The Art Inquirer

India Art Fair 2012

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:54:00 +0000

The 4th edition of India Art Fair (formerly India Art Summit) will open to the general public tomorow, January 26, after today's preview.

India Art Fair welcomes 98 exibitors from 20 countries into the NSIC Exhibition Grounds, in Okhla(South Deli), a newly renovated Exhibition Centre offering 16000 sqm of open ground space.

Interactive art projects, site-specific sculptures, multi-media installations, panel discussions between artists and public, access to book launches on first-hand, as well as curated walks, will be part of the programme.

A series of collateral events, including exhibitions, talks, studio visits, etc, will occur during India Art Fair 2012.

The organizers pursuit their founding goals of creating a platform for art enthusiasts to share, learn and exchange ideas in the field of art. These goals are accomplished through the collaboration with cultural and educational institutions, internships, curated student visits to the art fair, supporting initiatives by art schools across the country towards art management and curating, alongside art appreciation, conservation and preservation.

A Collector's Circle, accessible through a membership fee and the submission of an application form, will enable art enthusiasts with a desire of starting an art collection or learn more about modern and contemporary art, to enhance their knowledge in several areas, namely collecting and conservation.
The membership offers several benefits throughout the year.

India Art Fair 2012 can be visited until January 29

Guimarães 2012 European Capital of Culture

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 16:27:00 +0000

Today at 18h00(GMT) will take place the opening ceremony of Guimarães 2012 European Capital of Culture. Located in the Northwest of Portugal, the historic city of Guimarães will host a series of art events presented by artists from several countries.

With the creation of artistic residencies and a proactive involvement with the public, in particularly with the population and schools, Guimarães 2012 will contribute to the cultural development of the city and its surrounding, as well as to the interaction between artists working in distinct areas and from different countries.

Throughout the year, the programme will include music, cinema, photography, fine arts, architecture, literature, thought, theatre, dance and street art.

Guimarães 2012 opening performance will take place at 22h00(GMT) at the Toural Square (Largo do Toural) and will be presented by the famous Catalan theatrical group founded in 1979, La Fura Dels Baus.

The city of Maribor in Slovenia is the other European Capital of Culture for this year. Maribor 2012 was inaugurated on January 13 and will present a programme focused on a young audience.

The future European Capitals of Culture will be Marseille (France) and Košice (Slovakia) in 2013; Umeå (Sweden) and Riga (Latvia) in 2014; Mons (Belgium) and Plzeň (Czech Republic) in 2015.

Hans Holbein's "Darmstadt Madonna" goes to Schwäbisch Hall

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:26:00 +0000

Acquired last year by the by German entrepreneur Reinhold Würth for near €70 million, the "Darmstadt Madonna" (also known as Madonna of Jakob Meyer zum Hasen), painted by Hans Holbein the Younger around 1526 in Basel, will go on display at the Johanniter Church (Johanniterkirche) in Schwäbisch Hall, southwestern Germany.

The painting, widely called "Virgin of Mercy" (Schutzmantelmadonna), depicts the Mother of God, with the Christ Child in her arms, standing in a huge scalloped niche. Mary's outspread cloak, identifying her as the Virgin of Mercy, shelters the people kneeling at her feet, including Bürgermeister of Basel Jakob Meyer zum Hasen, his first wife (who had died earlier), his current wife, and his daughter. The work ends with a semicircle at the top.

Part of the Würth Collection, the "Darmstadt Madonna" can be seen from January 24, 2012 at the Johanniterkirche (Tue-Sun 11am-5pm), together with other works by Old Masters such as Lucas Cranach the Elder, Tilman Riemenschneider or the Master of Messkirch, Johanniterkirche and Hans Holbein the Elder.

Museo del Prado open 7-days-a-week

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:52:00 +0000

In the same day that Telefónica renewed its sponsorship of the Museo Nacional del Prado for another four years as Benefactor of the Prado’s Visitor Attention Programme, the museum confirmed that will open 7-days-a-week, as announced last October, reinforcing the Prado’s position as the public European museum with the longest opening hours (3,542 hours per annum). As a result, the Prado now joins the very small group of major international art museums that are open every day of the week (Tate Modern, the British Museum, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum in Europe, and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, USA).

