Bavaria

KONKRET

Little museum, easy sunday. Konkrete Kunst in Ingolstadt. Timm Ulrichs. Original perspectives.

-Matt.

ORGOSOLO

A first stroke of paint on a brick wall in the middle of the night. An abstract image, a few words. What started with a silent political protest has run out of control. Decades later this little village that could have been named after a kind of pasta is filled with expressive murals.

After seeing most of the more than 170 paintings with different themes ranging between local government, Silvio, global issues and Obama. Zeitgeist. we get the impression that Picasso might still be alive. Cubism. On out way into the village we stopped at an abandoned monastery. Buzzing bee hives and a rather sinister atmosphere. Sardinia is not Italy. Orgosolo, a heavy local place with its own inspiring story. A must visit if you are around in the area!

-Matt.

NEW COLLECTION

Look behind the gaudi Ramblas and get into the Ciutat Vella with its universities and musea. We spend some time here to watch skaters and contemporary art. Macba, CCCB and more. Go visit!

-Matt.

SAGRADA FAMILIA

One man, one vision. It's amazing to see how someone can leave such a permanent impression in this place. After more than one hundred years history is still in the making at the Sagrada Familia. The complex is still not finished yet, but compared to 1993 it has undergone enormous progress. Back then it was a collection of towers, today it is a functioning building. I am impressed by the many ideas, the twisting columns and the love for detail. The ceiling with its origami surfaces is my favorite. I will be back in twenty years for the next picture shoot.

-Matt.

MILA GRACIAS

God is in the details. Thousand pieces of ceramic tiles are carefully arranged  in a fluffy, creamy, chimney. Shiny here, matte there, crisp transitions, twisted surfaces. Origami galore. We are spending quiet some time on the roof tops of the Casa Mila, another Gaudi house. The fantasy, the range of formal concepts, it's simply overwhelming. Don't forget to take a look inside. This is holism  to the max; one vision, one idea pushed to the limits of the used materials. A couple of blocks down the road they still build with these ideas in mind. LSD not included. Thank you Antonio for the inspiration.

-Matt.

MI CASA SU CASA

 

If in Barcelona, obviously  Casa Batllo is a must see for the tourist. Is a visit a cliche? We queue up behind a class of American kids and wait for the tour. Head sets, ready, go! After a while we are alone and have a better view. Almost twenty years after my first visit I am still inspired.

-Matt.

RAW MATERIALS

A Marcel Duchamp moment in Ingolstadt. Life will never be the same again after visiting Raw Materials 

-Matt.

MUNICH

A cold and windy ride to Munich. Two TT's tailing each other. After a little hour we are ready to sniff up some culture at one of the many museums in the Bavarian capitol. It is busy in the Pinakothek der Moderne. Silently the visitors walk from one section to the other. They cross the big round atrium as they move from Picasso to Warhol.

We decide to start at the temporary exhibition. It is all about wood. A forgotten material in a world of big buildings. The immaculate and finely detailed models show the potential of nature to span amazing arches in todays architecture. A range from Japan to Europe and beyond. Laser cut, computer customized.Inspiring. Great displays with a lot of warmth. Worth a visit.

Of course there is much more. Loosely painted graphics, colorful installations and heaps of master pieces. A journey back in to art history. Before we leave we have to take a look in the basement of the complex. The area below sea level is the industrial design department. An over dimensional Ikea Expedit filled with design classics is one of the big attractions. Sit down in one of the spacey rocker seats to chill out and stare at furniture, bikes, bob sleds and cars. Pinakothek sunday, let it be your pick of town.

-Matt.