Andrzej Kramarz

Come across this work on lens culture this morning by Andrzej Kramarz:

http://www.lensculture.com/kramarz.html?thisPic=100

I quite like it, probably because it reverberates something in my inner self!

Car Park

Headline from a Guardian article:

"Plan to turn Bath's historic meadows into car par provokes fury".

Simple solution, deter people from Bath.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/25/bath-meadows-car-park

A William Blake Image

Just a quick post of an image by William Blake.

Mantegna's Saint Sebastien

The subject of the martyr of St Sebastian has been the focal point of many artists. Painted three times Mantegna (1431 - 1506), the Louvre painting is seen in this posting.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Sebastian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantegna

Mein Nachtgesicht (My Night Visage), Meidner

Ludwig Meidner (1884 - 1966) was described as "the most Expressionist of the Expressionists", and painted Mein Nachtgesicht in 1913. Alongside this a number of paintings all joined by an apocalyptic theme all seem to be ominous in the days preceding the First World War. Artists in Germany from this period on until the Second World War are influenced in one way due to the political and econimcal situation. A mixture of optimisism, and pesimism are apparent, with romanticism turning quickly into despair and sadnesses in some fronts.

Portrait of Iturrino, Derain

This first 'real', but quick post of this blog is of a painting by Derain (1880 – 1954). It is of the painter Francisco de Iturrino, and according to Lee, Derain takes from references of past painters, such as the styles of El Greco and Cezanne.

Lee, J., et al., Derain. 1990, Oxford: Phaidon. 144p.

Bath and the World Heritage status

It is interesting to see that the arguments surrounding the development of Bath's new shopping centre spill out to the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/apr/06/bath-heritage-architecture

The desire to expand the shopping capabilities of Bath's city centre has been of interest to me as well, as this is something that I witness on a daily basis. As the buildings progress, it does seem to be of a less imaginative structure that is trying to blend into a city of fine architecture. But the fact that Bath is a city of great architecture may also serve as an opportunity to develop new an innovative structures, but instead a poor imitation of the past is revealed. I have to agree with the author of the Guardian article, Jonathon Glancey, that the new Thermae Baths are not out of place. The building is not only fresh, but aids to heighten the Georgian architecture. But I feel that the new Southgate will hide much. Although the old Southgate wasn't an area of beauty, Churchill House dominated the area, and against the voice of the Bath residence was demolished for a new bus station, which is slowly taking shape as a giant electric bug killer (in my own humble opinion).