The Museo del Prado will no longer close on Mondays and will remain open on Good Friday, permiting to visit its collections and temporary exhibitions every day of the year, except on three major public holidays (1 May, 1 January and 25 December).
This new strategy is accompanied by changes in the daily opening hours: Mondays to Saturdays, 10am to 8pm; Sundays and public holidays, 10am to 7pm (the exceptions being 24 December, 31 December and 6 January: open 10am to 2pm).

Visitants will also enjoy an increase in the number of free opening hours to the Prado, which can now be visited free of charge during the last two hours of every day of the week, except on public holidays.

In order to celebrate its new opening hours and the agreement signed with Telefónica, the entry to the museum’s collections will be free to all visitors on the 16, 23 and 30 January 2012.

With this initiative the Museo del Prado seeks to improve and multiply its cultural activities, thus assuring its commitment to cover 60% of its budget through self-financing.

BRAFA’12 - Brussels Antiques & Fine Arts Fair

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:14:00 +0000

From 21 to 29 January 2012, it will take place at Tour & Taxis, located in the heart of Brussels, the 57th Brussels Antiques & Fine Arts Fair, BRAFA’12.

With the first edition in 1955 held in the Arlequin Hall of the Galerij Louiza, under the name of “Belgian Antiques Fair” or “Foire des Antiquaires de Belgique”, renamed BRAFA or Brussels Antiques & Fine Arts Fair in 2007, it's one of the oldest longest running fairs in the world.

Across 9 days, the public will access a fine selection of art presented by 122 exhibitors from 11 countries in over 14,000 square metres of exhibition area, showing objects and antiques such as oil paintings (including Old Masters), engravings, watercolours, gouaches, primitive art, earthenware, porcelain, ceramics, antique frames, 18th century furniture, religious icons and antique wallpaper.

This year's guest of honour will be the King Baudouin Foundation Heritage Fund, which will be celebrating its 25th anniversary in fitting style with an exceptional exhibition of a few key works from its collection of around 7,000.

Entrusted once again to Volume Architecture, the decoration will include Byzantine patterns on the carpets, inspired by the pavements of Amiens Cathedral, contrasting with origami, giant birds and kites suspended from the roof, creating an eye-catching effect on both floor and ceiling.

BRAFA’12 can be visited from 21 to 29 January 2012 (11-7 pm), with late night opening on the 24 the 26 until 10 pm.
The indivudual entrance fee is €20 (other conditions available according to number of people and ages).
For a complete practical information, please refer to this page.

Applications for iPhone and iPad, as well as a virtual tour of the stands offering the option of zooming in on some of the exhibits, will be made available.

BRAFA is organized every year by the Belgian Antiques Fair not-for-profit association.

New York Open Day at Sotheby's Institute of Art (January 2012)

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 23:58:00 +0000

On Thursday, January 26, 2012 (6.00pm – 8.00pm), the Sotheby's Institute of Art in New York will open its doors to those who are interested in pursuing a professional career in the art industry and want to learn more about the programs and areas covered by the institute.

The evening will cover three subject areas: Art Business, American Fine & Decorative Art, and Contemporary Art, during which participants will meet the faculty members, including art scholars, historians and professionals. Drinks reception to follow.

To register your attendance for the New York Open Day, send an e-mail to rsvpny@sothebysinstitute.com with the subject RSVP to NY Open Day. For more information, please contact: Tel: 212.517.3929

The Sotheby's Institute of Art offers a distinctive curriculum that takes full advantage of its central London and New York campuses, combining hands-on learning experience with intensive classroom instruction.

"Na Casa De" photography exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:09:00 +0000

Portrayals of extreme poverty is what at first sight this photography exhibition is about and the images are there to bear witness of it. But beyond that first impression, through his camera the photographer aims to capture more than an image, he wants to capture the essence and the fragile dignity of individuals and families who were placed aside by society and live in degrading conditions.

