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@ari-sees-theworld
2.5 days in Paris, gotta be a bit of a tourist. I like exploring on my own but at the same time I like having a plan and hitting up as many touristy places as possible. My short time in Paris has made me want to return, maybe live there one day.
As a mandatory part of our time in Paris, I went to the Louvre with my travel buddies. I knew that people said you can’t see it in a day, but after this trip I don’t believe you can see it in a lifetime. The whole museum was so mindbogglingly huge. Layers upon layers of art, of all different types, from all over the world, and from all different times.
There were tiny rooms covered from eye level to the ceiling with art. In one room, the fourth picture, there were 18 paintings. Now this room was about 10x10 max. So that’s intense.
The gallery’s themselves were elaborately decorated. The ceilings and walls were covered in murals, with beautiful doors and windows to boot. A day could be spent looking at the architecture of the place.
I spend a lot of time in museums, and rarely get overwhelmed or tired by them. But this place was overwhelming and exhausting. I felt like I had to sit constantly just to take it in. I both wanted to relax and slowly take in each and every room, and to speed through to see as much as possible stopping at what interested me. Apriet and I did a mixture of both. Sometimes we’d stare and admire art work (like in the room with Napoleon and French Revolution paintings). Othertimes, we walked with a purpose; looking a bit, but not for too long. I for one do not know how people are able to take in this much at once without their senses overloading.
I did love it, and of course I need to go back. Maybe without a camera so I can just wander and enjoy. Or be like one woman I saw who spent all day drawing one sculpture. Just quietly, privately enjoy without the hussle and bussle of tourism. I wonder what the place is like in the off seasons for tourists? Or if there are ever quieter days or times?
So I went to France and ate what the French do and it was delicious.
People have beaten this over the head both from class and on here, but I have to make a post about the Louisiana and Africa. As a quick note, I liked the gallery overall. I thought the stationary exhibits and statue gardens were beautiful. I loved exploring the grounds and winding in and out of the galleries there. I spent hours there browsing
But, I had major problems with the Africa exhibit. (And I’m going to say things as short as I can cause everyone has talked about it)
The exhibit seemed interesting, in concept, but was executed poorly. Africa was lumped together by conquering (read White) nations. Just as it always has been. Limited respect is given to the individual nations and people there, because of course all Africans are the same. The whole continent is the same, one united Africa under the saviors. The exhibit showed that attitude by trying to compartmentalize Africa and present Europeans as the people to save/Westernize it. That whole attitude is so wrong and hurtful. It will not help the continent move forward. It will only hold it back.
I have to say some positives of the exhibit. I enjoyed seeing what Africans have been doing for Africa. From art they’ve created, empowering African beauty and the economy, or just exploring their own artistic lense. I like seeing their emerging fashion/music/film scenes. Or what they think of education or women’s empowerment. One of my favorite parts was outside (in that last image). There was a set of videos made by African filmmakers. They covered a range of topics, from science-ficiton, colonization, farming, and other things. I only saw one film, which was the first sci-fi film made in Zimbabwe, I think. It was fascinating seeing what the people are doing on their own. And seeing how different storytelling there was from our Western stories (especially in a short film format).
Overall it was an interesting, if controversial, exhibit. See the gallery but maybe not the Africa exhibit, unless you want to think a lot and question power structures.
I am apparently much further behind on these posts than I thought...whoops. I’m going to try to cover as much as I can. I think I missed Ladonia and Louisiana.
So I’ll start with Ladonia.
This was probably one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. We went as a class on the 6th of June. It was a surprisingly nice day, not too hot nor too warm. We hiked from a small but picturesque town (that I don’t know the name of) to Nimis, which took forever. It was absolutely exhausting but so rewarding. I’m not sure how long we climbed Nimis for, but it felt like ages.
I was shocked by how little care was put into throwing all the driftwood together. The pieces were just haphazardly nailed together, with nails jutting out at all angles. The top of each structure shook in the wind. Being up there was exhilarating and terrifying. Climbing made me want to be a kid again, or take up rock climbing (which I seriously may do when I’m back at RIT). I loved the feeling of exploring and finding all sorts of nooks and crannies there. So much mystery in such a concentrated space.
Bellow: Chaos but structure?
If I ever get to return to Sweden I’d love to take a full day trip down to Nimis and just picnic there on the rocks with the opportunity to climb all around me.
The road goes ever on
“Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way.
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.” JRR Tolkien
As this blog is almost finished, I thought it would be appropriate to include one of my favorite quotes. I’m going to miss Malmo, the people I met there, the city itself, Europe in general. I loved the life style there and just the environment as a whole. One day I want to return. I can’t say when, but I know it will happen.
Until then, I’ll be posting my last few things. Enjoy :)
I’m back from Paris!!!
I have so much to say about the trip, and so many pictures to go through, and so much of my project to do. But I gotta sleep first to be able to do any of those things. Stay tuned this week for school related panic and lots and lots of photos
First beach day was the perfect kind of exhausting. Was still pretty chilly tho.
Found in Copenhagen. This makes so much sense to me.
I want to know where you found this? What is so wrong with encouraging education for all people? Even if it doesn’t immediately lead to a job of some sort. Students deserve time to figure out their futures. It takes time to know what to do with your life. Why allow people to get into tons of debt and be ruined for the rest of their lives. Not everyone is privileged to have resources to fund education. And education should be encouraged for all people, regardless of their social status. It betters people, and benefits the community as a whole.
It was an art installation in Copenhagen’s city hall. I am sure the system in place is abused way too much. There are people that do not need a college education and frankly if they go it will do them no good. This concept has been completely lost over time. I really don’t think a $2250 semester fee is going to result in people having “tons of debt and be ruined for the rest of their lives” if they are truly investing their education in their future.
