, only what game were you going to play next.
I confess, I have chosen El baño del caballo because I miss the sun desperately, and all that comes along with the sun. It's a pity I will miss the exhibition that it's taking place now at the Thyssen back in Madrid. Maybe during Christmas I'll get the chance to go, ...don't think so. I've never gone to the Sorolla Museum in Madrid, not excuses for that.

Posted by Isis at 2:42 PM | | Comments

Sunday, October 01, 2006

La Venus del Espejo

It's not that Velázquez is my favourite painter not the canvas itself, but instead the place where you can find it: The National Gallery in London.

Though I only spent there a few months, I have very good memories of the city. I don't recall it as a busy and crowded place as many people do. But as an incredible place with so much to do, so much to see, and at the same time, with so many incredible spots to go for a walk.

It may sound weird, but there I spent a lot of time in my own thoughts, and I don't get the chance to do the same in Madrid. As marvellous city as it is.

So, as I lived relatively close to the museum, I spent there many afternoons, just seated in front of this picture. I went to the gallery with different people as well, in different occasions, all of them mean a lot to me, and they know who they are. I really enjoy my ego-side when walking through the corridors of a museum...I can restrain myself from commenting on every picture I know about...
What I love of this picture is the softness, the gentleness with which Velázquez follows the girls's curves, her back, her thighs, the clothes around her. Surely she was one of her lovers in Italy, though not the only one. I will be more than happy of being portrayed with this delicate touch, only a few were lucky enough, like the Maja Desnuda de Goya. Rumour has it that Manuel Godoy stored both of them in his "Gabinete Galante". I guess this have been replaced by the webcam nowadays...what a pity!

Posted by Isis at 11:05 AM | | Comments

So one year now...

And what have been my achievements?? Not many, but still a few to make all this worthwhile. I don’t regret it. It was the right decision at the right moment. Not so sure whether I’d have done the same a little bit later.

And here I’m, starting a new academic year (it´s so damn difficult to give up the student mentality), with new goals. So far I have joined the gym and I have gone once to pick up the timetable...uhmm not bad. Besides, I will start an online marketing course, yeah summing up lines in my CV.
But apart of all that I feel that I only work or either talk about work. So it's high time we start doing some stuff where some brains are needed. That's why I've decided to take up again one of my forgotten hobbies, Art History. I thought this would be a great opportunity to update myself and review some facts and dates. It used to be a time when a believed I knew a lot, not in much depth, but at least general information. I'm not so sure now whether you can call it a hobby when you don't remember much. Can I still say that the Beatles are my favourite group when I don't know anymore the order of the lp's?? Hope so...
And why in English?? To get the chance to practice it, don't worry I'll be fed up soon ;-)

Posted by Isis at 10:43 AM | | Comments