With the valuable collaboration of the social worker José António Pinto, the Portuguese photojournalist Paulo Pimenta completed a series of photos depicting a reality in the city of Oporto, a reality far from fiction and that people often prefer to ignore.

"Na Casa De" can be visited until February 19, 2012 at FNAC - Gaia Shopping (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal).

The exhibition will then travel to Lisbon.

ILUSTRARTE 2012 (Lisbon, Portugal)

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:02:00 +0000

From 13th January to 8th of April 2012, the works of 50 illustrators from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, and UK, can be seen at the Museum of Electricity (Museu da Electricidade) in Lisbon, Portugal.

The 5th edition of ILUSTRARTE 2012 shows 150 illustrations created by some of the most renowned illustrators of children literature, as well as those from emerging ones.

A juri composed by Isabelle Vandenabeele, Isidro Ferrer, João Paulo Cotrim, Martin Jarrie and Paolo Canton, decided to award the italian illustrator Valério Vidali with the Ilustrarte Grand Prix 2012.
Two special mentions were awarded to the works of Simone Rea(Italy) and Nina Wehrle and Evelyn Laube(Switzerland).

Included in the programme are a retrospective about the French illustrator Martin Jarrie and a display of books by the Portuguese writer António Torrado.

ILLUSTRARTE 2012 Will be inaugurated on the 12th of this month at 21h30 and can be visited between the 13th of January and 8th of April 2012, Tuesday to Sunday, from 10h00 to 18h00.
Admitance is free.

On the next spring, the exhibition will travel to Ghent(Belgium), thanks to a partnership between ILUSTRARTE and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Ghent, then other countries will follow.

1585 illustrators from 65 countries sent their artwork to ILUSTRARTE 2012.

A catalogue from the exhibition will be available.

Curatorship: Eduardo Filpe and Ju Godinho.
Advisory: Sara Morão.

Last days of In the Presence of Things. European Still-Life Painting (1840 - 1955) with extended hours

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:51:00 +0000

The major exhibition In the Presence of Things. European Still-Life Painting (1840 - 1955) will close at 23h00 during its last three days (6,7 and 8 of January 2012).

Only 120 people are allowed each time and during these last days the waiting time can be longer than usual.

This still life exhibition organized by the Gulbenkian Museum and curated by Neil Cox PhD, offers a rare opportunity to see the works by some of the most celebrated artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.

René Magritte's "Olympia" returned by thieves

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:37:00 +0000

Not always what starts well ends the same way, especially for the two unmasked thieves who in the morning of 24 September 2009, assaulted the museum located at Esseghem 135 in Brussels in Magritte's former home, where he lived with his wife from 1930 to 1954, and recurring to gunpoint fled with Magritte's 60cm by 80cm painting by foot and then got into a car.

Painted in 1948 and depicting Magritte's wife Georgette, naked with a conch over her belly and a seascape in the background, the painting was too well-known to be sold in the black market and the thieves weren't able to find a complice to buy it.

According to the Belgian press, the art expert Janpiet Callens was contacted anonymously about two years ago, with the purpose of handing the work to him to later be returned to the authorities, and so it happened
Fortunately, "Olympia" was handed back in excellent condition.

It was mentioned in the daily ‘De Morgen’ that a €75,000 ransom was paid by the insurer, while the daily ‘De Standaard’ reported that judicial authorities have confirmed that money changed hands.

The painting has an estimated value of near 3 million Euro.

Los Angeles Art Show 2012

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:40:00 +0000

The 17th annual edition of the Los Angeles Art Show will take place during this month and will present exciting modifications from its previous editions.

Now under the management of Art Miami, the art fair will debut two separate shows, the LA Art Show: Modern & Contemporary and the Los Angeles Fine Art Show: Traditional and Contemporary. Both shows will take place January 18 - 22, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in West Halls A and B.

