Paris exhibitions – winter of 2009

Some cities don’t have a best time to visit, there is always something interesting going on. If you are in Paris this winter and visiting Le Centre Pompidou, or popularly called Beaubourg, you have more reasons to be there then to see this amazing piece of architecture.

Le Centre Pompidou hosts at the beginning of 2009 many interesting exhibitions. One of the artists that exhibits his work at the time is Ron Arad. He is a well-known British industrial designer and an architect. Being one of the most outstanding contemporary designers, he is known by his expression with sinusoidal, elliptical and oval forms. To see a display of Ron Arad’s work exhibited at Centre Pompidou, go here. Open till March 16, 2009.
Except Ron Arad, you’ll be able to also see an exhibition of Ettore Sottsass’ work (Hommage a Ettore Sotsass). He was an Italian architect and designer that influenced a major shift in international design in the 20th century. He is best known for his Carlton room divider/shelving unit, “Casablanca” sideboard and “Valentine” typewriter. Open till March 31, 2009. Another great artist exhibiting at Centre Pompidou is Damian Ortega. A Latin American artist and one of the most prominent artists of the new Mexican generation. His work explores specific economic, aesthetic and cultural situations and in particular how regional culture affects commodity consumption. He is inspired by a wide range of mundane objects which are transformed into remarkable pieces of art, sculptures and mobiles. Exhibition open until February 9, 2009.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Annie Lebovitz exhibition in London

In mid October an exhibition opened at The National Portrait Gallery in London. It showcases a huge selection of Annie Lebovitz work from 1990 – 2005. If you find yourself in London by February 1, 2009, pay it a visit. I know I might just do the same…

Annie Lebovitz is one of the world’s revered portrait photographers. Her career thrived while she was working for the Rolling Stone Magazine, from which she later moved to Vanity fair where she still works today. She photographed some of the most important and well known public figures of the world; actors, musicians, presidents… Demi Moore, Yoko Ono and John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Al Pacino, Mikhail Baryshnikov, etc. A lot of her photos have a requisite staging or a clear message.

The exhibition comprises more than 150 photographs that show her work with celebrities, her personal life and some of her reporter work during the siege in Sarajevo and Hilary Clinton senate US elections. It is said that the exhibitions brings a narrative into her work as well as an insight into her personal life. Since every showcased photo was chosen by Annie Lebovitz herself, it ads a very personal note to the way it’s laid out and the overall impression.

Tickets cost between £9.00 – £11.00 and need to be booked in advance!

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Takashi Murakami in Frankfurt

After MOCA in Los Angeles and Brooklyn Museum in New York, © MURAKAMI exhibition came to Europe. MMK Museum fur Moderne Kunst in Frankfurt is presenting the most comprehensive retrospective of Takashi Murakami’s work, 1991-2008. The whole museum was transformed into an exhibition space for Murakami’s pieces, and so the name of the exhibition is © MURAKAMI Museum. You can visit it until January 4, 2009, when it will be moved to Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao as the last platform where the work will be presented.

Takashi Murakami is a Japanese artist who combines stylistic characteristics of traditional Japanese art with pop culture. He became famous in the early 1990s with his theory called Superflat. It’s a self-proclaimed art movement that refers to expansion and exploration of two-dimensional medium of anime, Japanese animation through painting, photography, video, animation etc. He is one of the most influential artists in the recent decades because he is trying to create a link between high and mass culture.

His work includes paintings, wallpapers, installations and films. Throughout years of work, Murakami created his characters and, with that, fantastic iconography. Along success came a company called Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. that produces T-shirts, calendars, plush creatures and other sorts of Japanese kitschware. Kaikai and Kiki are the white and pink duo that appear in sculpture and paintings, too. Murakami also worked under artistic direction of Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton and created the famous monogram.

Takashi Murakami’ s activities include, not only his artwork and Kaikai Kiki, but work as a curator, editor, event organizer, radio show presenter, author, and a newspaper columnist as well as a manager of young artists.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Christmas markets in Germany

Germany has so many beautiful Christmas fairs, you couldn’t count them all! They have a strong and lasting tradition…but among them all, let’s see what makes them so special…

Berlin Christmas Market (Berliner Weihnachtszeit), one of the most visited Christmas fairs in Europe, actually consists of a number of different markets spread throughout city squares. Nostalgic Christmas Market (Opernpalais) sells jewelry, glassware and ceramics. Another market is held on Brietscheidplatz from where you can continue your Christmas shopping along Kurfurstendamm (Berlin’s leading shopping street). If you have kids, take them to Alexanderplatz. They will be overjoyed with the fairyland, a train for children, a 40-meter-high ferris wheel, a series of merry-go-rounds which might even get you on there. It will also attract you with a 20-metre-high spruce, two huge Christmas pyramids and more than 150 Christmas stalls with arts and crafts. Berlin’s Christmas market is also well know by many master craftmen and artists. And for a real traditional Christmas market experience head for Splandau (NW suburb of Berlin).

Things to look for: mulled wine, gingerbread, roasted chestnuts, toys

gingerbread

Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is visited by 200,000 visitors every year and when you see the Hauptmarkt square all decorated and buzzing, you understand why. If you are looking for a traditional Christmas market to visit, this is the right place to be. Organizers have banned funfair and rollercoasters so the visitors could enjoy in the local traditional festivities. Local choir and other performances will enrich the atmosphere and give you the real Christmas feeling.

Things to look for: spicy gingerbread, fruit loaves, wooden crafts, figures made from dried prunes

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

Christmas markets – hot wine, pastries & gifts

The time of Christmas markets is quickly approaching, travel agencies have already offered two – three days long arrangements to most popular destinations around Europe that attract thousands of people every year. Maybe you are thinking of visiting one of those places as we speak.