Not everyone comes from wealth, and everyone regardless of class, age, or other circumstances deserves the chance to improve their lives. I'm sorry this doesn't fit your screwed world view but that's the reality of how progress can be made. Who do you think abuses it? People don't go to school if they have no desire to better their lives or keep their minds active. Those who go to school have a PURPOSE to go to school. Are you in school for no reason, or are you passionate about your major, future, or job? What has been lost overtime about college doing good for people? Also, do you know how much money that adds up to over 4 years (more if there's grad school)? Do you honestly believe most people can easily afford that without loans? Or having a job that distracts from schooling? I can give you so many examples about how money adds up over time, or how hard it is to afford education. But also how rewarding it can be in the long run if one ends up doing what they love.
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art
Yesterday we took another trip, a trip to Louisiana museum of modern art in Denmark. The museum building is divided into different wings. The building was built in the late 50’s in a modern style.
I love Art and I love Architecture, but I have to say that when I first saw the museums building, I thought; this Architecture is a piece of Art!
The details have been carefully shaped and designed; even the details of the fire alarm button have been thoroughly designed and look amazing! It’s not just a piece of functional plastic button, it’s a little piece in brass connected to all of the other details in brass, making a coherent expression throughout the building.
The way the museum was designed reflects the way the whole institution takes care of their exhibitions. Every exhibition, every piece of art has been carefully curated with such a finesse it reminds me about the theatre, the opera and the ballet; A composed piece of art, letting the different pieces work together in a symphony of expressions.
I like that your photos focus on the layout of the windows in particular, and how natural light can interact in the space. It shows care for the pieces highlighting them in the best way possible. Everything flows together, incooperating the outdoors into the indoors.
Beautiful photos as well!
Found in Copenhagen. This makes so much sense to me.
I want to know where you found this? What is so wrong with encouraging education for all people? Even if it doesn't immediately lead to a job of some sort. Students deserve time to figure out their futures. It takes time to know what to do with your life. Why allow people to get into tons of debt and be ruined for the rest of their lives. Not everyone is privileged to have resources to fund education. And education should be encouraged for all people, regardless of their social status. It betters people, and benefits the community as a whole.
I don’t even have words right now……like…….unreal……..shit
Fotomuuseum in Tallinn
Lily and I visited a photography museum in Tallinn. The museum was mostly filled with photographers from Estonia. The country seemed to have a long history of photography, dating back to the 1860s which was surprising for me to learn. You always hear about Edison, Kodak, and the French being big into photography and film. Not really Eastern European countries (which is probably a failing of our education system, being so “West-centric”). But the photographers at the museum made some beautiful work. I loved seeing the colorized photos, which were painted by hand (such as the last one), as well as the general process behind taking photos.
My favorite part of the museum was on the top floor. There was an entire section dedicated to famous female photographers from Estonia. In the male dominated field of photography, especially back then with it seeming “more technical,” I always assumed it was rare for women to get into it. But in this room, pictured on top were biographies of four famous women in the Estonian photo world. I photographed each of their names so I can look into them later on. I love learning about female artists, since I rarely hear of them. Art for some reason has always been thought of as a male field, all the old greats were men. it’s inspiring as a female artist to learn of other female artists.
We also went to the Art Rules Exhibition in the Town Hall. There, famous works from a variety of Renaissance era masters was displayed. I recognized a lot of them from my limited art history studies. I really appreciated the stylization and attention to detail that went into each and every piece. You can truly see how each artist, or school, is a master of their craft.
Click the pictures for further description.
One thing I found fascinating about the city overall was the presence of Old Thomas, the guardian of Tallinn. He was modeled after a peasant boy who won a contest put on by the German elite. His rank was too low to collect the prize so he was made into the guardian of the town for life. Furthermore, he acted as a Santa Claus like figure for the children. He gave candy out in the town square during his lifetime; after he died parents said he put candy under the good kids pillows at night. I like these random similarities in cultures that are all over the world.
City Image
Dividing a city into it’s different components, as Lynch did, is an interesting and relatable concept. He sees a city as consisting of paths, edges, districts, nodes, and landmarks. These components create the public image of a city, which a person must navigate to his or her content.
From travelling around Sweden and Tallinn this past weekend each element of a city holds a different level of prominence. In navigating and getting to know a city, especially in Europe where street signs aren’t always obvious, paths become difficult to use. Landmarks, districts, and nodes have become my prefered mode of navigation (and honestly, I’m awful at streetnames so I always use landmarks). These elements are clear distinguishers in a city. A node could be a central square or shopping area, in my opinion. Somewhere obvious people can meet and navigate from. Landmarks too are very helpful with getting to know a city. However, they only present one face of a city, and usually the famous one at that. Like other authors have said, one must walk among the people to really get to know the land.
Tallinn Estonia
I spent the weekend in Tallinn with Lily and my uncle, who currently is working there. My uncle gave us a tour of the city the first day, giving us historical context and background for the city. Walking in the city was relaxing. We didn’t really have a purpose, just seeing things and exploring. Being voyeurs. I loved the architecture of the city. Essentially everything was old semi-medieval architecture. Giant stone walls, huge churches of multiple denominations, sculptures everywhere. I love that sort of thing. It was gorgeous. Plus both days we were there it was super sunny. So perfect walking weather.
Last Wednesday with the other class I’m taking here, we visited two maker spaces in Malmo. First we went to Arduino. The company does a lot with open source media and computing. They promote education through technology for students and adults. Then, after a delicious lunch of super fancy meatloaf, we visited Stapeln. There, they have a community space for theater and other things, as well as classes, and workshop spaces. It was interesting to see how the government gave back to the people and offered them a space to explore creativity and education. I wish we had spaces like this in Rochester, where the community is encouraged to improve itself and learn meaningful skills.