The LA Art Show: Modern & Contemporary, aims to showcase not only the works of famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, David Hockney, Fernando Botero and Roy Lichtenstein, but also to give the opportunity to emerging artists to show their art to the public.
Contemporary art galleries, dealers and collectors will have the chance to trade information and ideas that may lead to future partnerships.
Video installations, performance pieces and mixed media installations will be some of the art projects present at the show, as well as curated special exhibitions, tours and lectures.

As for the Los Angeles Fine Art Show: Historic and Traditional, it will be focused in offering high quality works of representational art, including pre-20th century Impressionism, plein air paintings and drawings. A selection of contemporay realism will also be included.
This show does not pretend to exhibit a particular art period, but to provide contact with traditional art for those who appreciate it, independently of when it was completed.

Following last year's program, also the annual IFPDA Print Fair will take place in conjuction with the Los Angeles Art Show.
The 27th edition will offer a comprehensive look at Prints in all techniques, including drypoint, etching, engraving, lithography, mezzotint and woodcut.
Dürer, Whistler, Diebenkorn and Ruscha are some of the artists whose works can be found.

With prices ranging from under $500 to more than $50,000, visitors will have the chance to observe and purchase works from different periods and movements, featuring a broad spectrum that will include Old Masters, German Expressionist, antique and modern Japanese, 18th and 19th-century European, 19th-century American, American Regionalist, and Latin American.

Another special ingredient will be the International Vintage Poster Fair, joining the Los Angeles Fine Art Show this year and showing an outstanding selection of 100 years of vintage posters. Poster styles include: Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Mid-century Modern dating from the 1890's Belle Époque to the stylized 1930s, and on through the Atomic Age.
All posters on display will be the original lithographic advertising pieces that were created through the ages to be posted on the street.

All three shows will launch with an Opening Night Premiere Party on January 18, supporting Art of Elysium and its project Bringing Art to Kids and Kids to Art. This project makes possible for special children to participate in school visits to the Getty Museum and enjoy other artistic activities, which are important for their personal development.

The 17th edition of LA Art Show will take place on January 19‐22, 2012 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Halls A and B.
General admission is $20 and will provide entrance for the three shows.
Ticket information and purchase is available on this page.

Pollution detectors installed in the Sistine Chapel

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 21:01:00 +0000

Fifty ultra-sensitive pollution detectors with the capability of measuring temperature, humidity, pollution rate (with particular focus on carbon dioxide) and speed as well as direction of air flows, have been installed in the Sistine Chapel.

These sensors have been installed following the discover in July 2010 of a concentration of chemical particles in the walls of the chapel, capable of damaging the frescoes. Antonio Paolucci, director of the Vatican museums, formed an experts comité to debate the issue and find a way that will permit the visit by near 4 million people every year with the least damage as possible to the paintings.

The sensors have already supplied some clues, namely about the air conditioner installed in 1993 when of the restauration of Michelangelo's Last Judgement, which can be in part responsible for some air quality deficiency.

Joana Vasconcelos at Versailles 2012

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:01:00 +0000

The Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, will be the guest artist to exhibit at the Estate of Versailles in 2012.

"Marilyn" ( two shoes with stiletto heels, made of stainless steel pans, lids and cement) and "The Bride" (a 5-meter tall chandelier made from wire, cotton thread, and over 14,000 tampons) will be included in the exhibition.

Joana has also created a drawing for a tapestry, especially for this event, which will be manufactured at the Tapestry Factory of Portalegre and will measure approximately 13 sqm.

Since 2008, the surroundings of the Palace of Versailles (Chateâu de Versailles) have assisted to narratives between great artists of the Baroque period - André Le Nôtre, Ange-Jacques Gabriel, Charles Le Brun, Jules Hardouin-Mansart - and contemporary artists: Jeff Koons in 2008, Xavier Veilhan in 2009, Takashi Murakami in 2010 and Bernar Venet in 2011.

From June to September 2012, the public will have the opportunity to see the works of one of the most successful Portuguese contemporary artists and the first woman to exhibit in this project, as well as the youngest until today.

