Art Spam Favourites: November 2021
So, this has been an okay month for art. I’ll be honest my life has been hella hectic recently so as much as I want to practically live in an art gallery or museum, that’s not really possible. Several reasons being I need money to live and, more importantly, I now have a kitten. Her name is Pippa. She’s the best. Pray for my Christmas tree.
However, where have I been this month? What have I seen? Anything interesting or has it all been a bit of a ‘yawn’ shall we say. Considering lockdown measures have been easing in recent weeks (only to now get tighter because of the Omicron variant) art will still flourish. Trying to stop art from being art is like trying to ask Republican Senator to become a feminist. Not gonna happen.
But what have I actually SEEN?!?!?!?! All this waffle about Christmas trees, cats and republican feminists has nothing to do with art! Okay, so I started the month with a trip to the British Museum, it was a good time, as always. Their new exhibition ‘Peru: A Journey In Time’ was pretty staggering (review to follow soon. Hopefully) and traditional arts and culture from that region is stunning, but has a very sad history thanks to the spread of disease, famine and colonialism.
Next was my first trip to the Courtauld Gallery ats its home in Somerset House in London. That was a good time too, albeit I was the youngest person in the room. No offence to those who go, but damn there were a lot of elderly people there. Im sad to say that most of them weren’t wearing masks, they’re probs the generation that would refuse to. That’s not to say they all weren’t but the majority wasn’t. Well, now that Omicrom has arrived they’ll have to. Let the temper tantrums begin. But, aside from that the art inside were classics and it is a testament to Samuel Courtauld who was a great collector of art. He collected Monet’s, Dega’s, Henry Moores etc. the collection spanned hundreds of years of art history. So it was a sight to beheld.
Therefore without much further ado, here are my #ArtSpam Favourites for November 2021:
Two Dancers on A stage 1847 Edgar Degas, Courtauld Gallery London
Cupid and Psyche1789 Joshua Reynolds, Courtauld Gallery London
Lama container, Moche AD100-800, The British Museum, London from the exhibition ‘Peru: A Journey in Time’ 2021
History of the origin and royal lineage of there IInca rulers of Peru, of their acts, traditions, costumes and forms of administration. Martin de Murua circa 1580-1616 from the exhibition ‘Peru: A Journey in Time’ 2021
Vase of Flowers, Claude Monet 1881, Courtauld Gallery London
Gold lama figurine, Inca circa. 1400-1532, British Museum, from the exhibition ‘Peru: A Journey in Time’ 2021
Wari High Priest Ruler Wearing a Four Cornered Hat, Circa 600-900 AD British Museum, from the exhibition ‘Peru: A Journey in Time’ 2021
Red, black, blue composition Sam Francis 1958, Courtauld Gallery
Centre piece from ‘The coronation of the Virgin Guido de Siena 1260, Courtauld Gallery
Ear Plates and Headdress with mythical feline heads circa 800-550 BC, British Museum, from the exhibition ‘Peru: A Journey in Time’ 2021