Saturday, September 24, 2016

SCULPTOR ALEXANDER POLZIN AND THE ART OF RESPONSIBILITY

Was bleibet aber, stiften die Dichter.  And poets establish / that which endures.

So do artists such as Alexander Polzin, who uses this quote from the Romantic poet Friedrich Hölderlin for the title of a new exhibition, running until Nov. 5 at Galerie Kornfeld in Berlin, Germany.

The show follows the inauguration of a poignant sculpture that Polzin erected in Paris earlier this year – in honour of the German Jewish poet Paul Celan, who lived and died in France after escaping the horrors of World War II, in which his parents were killed.

German artist Alexander Polzin
Polzin said he had dreamt for 17 years of creating a monument in memory of Celan, to be placed in the latter’s adopted city of Paris, and that dream became a reality in May when the sculpture Hommage à Paul Celan was unveiled during a ceremony at the city’s Anne Frank Garden.

To celebrate Polzin's Hommage, Galerie Kornfeld is now showing a selection of the artist’s sculptures, paintings and works on paper, all of which explore the art of poetry and its authors.

“This intensive exploration of literary and philosophical texts and ideas forms the essence of Alexander Polzin’s work,” the Gallery says. “The artist has close personal and intellectual ties with many writers, philosophers and scientists.”

In addition to the draft for Monument for Paul Celan, the exhibition assembles works inspired by the words and personalities of writers as varied as Dante Alighieri, Giordano Bruno, Bertolt Brecht, Heiner Müller and Thomas Brasch.

Although the human figure is at the centre of his sculptural work, Polzin is not interested in a “portrait-like reproduction of people” but is mostly concerned “with the ideas that take shape in his art”, the Gallery adds.

Maquette section: Monument to Paul Celan,
by artist Alexander Polzin
Central themes concern moral, social and societal questions.  During a well-attended talk in Paris (organized by the Arts Arena and held at the city’s branch of Columbia Global Centers), Polzin told listeners that he very consciously seeks out the public space as a stage, where art can create dialogue and a different way of thinking.

In an interview after his presentation, he said that the artist has certain responsibilities, which for him are of paramount importance.

“I feel responsibility for the past and for the future, because I want to help to make sure that some things never happen again,” Polzin said. “I don’t consider myself an activist, yet everything I do is political. But that’s automatic.

“I think that if you do your work as an artist, in a way that’s truthful to yourself and to your art, then it comes automatically that you’re doing something for the good of society. Just like a baker needs to make good bread,” he continued.

Polzin's Hommage monument in Paris.
Born in East Berlin, Polzin trained as a stonemason in his youth. While sculpture remains his primary means of expression, his work includes paintings, drawings, graphics, and directorial projects.

In addition to the Hommage à Paul Celan artwork in the Anne Frank Garden and the sculpture The Pair in the foyer of Paris’ Opéra National de la Bastille, the public can see his striking Giordano Bruno monument on Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, and the sculpture Socrates on the campus of Tel Aviv University.

Polzin’s works have also been exhibited in international galleries and museums, such as the Getty Center in Los Angeles, the Anna Achmatova Museum in St. Petersburg, the Kunstmuseum Ahrenshoop and, most recently, in the museums of the Vatican in Rome, the Gallery says. - Tasshon

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

FRENCH MUSEUM SPOTLIGHTS WOMEN ARTISTS AND MODELS

Not much attention has been given to the representation of women, both as artists and models, during the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th, but an exhibition taking place in Poitiers, France, aims to rectify this oversight.

Tamara de Lempicka
 Kizette en Rose 1927
Coll. Musee des Beaux Arts de Nantes
©RMN-Grand Palais / Gerard Blot
 ©Tamara Art Heritage/ADAGP
Running until Oct. 9, Belles de jour: femmes artistes, femmes modèles (Beauties of the Day: Women Artists, Women Models”) shows a view of women in “full evolution”, according to the curator.

The artworks go from exalting women’s beauty, to a portrayal that’s more modern and natural. (The exhibition's title is a take on the 1928 novel by Joseph Kessel, which was made into a film in 1967, starring French actress Catherine Deneuve. Many of Deneuve's costumes were created by Yves Saint Laurent.)

“Women have always influenced art,” says curator Raphaële Martin Pigalle. “Personalities such as designer Coco Chanel, for instance, led to certain representations. But we’re also looking at women artists, many of whom don’t get the attention that they merit, and at male artists who used the feminine presence to convey certain things.”

The exhibition includes works by Tamara de Lempicka, Kees Van Dongen, Félix Vallotton, Suzanne Valadon, Sigmar Polke, Camille Claudel and many other artists of the time.

From courtesans to muse to mothers, the characters depicted show women’s historical roles as well as the artists’ imaginings of them. Women are seen as a “symbol of truth, of fantasy and of freedom,” says the curator.

She adds that the show is aimed at starting a “dialogue” between viewers and the works, and also at examining gender inequities in the art world. Women were not allowed to be students at Paris’ prestigious Ecole des Beaux Arts until 1897, for example.

The exhibition takes place at Poitier’s Musée Sainte-Croix, in partnership with the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nantes and the Palais Lumière d’Évian. Located in a historic neighbourhood, the Musée Sainte-Croix was built by architect Jean Monge en 1974, and last year was awarded a heritage label (“Patrimoine du XXe siècle”).  

Thursday, September 8, 2016

CHINA TRAVEL: CATCHING SIGHT OF WORLD HERITAGE SITES

A courtyard in Pingyao Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It’s probably not common knowledge that China has 48 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranging from the Great Wall in Beijing – naturally – to the quaint historic town of Pingyao, which has its own well-preserved fortification.

The Terracotta Army, in Xi'an
Visiting these sites will enrich any trip to the country, as they provide not only impressive views but also a journey through hundreds of years of history.  The Mausoleum of the first Qin Emperor, with the legendary Terracotta Army, will probably be one of the most memorable artefacts any traveller will ever see.

Located in Xi’an, the Terracotta Army was discovered in 1974 by farmers in the region and became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Here visitors can see rows of terracotta sculptures, dating from the third century BC and representing the armies of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. The sheer number and intricacy of the sculptures – known as burial or funerary art – make for an awe-inspiring vista.

On the Wall of Xi'an
But this is not the only attraction in Xi’an. The city also has a wall, where one can walk or cycle and view from on high both the old town and the expanding modern landscape. As with most urban areas in China, the ancient sits right alongside the new, and moving from traditional neighbourhoods to gleaming new skyscrapers can seem like a kind of time travel.

Xi’an is known as well for its ethnically diverse neighbourhoods, where tourists throng the streets to sample the special cuisine. Flatbread, stews and grilled meat are just some of the offerings, both from sidewalk stalls and brightly lit restaurants. 

Exploring this city and others was the high point of a two-month trip to China - travelling from Beijing to Shenzhen. It included several World Heritage Sites on the way, along with memorable meals and interactions with friendly people. 

A food stall in Xi'an 
The Wulingyuan Scenic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
in Zhangjiajie. The mountains inspired a part of the setting
for the movie Avatar.

In Fenghuang, a town on the water.