Joana Vasconcelos was born in Paris in 1971.

Manifest Gallery: International Drawing Annual 7 (INDA 7)

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 23:47:00 +0000

The Manifest Gallery is accepting submissions for the International Drawing Annual 7 (INDA 7) award, open to all artists submitting original works of art or design, completed within the last three years (2009-2011).

Participants are invited to submit a wide range of themes and subjects, including but not limited to fine art, illustration, graphic, digital, architectural, design, technical, etc.
Works can be completed in any media applicable to the practice of drawing, such as painting, installation, sculpture, photography, printmaking, etc.

Although the award is open to all artists, independently of their experience, it's important to stress that all submited works must evidence a high quality drawing.
Artists who previously exhibited at Manifest or had work included in our publication projects are perfectly eligible to submit.

INDA 7 also includes call for writing about drawing, where entrants are invited to write an essay directly relevant to the practice of drawing.
The essay can be in any form or style (poetic, historical, technical, philosophical) and must be original, with proper citation for quoted material. Length of written entries should be limited to a max. of approximately 1500 words.
It's possible to participate in both entries, drawing and writing, keeping in mind that written entries should not be an artist statement nor referring to specific works.

Each work submitted (drawn or written) must be accompanied by a $10 non-refundable entry fee, paid by U.S. check or money order made payable to MANIFEST, or by credit card via PayPal.
The number of entries is unlimited, although the average number of works submitted to typical Manifest calls is three. Detail images may be included at no additional cost but should only be provided when necessary to reveal accurate understanding of the artwork. Images must have print-quality.
Written entries, in either Word or PDF format, must be submitted electronically via e-mail attachment and file names must follow the same guidelines provided for images.
Careful refer to the participating guidelines to make sure that your submission is accepted by the juri.

The International Drawing Annual (INDA 7) will offer three cash prizes of $700, $200, and $100 for first, second, and third place winners of the drawing entries.
Artists selected for inclusion in the INDA 7 publication will also be considered for the Selections from the International Drawing Annual exhibit, scheduled for April/May 2012.

Each artist/author selected for inclusion in the INDA will receive one complimentary copy of the publication. The books produced for this ongoing project have increased in page count and print quality each year, with the most recent publication reaching over 180 pages in length.

An Internet-based online International Drawing Annual Resource website will be published to accompany the printed Annual. This will feature statements, bios, contact info., and professional information for each person included.

INDA 7 will be juried by a 9-12 member panel of professional and academic advisors with a broad range of expertise. The jury will then pass along their scores to the project curator who will assemble the final selections from the jury-approved pool.

Materials can be sent via e-mail or regular mail.
The deadline for entry is December 31, 2011.

Cesária Évora (1941-2011)

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 01:21:00 +0000

Cesária Évora was born on the 27th August 1941 in Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde.
She would become the most well known singer of "Morna" and quite probably the most famous Cape Verdean singer.
Known as the "barefoot diva", Cesária Évora passed away on 17 December 2011, in São Vicente.

"Portugal Connosco" A photography exhibition through the eyes of postmen

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:36:00 +0000

Last spring, near six thousand postmen were given a disposable camera to photograph what they see during the mail distribution.
The project, called "Portugal Connosco" (Portugal With Us), resulted in approximately eighty thousand photos, from which two hundred were selected by a team of curators.

From the most common situation to the most peculiar one, including some humorous ones, this unlosable exibition shows the genuine Portugal through the eyes of those who, in a world where social networks get so much hype, contact with the individual in loco.

The photos of "Portugal Connosco" can be seen in the CTT building located at Rua de São José, in Lisbon, until January 8, 2012. After which, a yearlong itinerant exhibition will take place throughout the country.

A book with the two hundred photos is available in every post office of the CTT (Correios de Portugal).