The idea of Christmas fairs is generally the same, though there are some differences between regions and countries. East Europe is well-known as a destination that every traveler puts on his travel map at this time of year. Visiting some of the best fairs in Germany like Nurberg, Berlin, Frankfurt, Etfurt or Dresden you cannot miss, as well as Vienna’s market in Austria, Budapest’s in Hungary or Prague’s in Czech Republic. All the markets open on the last week of November and last till Christmas Eve, marking the weeks of Advent. They work from morning to late evening, around 8 or 9 pm and are usually held on main squares.

Christkindlmarkt, Vienna

Particularly attractive during late afternoons and evenings, when it’s dark and all the lights and people create the seemingly warm atmosphere, Christmas markets turn into shopping bazaars. The original concept was to present and sell hand-crafted work typical for that region and for the period (Christmas time). But nowdays, you’ll find things such as hand-crafted work, Christmas ornaments to gloves and scarves, candels, jewlery, sweets and more. So don’t believe everything you hear!

booth, Vienna

The second reason why people visit Christmas markets is because of the food. There is always something typical for the region you are in but where ever you go, you will find the inescapable grilled suasages, deep-fried potato cakes and hot mulled wine. Just to keep the winter cold away… And where there is food, there is music too. Coming out of the numerous wooden booths or sometimes as live performances in the later hours of the day. Kids won’t be neglected either. With so many sweets to choose from and shows to watch, you will not have to worry about the little ones.

Erfurt

Nurberg

My disclaimer is that you really don’t have much to do there for three day. Have fun, enjoy the atmosphere and then take a walk around the city, go shopping or sit in one of the local cafes or restaurants. In the end, all you want to do is to experience the Christmas spirit…

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

DesignArt London

Need a reason to put London on your travel list in autumn? Here is a good reason to do so…

DesignArt London is London’s first design art fair devoted exclusively  to modern and contemporary furniture and decorative arts. The context of the event gathers only the finest collection of twentieth and twenty first century design. Curated by the world’s foremost gallery owners (including Paris, Milan Brussels, Copenhagen, New York, Chicago addresses), DesignArt London defines its place at the top regardless of its second edition. More than half of the 32 art galleries came from Paris in 2008 which tells a lot about design important destinations.

The event presents an impressive array of collectible classic pieces from Le Corbusier, Jean Prouve, Arne Jacobsen, to more contemporary ones with signatures of Zaha Hadid, Marc Newson and Ron Arad; but also creations by rising design stars as Junko Mori, Fredrikson Stallard, Sebastian Erazuriz and others. Curators made sure that every piece was rare and esthetically beautiful, showcasing furniture produces as one-offs or limited edition.

The things sold on the fair aren’t just extravagant and expensive. They maintain the integrity of creativity and function, presented for someone who understands design and its products. Art and design collectors will not miss because galleries’ selection includes a range of prices so that even a novice collector will find something of lasting value for himself and with such a selection, I can say you will be entering the haute couture of the design world.

This year the organizers of DesignArt London have decided to exhibit only limited editions, unique vintage pieces and the creme the la creme of contemporary design. Everything had to be closely related to the theme “Design as Art” so most of the pieces had elements derived from both tradition and innovation.

In the future DesignArt London will “…provide a showcase for those designers and dealers whose creativity and social consciousness rewards new technologies, a respect for the environment, and a dearing sense of humor.”*

DesignArt is held in October every year since 2007, at Berkly Square in Mayfair. Ticket price for the entire event is £15.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor

* from DesignArt London press release

October events in Europe

Except numerous festivals around Europe, there are some very popular events and fairs that are worth visiting.

Frankfurt Book Fair

For all book lovers Frankfurt is a place to be in middle October. Frankfurt Book Festival is the largest of its kind in the world with a few hundred thousand visitors in just days. This is the 60th year of the popular event that takes place from October 15-19, 2008. Fair covers all topics and genres; from antiquarian books, fiction, non-fiction, scientific books, comics, children’s books to audio books, film and TV, translations etc. Key focus is put on education and its development for the future.

Every year a Guest of Honour is introduced. For 2008 it is Turkey who takes the role. That’s the opportunity to present its literature, culture and history. This always goes beyond the Book Fair, other events like theater performances, readings, exhibitions, music events and educational courses take place around this time. One day ticket is €18 for students, every day. On special days (Oct 18-19), public visitor’s ticket is €12.

FIAC La Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain = International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Paris

This event gathers 180 international galleries on three exhibition places in Rive Droite of Paris. Le Grand Palais which is dedicated to modern and contemporary art and design, La Cour Carrée du Louvre gathers artists of tomorrow and new tendencies, and le Jardin des Tuileries imagined as an open exhibition space for sculptures and installations.

Except this interesting exhibitions, this event lately introduces different performances influenced by theater, dance and music. Programs are held in different places around Paris.

Venice Biennale Architecture

This Biennale is held every two years and lasts for about two months. This year it’s held from September 14 to November 23. Every biennale has a theme for which architecture studios around the world design their projects from biennale to biennale and enter a competition. The award ceremony takes place at the beginning of the event and 10 winning projects + 40 honorable mentions from around the world are displayed as a part of exhibition gathered around one theme; this year’s theme is “Out there, Architecture beyond building”. Visitors can also see various installations, experimental work of numerous international firms.

Biennale encompases a variety of other topics that are presented throught national pavilions. You can take educational guides or participate in concurrent events. Ticket price is €15, for students €6; it is higher only if you incorporate passes for other events.

Stella – European Travelling Advisor