I have been back into the studio, re-acquainting myself with my work, my plans and the space. Gently easing back into the world of making, I have been focussing on the next book in Susan's and my collaborative series as the two books are due to meet next week. Minor eek!
I can't really show much of where that is up to yet, so I will go back to one of the highlights of our New York visit, which was to see the exhibition ink art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There were so many awe-inspiring pieces and I wandered almost in a daze as I exclaimed and examined in equal measure.
This was a piece I am forever grateful that I have seen. Called "Book from the Sky" by Xu Bing, it has been exhibited many times in different countries, yet each time he aims to produce a space where you are immersed in a sea of imaginary words. Each of the characters that appear on the scrolls, on the wall and in the books is an imaginary character, hand-carved by Xu Bing and printed.
In one of those rare New York moments (although it did happen several times) we were alone with the work, briefly. It was beautiful and amazing.
So, carrying with me that beautiful feeling of serenity, I shall head back to my work, to my studio space and hopefully create some things of beauty!
I can't really show much of where that is up to yet, so I will go back to one of the highlights of our New York visit, which was to see the exhibition ink art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There were so many awe-inspiring pieces and I wandered almost in a daze as I exclaimed and examined in equal measure.
This was a piece I am forever grateful that I have seen. Called "Book from the Sky" by Xu Bing, it has been exhibited many times in different countries, yet each time he aims to produce a space where you are immersed in a sea of imaginary words. Each of the characters that appear on the scrolls, on the wall and in the books is an imaginary character, hand-carved by Xu Bing and printed.
In one of those rare New York moments (although it did happen several times) we were alone with the work, briefly. It was beautiful and amazing.
So, carrying with me that beautiful feeling of serenity, I shall head back to my work, to my studio space and hopefully create some things of beauty!
I am definitely jealous now -- knowing that you experienced xu bing's work int he flesh -- this is one of my fav contemporary artworks.... may it act as a talisman for your emerging work
ReplyDeleteThanks Ronnie - it was really special and like you I hope for some talismanic transfer of the ethereal beauty into my work.
DeleteYou photographed it beautifully Fiona. I visited the Met on Saturday to see this piece again. Pam and I saw Xu Bing's Word Play: Contemporary Art at the Sackler Museum in DC in 2001. That was a magnificent exhibit of his work and Book from the Sky was a large part of it. Need to unearth the negatives and photos (yes...it was pre-digital camera for me) and scan them into the computer.
ReplyDeleteXu Bing's work as well as the artist books at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in DC are what started my love of artist books. Not a bad exhibit to fall in love with, huh?
I hope you enjoyed the visit J, and yep you clearly were going for gold when you fell in love with that exhibit! Stunning I am sure. Have you found the negative yet? ;- )
DeleteWhat a wonderful contemplative work in a marvellous space! Xu Bing's work is completely new to me. Thank you so much for sharing what you saw.
ReplyDeleteI just love the contrast between the flat panels on the walls and draped overhead with the gently rippling books on the floor - and all with the mass of undefined characters for speculation ...
Charlton it was astounding - the flow above you; the waves on the floor; the sentries at your side...
DeleteThank you for introducing me to this artist. Breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteThis was my introduction as well Roberta, so I am really pleased to share! It truly was breathtaking.
Delete~a piece or pieces I should say that you could savor for hours on end...leaves me a bit speechless and amazed at such beauty...the amount of time put forth manifesting into a treasure trove of endless pages is quite stunning...and you captured them beautifully...thank you so for sharing his work...much love light and blessings~
ReplyDeleteThank you Brandi - it was so contemplative and meditative. To sit/stand amongst it and wonder...
DeleteGreat photos of an extraordinary work.... and definitely inspiring. You are off to a good start Fiona. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo - we were lucky to head straight there before the hordes arrived! You've just got to love that there are such beautiful things in the world.
Deleteglad new york had this for you
ReplyDeleteMe too V, pretty lucky I think.
Deletebeautiful pictures and such beautiful work! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you Hilke - the iPhone was all I had and it still managed to give a sense of the space and the grace of this piece. Go well.
DeleteSeeing a few leaves from Tian Shu, at the British Museum, opened so many windows for me - not just discovering modern chinese art, but it also led to studying mandarin at evening classes for a few years - I wanted to know how the characters could be "nonsense" so that meant finding out how characters worked, which led to a fascination with the language itself and how words are built up from other words.
ReplyDeleteIt's an amazing work and Xu Bing is a wonderful artist.
Wow Margaret what an amazing personal journey - just wonderful. I shall now follow up on Tian Shu! This was a really impressive show of contemporary art, lots of stunning pieces but this one really spoke to me.
DeleteReally beautifully photographed Fiona, and what a masterpiece! So lovely that you and B had time to contemplate and wander in peace. Thank you for sharing this one...
ReplyDeleteThanks Carol - how lucky were we to have moments alone with it to contemplate? I was amazed by the majesty of some of the work we got to see in New York; remarkable; and work that shifts the way you see things...
DeleteThis is so beautiful! And, yes, beautifully photographed. Thank-you so much for sharing. I had not known of this artist previously.
ReplyDelete