Photos (from top to bottom): Nelson Paiva; Paulo José Rodrigues; José António Pombo

Gerardo Rueda Modern Art Center in Matosinhos

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 23:44:00 +0000

The Gerardo Rueda Modern Art Center (Centro de Art Moderna Gerardo Rueda) was inaugurated today in the portuguese city of Matosinhos, Oporto district.
Exhibiting near 500 items from the Fundación Gerardo Rueda and others belonging to the heir José Luis Rueda, the permanent collection includes 35 pieces of several art genres completed by Gerardo, of which only 16 are showing, and artworks by Antonio López, Carmen Laffón, Doukopil, Manuel Millares, Miró, Palazuelo, Sempere and Zobel, among others.

The Center results from a three year protocol, renewable for another five, signed between the Fundación Gerardo Rueda and the City Hall of Matosinhos, where the first, besides lending the works of art, commits itself to organize eight temporary exhibitions per year in the Gerardo Rueda Modern Art Center and two exhibitions of portuguese art in Madrid, while the second one grants an annual subvention to the Foundation. Private sponsors are also involved in this project.

The first temporary exhibition will be dedicated to the portuguese artist Noronha da Costa, of whom José Rueda owns 200 works of art. After which will follow one that compares Gerardo Rueda and Viera da Silva and another one with works by Mapplethorpe and Warhol

Located inside the building of the Town Hall of Matosinhos, the Centro de Arte Moderna de Matosinhos is open from Tuesday to Sunday (1 pm - 7 pm) and has an admission price of €3.5.

In the future, the collection will move to the 30,000 sqm building of the former Real Vinícola, much better than the actual 6,000 sqm.
An association of friends of the Center and a Gerardo Rueda prize for the arts and sciences will also be created.

Pockets Warhol turns Art into a Monkey Business

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:45:00 +0000

A small capuchin monkey named Pockets, alias Pockets Warhol, is causing sensation in Toronto and abroad.
The primate, a resident at the Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary (Sunderland, ON), started expressing his creative muse through paintings that remind the works of Jackson Pollock. The Warhol nickname comes from the fact that volunteer Charmaine Quinn found resemblances between him and the pop artist, which led her to introduce Pockets to non-toxic paint as a way of keeping him entertained: “He looked a bit like Andy Warhol with that wild, white hair,” she said.

Pockets' paintings are already being exhibited at the Sadie's Diner & Juice Bar in Toronto, until February 6, 2012.
The proceeds will go to the Story Book Farm sanctuary, a facility opened by Sherri Delaney 11 years ago with he purpose of rescuing primates from pet stores, private homes, entertainment, research labs and zoos across the country.

No buyer for Goya's Portrait of Don Juan López de Robredo

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:44:00 +0000

Last month, the fact that the Spanish authorities didn't meet the price asked by a private collector for Goya's Portrait of Don Juan López de Robredo, Embroiderer to King Carlos IV of Spain, and that little time was given for particulars or private institutions to make an offer, caused controversy when it was announced that the painting would be sold at auction.

Francisco de Goya's painting, a 42 5/8 x 32 3/8 in. (108.3 x 82.3 cm.) oil on canvas depicting a Portrait of Don Juan López de Robredo, Embroiderer to King Carlos IV of Spain, seated, half-length, holding an embroidery design, was auctioned in yesterday's Old Master & British Paintings (Evening Sale) at Christie's London, King Street.
However, the painting with an estimate price of £4,000,000 - £6,000,000($6,248,000 - $9,372,000), did not find a buyer.

Nonetheless, the December 7, Old Master & British Paintings (Evening Sale) saw some new world record prices for artists at auction: " The Battle between Carnival and Lent" by Pieter Brueghel II, £6,873,250 ($10,722,270 / €8,021,083); " Dutch men-o'-war and other shipping in a calm" by Willem van de Velde II, £5,921,250 ($9,237,150 / €6,910,099); "An old man at a casement" by Govaert Flinck, £2,337,250 ($3,646,110 / €2,727,571); "The Holy Family" by Francesco Zaganelli da Cotignola, £1,015,650 ($1,584,414€ /1,185,264); "Portrait of a gentleman, possibly Richard Salwey, half-length, in a fur-trimmed red coat and a turban, leaning on a plinth" by Andrea Soldi, £825,250 ($1,287,390 / €963,067). The prices include buyer's premium.

