Casting Nature: François-Thomas Germain's Machine d'Argent

Casting Nature is the show of 18-century art that is designed around Machine d'Argent, a silver masterpiece by François-Thomas Germain. What makes the sculpture unique is that, unlike the other table centerpieces produced at that time, it had no function outside of being a decorative object.

Somehow this show really made me think of the purpose of art making. I noticed that the piece doesn't appeal to me emotionally, but, on the contrary, makes me thing of the dead rabbit and birds and regret the fact that the majority of humans are not vegetarian. Could it be because of my mindset on that day? But at the same time, the other silver pieces that had certain functionality assigned to them didn't evoke the same kind of feeling. (By the way, I'm not a vegetarian, although I'd like to be one.)



Similar is true about paintings. Speaking outside of the admiration of the technical skills of the painter, I felt sorry for the dead little birds. Maybe because in my mind little birds are not supposed to be eaten. Perhaps, for the 18th century person who didn't get much meat on the table, this art was telling a different story.

Perhaps there is a change in perception between 18th and the 21st centuries. During the period of Enlightenment, people (artists) were trying to replicate and rival the nature. Now, with all the ecological issues, there is a concept of how fragile life really is.


http://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/casting_nature/

Icons of Sinai

I made it to the Icons from Sinai show on the last day. I wish it wasn't the last day, because the show was magnificent. To me, it really had a healing effect. I spent about 3 hours there, meditating on the icons and researching the historical background. One of the interesting things that I learned is that the monastery of St. Catherine was built at the spot where, according to the legend, Mouses saw the burning bush. There is also a very interesting (symbolic and poetical) parallel between the burning bush and the Virgin Mary.

Among the icons that had the strongest impact on me are the large icon of St. Peter (realistic-looking face-I believe that's what St. Peter looked like). Very interesting icon by El Greco with St Catherine's monastery at Sinai, the way he imagined it. Virgin Mary with Archangel Gabriel (I forgot the English name for the scene)-golden leaf-you can see the Holy Spirit descending. If you look at a certain angle, you can see the crucifixion in the center.

I wish I could come there again, but it was the last day of the show.