The Black Magic Art of Mariana Monteagudo

 Mariana Monteagudo is a thirty-something artist from Venezuela who has been working her series of doll sculptures over the last decade. Her ceramic and mixed-media dolls are intriguing and fascinating. Her artwork shows her interest in pre-Columbian aesthetics, related to magic and taken as an important graphic expression of Latin American Culture. Her work also shows her attraction to Japanese manga and mass-market toys.
Munecas (Dolls) is the generic term Monteagudo uses to describe her creations since 1998. With them, the artist has received important awards in Venezuela, and her pieces have been featured in group shows at home and abroad. Her unusual characters have attracted the attention of many critics, and they have been linked to Tibetan Buddhism's.

Double Redhead

Buffalo

Vampire

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Images courtesy of the artist

L'Ile aux Oiseaux or Bird Island

Inspiration of the moment. L'Ile aux Oiseaux is not the latest scoop but this restful oasis is definitely worth reviewing.

I am ready to hop on a plane and immerse myself in this environment of rare beauty. The "Ile aux Oiseaux" is a magnificent suite designed by Martin Margiela, the Belgian fashion house designer for Maison Martin Margiela. The suite is part of "Les Sources de Caudalie", the 1st Vinotherapie spa retreat in the world. Near Bordeaux, the luxury boutique hotel is nestled among vineyards and forest on the ancient estate of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.
This superb suite Ile aux Oiseaux is reserved for nature lovers. It sits apart from the hotel in an idyllic stilt-mounted cabin. The suite's decor is classic Margiela, with its minimalist palette of white, black  and grey tones, trompe l'oeil playfulness, and a splash of red in the form of a giant pair of lips, a replica of Salvador Dali's classic Mae West sofa.

Photos courtesy of Les Sources de Caudalie

Takashi Murakami in Versailles updated

The Palace of Versailles has invited leading Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for a two-month retrospective ( see previous post ). The exhibition, running from September 12th to December 12th, will be Murakami’s first major retrospective in France, following fellow pop artist Jeff Koons who showed at the palace in 2008 and Frenchman Xavier Veilhan in 2009. Murakami looks to display his sculptures and paintings in 15 rooms in the palace’s Hall of Mirrors and the apartments of the King and the Queen.


I am the Cheshire Cat who greets Alice in Wonderland with his devilish grin, and chatters on as she wanders around the Chateau. With my playful smile, I invite you all to the Wonderland of Versailles.
-Takashi Murakami

Images courtesy of Dezeen

Murakami's recent work via Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin

Golden Bear, 2009-2010

Kanye Bears produced in collaboration with Kanye West

Pom & Me, 2009-2010

New Murakami

At Louis Vuitton Maison, London

For more info on the exhibition, go to Chateau de Versailles

The Hundertwasser Museum, a fascinating place

More greenery with this unique building, a mixture of Visual Art and Architecture. The Kunst Haus Wien museum in Vienna was established on the basic of the philosophy and artistic principles of the Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. The building itself, formerly the Thonet furniture factory, was remodeled according to Hundertwasser's own designs. Here one can experience some of Hundertwasser most intriguing architectural ideas. He believed that "it is good to walk on uneven floors". This unique idea can be seen throughout the museum. "Window racism" is another issue the architect raised. Why should all the windows be the same in one particular building? Also, the one idea of his that has had some impact among modern architects is the concept of "tree tenants".
The odd museum is characterized by its mosaic tiles, a roof covered with earth and grass, and large trees growing from inside the rooms, with limbs extending from the windows.

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