X-ray scanning reveals hidden Rembrandt unfinished self-portrait

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 23:46:00 +0000

An X-ray fluorescence spectrometry scan, performed at the Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York and the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) light source in Grenoble, France, revealed an unfinished self-portait of Rembrandt, according to specialists.

In roughly 8 hours, the new Maia detector system, mapped the chemical elements in the colours used to paint the "Old Man With a Beard." The detected elements included copper for blue and green, iron for yellow, orange and brown, and mercury for red.

The 15cm x 20cm painting, hidden under the work "Old Man With a Beard", until now attributed to a Rembrandt's pupil, was supposedly painted when the artist was near 24 years of age and his reputation started to develop, leading him to move from Leiden to Amsterdam.

According to art historian Ernst van de Wetering, head of the Rembrandt Research Project, the discovered self-portrait, although not completed and lacking facial details, revealed contour lines of a beardless, seemingly younger male wearing a collar and beret, showing a typical posture characteristic of Rembrandt's early self-portraits.
Similarities with two denoted self-portraits, one of them dated from 1630, are also evident.
The attribution is attested by a 1633 print of the composition, with an inscription stating it was made by Rembrandt.

Authenticating Rembrant's works can reveal itself a complex task, as the old master encouraged his students to copy his works and he himself would perform final corrections in their works.

Between May 1 and July 1, 2012, the Rembrandt House Museum will stage a special exhibition of research into 10 paintings by Rembrandt and his contemporaries using XRF technology, including the investigation results about the unfinished self-portrait mentioned on this article.

Developed by Joris Dik of Delft University and Koen Janssens of Antwerp University, the X-ray fluorescence spectrometry enables the mapping of different chemical elements, revealing pigments in hidden layers of paint and allowing different views of the hidden image.

How Art Can Help People With Disabilities

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 17:43:00 +0000

Proclaimed in 1992, the annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons takes place on the 3rd of Decemmber.
The theme for 2011 is “Together for a better world for all:
Including persons with disabilities in development.”

We live in a society where laws and benefits fall far behind the needs of disable people and their families, and in many countries those laws are constantly disrespected without any sanction. Moreover there's a gap in terms of educating people in their relation with each other, especially between the so-called normal and those with disabilities - People with disabilities make up an estimated 15 per cent of the world’s population. Almost one-fifth of the estimated global total of people living with disabilities, or between 110-190 million, encounter significant difficulties. Furthermore, a quarter of the global population is directly affected by disability, as care-givers or family members.

One of the most successful methods of providing disabled people with personal development and social integration is through the arts, especially in the case of children.
Art enables dexterity development, a better perception of space (including negative space and relation), colour, form and many other things. It is also a great opportunity to end individual isolation, as art projects can be completed in group.
Several resources for those working with special needs students in the arts, can be found online or by contacting official and private institutions.

Several art projects for children can be found at Julie Voigt's blog Art for Small Hands.

Stephanie from NY is the winner of a brand new Kindle Touch offered by The Art Inquirer !

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:49:00 +0000

Last October, The Art Inquirer announced the offer of a brand new Kindle Touch (with special offers) worth $99 to one of its readers.
The draw took place yesterday and the winner was found.

Today, The Art Inquirer is delighted to announce that the Kindle Touch will be sent to Stephanie, resident in New York.

The Art Inquirer would like to thank to all who have entered this giveaway and wish better luck next time.

Sign the newsletter to receive interesting art news and opportunities for artists and art appreciators.

The exhibition "Frida Kahlo - As Suas Fotografias" will be open during December 1st

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 02:14:00 +0000

The photography exhibition "Frida Kahlo - As Suas Fotografias" will be open during this holiday, December 1st.
A selection of 257 photos can be seen at the Museu da Cidade in Lisbon until January 29, 2012.

