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Post by mossie on Nov 22, 2015 8:32:47 GMT
Some really weird stuff in here, particularly the fruit tree in the Bourse courtyard. It looks so out of place.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2015 11:35:36 GMT
As much fun as it might be to visit some of these exhibits now, I can't help thinking how quickly they will seem out of date. I think that partly defines the concept "contemporary art." It is not designed to last like academic art, although a few artists manage to break through the decades (Andy Warhol, Victor Vasarély...) even if what they created remains anchored in the period in which it was done. Not forgetting the horror that Vincent Van Gogh inspired in his time or Pablo Picasso after him, just to name two. Some really weird stuff in here, particularly the fruit tree in the Bourse courtyard. It looks so out of place. I would think that is the whole point of putting it there. And anyway, it will disappear in mid-January maybe to turn up in Winchester Cathedral or the Brandenburg Gate a few weeks later.
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Post by bjd on Nov 22, 2015 12:28:53 GMT
I'm sure some "contemporary" art will last for a long time and be appreciated, even though it's no longer contemporary. I guess it's rather installation art that might seem old-fashioned in a short time.
Try to imagine seeing the back end of a cow nailed to a wall in 75 years and people saying, "And this was considered art?"
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2015 12:34:43 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Nov 22, 2015 14:47:11 GMT
That was amazing Kerouac. Some like....some no like. But ALL interesting and got my mind wondering - why do that, or what the hell is t h a t?! Yes, agreed they know how to do kitch big time. Saving grace for me is that it's so colourful.
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Post by htmb on Nov 22, 2015 14:50:49 GMT
I found the last couple of posts too overwhelming. Too much color and too much stuff for me, but I also think art should take you out of your comfort zone sometimes.
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Post by lagatta on Nov 22, 2015 16:11:02 GMT
I really disliked the Korean show. Have very mixed feelings about the exposition over all. Lille has good "bones", most of the buildings seem very solidly built. Glad to see more people cycling - the rain doesn't stop the Dutch or the Flemish parts of Belgium.
I think it is sad that there will no longer be public phones. It requires everyone to have a personal phone, or if not, how can they contact anyone?
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 22, 2015 16:30:10 GMT
If art is not to be merely ornamental, it needs to be jarring, overwhelming, even ugly at times. This kind of event, where an entire city and its suburbs are involved and even part of the show, is particularly important because it attracts everyone, not just "art lovers". It's fun, it doesn't take itself too seriously even though some serious points are being made throughout, thus it's all-inclusive, both for artists and spectators. It's wonderful that huge spaces are given over to the expression of ideas and creativity that are meant to be experienced, not necessarily loved nor open to a specific analysis. Installation art as an accepted art form has been around for decades. Its very size usually means that the visitor (not merely viewer) is incorporated into the work and his/her perspective altered.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2015 16:52:08 GMT
I think it is sad that there will no longer be public phones. It requires everyone to have a personal phone, or if not, how can they contact anyone? Phone booths are disappearing from the streets, but there will still be some public phones in airports, train stations and shopping malls at least. In any case, the decision was made on lack of usage.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2015 17:03:20 GMT
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Post by lagatta on Nov 22, 2015 17:31:22 GMT
I'll return to this show, which really touched me - not just the historical scenes but also the contemporary stuff.
Bixa, I'm very familiar with contemporary art including installations. But it is normal that we will respond in different ways to the different shows and installations. I also think that it is very good if old industrial cities find new lives as settings for art - and for modern "cultural industries".
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2015 17:50:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2015 20:14:50 GMT
In the metro station of Tourcoing, I had been given the free Catholic newsweekly La Croix du Nord. (The real daily paper of Lille is called La Voix du Nord.) Since it was a long ride back to Lille, I had actually read the stupid thing and came across an article about the statue of Léon Trulin next to the opera. He was a Belgian boy born in 1897 who moved with his family to Lille and started working at age 13 because his widowed mother needed the money. In 1915 he fled to England to join the Belgian army but they refused him because he was so sickly (just like Captain America!). So he started some sort of freelance spy group near Antwêrp which obtained important information. Unfortunately, he was taken prisoner very rapidly, spent a few days in prison in Antwerp and was then tranferred to the Citadel prison in Lille. Within a month, the German governor of Lille sentenced him to death and he was shot. So he became a hero at age 18. Now why was this article in this newspaper? Well, it was the 100th anniversary of his execution, but the main thing that disturbed the newspaper was that Léon Trulin was extremely religious, so they were complaining that the rosary he was holding in the statue was much too discreet. "Probably the fault of the secular times when the statue was made in 1934," they complained. "You can only see a few beads around his wrist." Were they expecting a dangling rosary on the statue? That would have been snapped off within two weeks. Anyway, I have always passed that statue without even looking at it, but on my way the train station to return to Paris, I knew I had to take a closer look at it. Rue Faidherbe leading to the Lille Flandres station was just as empty as everywhere else. Most of the station is being gutted and renovated at the moment. If you ever take the train to Lille, you can see the other station Lille Europe in the distance. It is the white horizontal bar. I don't really worry about which of the stations the train from Paris goes to. They are split about 50/50. Inside the station, the cloud people were still serene. (Brazilian art) Ground level was a bit different. I just wanted to get on the train. I didn't see nearly as many things as I would have liked, but the mood just wasn't there anymore.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2015 20:18:39 GMT
And so here is the video, which should give you a somewhat different impression of some of the installations.
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 22, 2015 21:10:16 GMT
Out of this world! The video really rounded it all out for me, although your photos in the thread were most enjoyable and told a great story. I had not realized certain things were videos so it was fun to see them come to life. And the video truly gives an idea of how immersive an experience the installations were.
Very sobering to see the empty streets. It must have been strange and horrible for you to be away from your home city when it was attacked. I'm glad you got to see all you did before the rug was pulled out from under you and thank you for sharing it so beautifully.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 22, 2015 22:49:29 GMT
Thank you to everyone who has commented on this rather odd subject. I will be back for the next Lille 3000 event in 3 years, but I will certainly have returned to Lille many times before then. I rather doubt that I will do it, but I have not forgotten that I still have until January 16th to return and see some of the things that I missed this time.
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Post by htmb on Nov 22, 2015 22:55:29 GMT
This is certainly an interesting report to read, Kerouac, but all the more poignant in light of what was happening in Paris at the time. It must have been quite a surreal experience for you to be in Lille. No doubt many of us would have just thrown in the towel and either stayed in the hotel glued to the news, or immediately headed back home.
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Post by fumobici on Nov 23, 2015 3:50:24 GMT
This report is deep and full of interesting images and ideas. I love some of the stuff exhibited and I don't love some but the net effect is nevertheless impressive. Think of all the effort, the ruminations, the passion this represents--the sheer scale of it. I also like the lack of any real unifying theme (accidentally, or on purpose) I had--really had--no idea what I was going to see next as I scrolled through it. And who said Lille is a s**th**e? Looks decent enough to me Thanks, really interesting report.
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Post by tod2 on Nov 25, 2015 7:00:06 GMT
I thoroughly enjoyed your Lille photos. There is one that stands out for me as a truly fantastic shot through the lens of the camera. It is the one of a man pushing his family on a three wheel bike in the smoke-filled air. I do hope you make it back. The atmosphere in Lille may be almost 'normal'. I can understand your deep shock and wanting to get home.
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