Picasso, Un genie sans piédestal @ Mucem
A few shots of the cool multifaceted exhibition. unsurprisingly, Picasso turns anything, from a roof tile to a rug, he touches, into art
Mosaics by the sea in Marseille
This collaborative project was initiated by Paola Cervoni, an art therapist. It groups various schools, social centres, art clubs, individuals and retirement homes around Marseille, and is intended to cover part of the « longest bench in the world ». It was initially approved by the town to cover over double of the present length but was
Jean Genet, L’échappée belle @ Mucem
Discovering the rough life of this extraordinary author, along with his friendship with Giacometti whose « L’homme qui marche » is central to the exhibition.
Angkor, citée Khmer: the (extended) postcard
Preah Ko Banteay Srei Angkor Vat Angkor Thom Bayon Ta Prohm Preah Khan
Spring in Hyde Park
It’s rare enough to get Hyde park with this kind of light, that it did deserve a few shots Henry Moore’s « The Arch » The serpentine Gallery « Still Water », by Nic fiiddian-Green, at Marble Arch And one for the keen memories of when it first opened, the pirate boat of the Lady Di memorial
Docks de Marseille
Some views of the new Docks, once more renovated to allow for shops, cafes and restaurants to open up on the ground floor of this Marseille’s landmark. This time by 5+1 AA architect. The result is not as beautifully preserved as it was before (see here) but it is now able to receive public on a
Hotel Amour, Paris
One more entry in my tourist guide section… this one is dark and handsome, just like my other half
Er Xi, Air de jeux: Ai Wei Wei @ Le Bon Marché
Trying to console myself of having missed his RA exhibition, with this one in Paris. Er Xi, Air de Jeux where Ai Wei Wei represents his interpretation of the mythological creatures of Shanhai Jing as giant kites hanging in the main lobby of the Bon Marché, one of Paris’ oldest « Grand Magasin »
Redecorating a bedroom: before-after
Kids grow up! Before: toddler spirit After: teenage romanticism, or « blue is the new black » Upcycling a chateau’s antique curtain pool and a vintage lace sheet found in an auction Giving the vintage wood fridge a new look by covering it up with Agnes Emery’s lovely wallpaper Experimenting with lime stucco Vintage wal lamps,
Hong Kong Postcard
A long due postcard from Hong Kong…. or looking for the spirit of « In the mood for love », a constant travel in time that hits the most flamboyant modernity Back home, our Christmas deco is shifting from Chile, to east of France and to the Far East :)…. Merry Christmas and
Journées du patrimoine: Fort d’Entrecasteaux, Marseille
The Fort d’Entrecasteaux is quite emblematic of the fiercely independent Marseille. Built in the XVIIe century by the order of Louis XIV, it was dubbed the worst military design ever by Vauban…. maybe that had something to do with the fact that unlike all of it’s contemporary forts, this one was not built to protect
Berlin Design
Baerk (I know, strange name ain’it?) a mini concept store in mitte by Berlin designer Ilov Ilov, a few clever objects available on their website.
Bauhaus Archiv, Berlin – Bauhaus School, Dessau
Of course, going to Berlin also means doing a bit of a Bauhaus pilgrimage: it started with the bauhaus archive. The building was finished in 1979 and designed by Walter Gropius. it showcases the classic icons from bauhaus member such as Breuers various studies for the tub chairs, and Mies Van de Rohe furniture as
Neues Museum, Berlin
Built in the XIXe century to house the stolen archaeologic findings from Egypt, as was unfortunately the way Europeans liked to behave in those days, the Neues Museum even sported a pastiche copy of the great hypostyle hall in Karnak. It was almost destroyed by WWII and left abandoned until the 80’s. It was painstakingly
Meisenthal Glass factory
Meisenthal, like a few better known villages around as: St Louis, Lalique, Baccarat, were built around a glass or cristal factory. The museum guides explain that the secret of the chemistry for making glass and cristal, was so precious at the time, that it was always set up in very remote valleys were spies could
Chapelle Ronchamp, Notre-dame-du-haut
On more stop on the architectural pilgrimage before getting back to Marseille: Chapelle Ronchamp, on the Notre-dame-du-haut hill, has become an icon of Le Corbuisier’s design, and experimenting the play with light inside the church is really a mystic experience. The two altars outside the chapel allow the thousands of pilgrims who converge to ronchamp
St Oberholtz Apartments, Berlin Mitte
Located above a hip internet cafe invaded by macbook users, our first try at airbnb is a large, tall and handsome flat. Restored keeping all architectural artefacts, which starkly contrast with the black and white deco and contemporary art. Right on buzzy Rosenthaler strasse, it really ticket all the right boxes.. We « lived like a
Eastside Gallery, Berlin
This still existing bit of wall in Berlin is dubbed the Eastside gallery, it is indeed beautiful, and emotionally very strong, as many of those painting where made @ the fall of the wall in 89 and recently restored for the 20th commemoration. The « Brejnev kiss » is still there but constantly covered with tourists taking
Observatory/Playground, Dan Graham @ MAMO
Playing around with reflections in Dan Graham’s exhibition… Inside the MAMO: Skateboard pavillion, 1989 Ying Yang, 1998 Two half-cylinders off-aligned, 2000 And on the roof terrasse: Two nodes and Tight squeeze, both 2015
ECAL @ Appartement 50, Citée radieuse
Although Jean-Marc Drut and Patrick Blauwart have obsessively restored this flat to its original state (see their website here), and are graciously opening it to the public on appointment; they don’t intend it to become a museum but a living project. Their clever approach to this challenge is to invite a designer to furbish it