Lille 3000 Utopia

[htmb]

I’ve only spent a couple of days in Lille, but found it to be a very interesting town, particularly the architecture. I’ll get back there some day, but no way will I believe the stairs versus elevator woman.

[bjd]

That residential area of Marcq-en-B. reminds me of a neighbourhood in Brussels that has Art Nouveau houses. Nice houses.

[kerouac2]

I saw a raging fire (not a real one -- it was on video -- but quite realistic).



There was a disc with a cascade of real water.





I don't know where this boat was going.







Solar devices were very active.







How does your garden grow?



A small house was populated by jellyfish.





They did not sting me as I strolled through them.

[kerouac2]

another room to explore







and a final little surprise

But after that, I went to see what perhaps fascinated me the most out of all of these displays...

[kerouac2]

The next section was called Môm'Art which could be translated as "Kid Art," and it is what impressed me the most here, even if it was obviously 'primitive.' All of the things displayed were the works of elementary school children from the Lille metropolitan area. However, unlike the crap that most of us did when we were that age, they were guided by professional artists who have them some ideas on techniques and themes.

The entrance was through some vegetation, keeping with the theme of Utopia being nature.



And then it was on to art by young children.



I was not immediately impressed, but I had not taken a closer look yet.





What began to impress me were the variations on the same theme. "Draw a fish using the ideas I have given you," the artist probably said.



And there were collective works on which the entire group had worked.

[tod2]

This last section on "Mom Art' takes me back to years of viewing my grandsons artwork at the end of every year. The school put on a dedicated exhibition open for at least a week.
The hard work the kids have put in is admirable.

[kerouac2]

Fascinating to see how children will portray a leafless tree.



Trees with leaves are just as fanciful.





What if you decide to use real leaves?

[kerouac2]

Sea life was also portrayed.





some of the other elements of life



blooming trees







art creation centre

[tod2]

More loveliness Kerouac. So much effort on behalf of the children.....Wow so may of them!!

[kerouac2]

finally back out in the Saint Sauveur courtyard again



A small building on the way out held its own salty secrets.

[kerouac2]

The sunlight was dazzling in Lille, so when I entered the Maison Folie Wazemmes, I was completely blind at first in the dark. But my camera could see some stuff.



This was Le Jardin d'Eden made out of optical fibres.





There were twisting paths to walk which I could just barely see.





Then I could see the exit in the distance, even though I regretted leaving this magical place a bit.



I had no idea what I might see upstairs.



The Maison Folie Wazemmes in another former industrial site, which explains the presence of the big chimney.

[kerouac2]

There was new zone of knitted art, by the same artists who created the monumental thing in the Lille-Flandres train station.













Perhaps one needs this to avoid getting a chill if a refrigerator door stays open too long?

[kerouac2]

And that wraps up the report for this visit even though I plan to return during the summer. There is just too much to see i one visit without going into sensory overload. Thank you to everybody who commented on the scenes I showed. I only saw about 10% of the things on display, though.

The next morning before my train, I had new admiration for the knitted creatures in the station.



How many knitters work on these things? Maybe I'll find out...

[bjd]

In some places I have seen knitted covers for lampposts or other urban furniture but this is the first time I see crocheted urinals and bathroom sinks.

So much of these displays are really clever. If you say they are only 10% of what is on offer, how much of the city is involved? Were there lots of visitors at the various displays?

[kerouac2]

Actually, the entire metroplitan area is involved with exhibits in Villeneuve d'Ascq, Roubaix and Tourcoing and sometimes even across the Belgian border.

Some places can get quite crowded while other always stay calm. I have learned over the years to try to go to most of the places as soon as they open because the majority of people don't seem to go out until late afternoon for some reason.

[tod2]

Really amazing Kerouac - I found a favourite after the fibre-optics display which was enchanting - the knitted/crochet'd doyly theme covering the double hand basins = What a crazy idea!