"Leonardo. The genius, the myth" in Turin

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:49:00 +0000

An exceptional exhibition featuring near thirty original drawings on loan from leading Italian and international museums, and several writings on the famous Leonardo's Self-Portrait from the Royal Library of Turin, is taking place at the Scuderie Juvarriane della Reggia di Venaria (Venaria Reale) in Turin, Italy.
This is the third time that the master's self-portrait is shown to the public.

The introductory section of the exhibition presents a biography of the artist and references to Leonardo’s social context, his cultural background and training, as well as an overview on his various fields of activity.
A video curated by Piero Angela, entitled “What did the young Leonardo look like?”, illustrates Leonardo’s work with particular emphasis on the artist’s appearance.
At the end of the exhibition, a multimedia display designed and produced by Haltadefinizione, features a digital replica on a 1:1 scale of The Last Supper, on which an indepth analysis takes place concerning the physical appearance and expressions on this masterpice.
Leonardo's legacy is shown through a number of films representative of his Genius, curated by Arnaldo Colasanti.

Curated by Carlo Pedretti, Paola Salvi and Clara Vitulo, the drawings section presents the Codex on the Flight of Birds (Codice sul volo degli uccelli) and a complete set of near thirteen original works by Leonardo that are part of the collections of the Royal Library of Turin, including the famous Self-Portrait. Italian and international loans provide additional context and further integrate the subjects present in the Turin collection, with a special focus on the human face,
nature, human anatomy and machines.

Selected works by artists from the late 15th to the 19th century, curated by Pietro C. Marani, provide an overview of the figure of Leonardo in literature and figurative art, as the very appearance of the artist becomes an icon of the Renaissance genius.
Starting in the 1500s the image of the Master was associated with that of Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher who led the way into the investigation of nature.

With curatorship of Roberto Barilli, the figure of Leonardo in contemporary art, opens with the Vitruvian Man by Mario Ceroli and the famous tribute Mosa Lisa with moustache by Marcel Duchamp.
The Last Supper has served an inspiration for many artists, reprised by Andy Warhol as well as many other recent protagonists of the art scene like Spoerri, Nitsch, Recalcati and David La Chapelle.
Leonardo’s Notes from the Treatise on Painting describe stains on the walls as forms of arcane passages, a theme that was embraced by Informal Art and specifically Tachisme, including Tàpies, Rotella, Bendini and Novelli.

The exhibition is organised in the vast spaces of the 18th-century Great Stables by Filippo Juvarra of the Reggia di Venaria.
The display is designed by the Academy-Award winner Dante Ferretti, who presents Leonardo’s imposing machines as spectacular settings that contain original works.
Elaborate video projections on the walls celebrate the Self-Portrait.
A catalogue is available through Silvana Editoriale.

"Leonardo: The genius, the myth" (Leonardo. Il genio, il mito) can be visited from November 17, 2011 to January 29, 2012 at the Juvarra Stables of the Reggia di Venaria, Turin Italy. Tuesday - Friday (9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.), Saturday and Sunday (9.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.). Closed on Mondays (except for any public holidays, in which the visiting hours are the same as Sunday).
The exhibition is closed on December 25.
On January 1st, opens at 11.00 a.m.

Given the exceptional nature of the exhibition and the extraordinary measures required for the conservation and the safety of the works on display, only 120 visitors are allowed inside the Stables every 30 minutes.

This major exhibition marks the end of the celebrations for the 150th anniversary of
Italy’s Unification, a tribute to the brightest example of the Italian creative genius.

Arte Lisboa 2011: Video Footage

noreply@blogger.com (José) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:35:00 +0000

This 11th edition of Arte Lisboa 2011 - Feira de Arte Contemporânea (Contemporary Art Fair) brings to the public, some of the best portuguese contemporary artists, as well as artists from Spain, a country that has consistently marked its presence in this contemporary art fair in the city of Lisbon.

The Art Inquirer shoot some footage where is evident the quality of the artworks and the creativity of the participating artists.