“Picasso and the Great Masters”

Picasso is undoubtedly the most famous painter of the twentieth (he’s even lent his name to a Renault car!). In his life Picasso has been inspired by several masters painters of the history. Names like renoir, goya or even Manet are present in Picasso's art. “Picasso and the Great Masters” exhibition currently running at three Paris venues, aims to show a lesser-known side to the inventor of Cubism.

There is undeniable pleasure in seeing so many chefs d’oeuvres gathered together under three roofs: the Grand Palais, the Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre. The French newspaper Libération calls it the ‘Picasso Magical Tour’. Many prestigious museums did lend their precious works: Rembrandt’s ‘Woman Paddling in a Stream’ came from the National Gallery; MoMa in NY lent ‘Boy leading a Horse’. In the Le Monde newspaper he explained that since the Picasso museum in Paris will be closed for renovation from spring 2009 to spring 2010, it can easily loan its works during that time. Actually this exposition is considered the most expensive ever done in the history. The uncalculable price of the whole exposition makes it impossible to be skiped.

The exposition will be hold in the three places mentioned above from october 8th 2008 to february 2nd 2009.












PS: Pieces shown are "L'infante marguerite" from picasso and from Velazquez. Do you see who painted what?

Jeff Koons at Palace of Versailles

Starting this week, a new exposition is performed at Palace of Versailles in the south of Paris. It consist ini a three months exihibition of some of the most important pieces from Jeff Koons. It is gonna be the first time in the history that Versailles' palace host a still alife artist exhibition. The exhibition will place 15 works by Koons, the so-called "King of Kitsch", in the Grand Apartment and Hall of Mirrors.

The stuffier elements of the French arts and culture establishment are attempting to stop an exhibition by the American super-pop artist being shown at the Palace of Versailles, the 17th-century chateau outside Paris that was home to the French monarchy until the Revolution. The Union Nationale des Écrivains de France (French National Union of Writers: never heard of them before) think it's quite unseemly, and Count Edouard de Royère, head of an important fund that supports Versailles agrees, saying that holding the exhibition there, even for three months, is a mistake. "I have nothing against modern art, but..." (love that 'but')... "but I am completely shocked by its eruption in Versailles, a magic, sacred place".

Jeff Koons is an American artist whose work incorporates kitsch imagery using painting, sculpture, and other forms, often in large scale. In November (2007), Koons became the most expensive living artist when his giant stainless-steel Hanging Heart sold at Sotheby's New York for $23.6 million, only to be topped in July 2008 by his Balloon Flower (Magenta) selling for a record $25.7 million at Christie’s in London.

A current Koons exhibit is taking place in the metropolitan museum. The works are set in the most dramatic outdoor space for sculputre in NYC: The metropolitan museum's roof Garden, which offers a spectacular view of Central Park and Manhattan skyline.

And what else...

"People into music": does music define people's personality?

A study from Heriot-Watt University from Scotland called people into music has been published. The department of sociology of this university, directed by Professor Adrian has studied the link between people musical taste and their personality. In relation to it, Fans of classical music and jazz are creative, pop lovers are hardworking and, despite the stereotypes, heavy metal listeners are gentle, creative types who are at ease with themselves.

Professor Adrian North of Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University who has been studying the links between people’s personalities and their choice of music, says that People often define their sense of identity through their musical taste, wearing particular clothes, going to certain pubs, and using certain types of slang.

For those people who love soul could be happy! The study concludes that they are creative, sweet and happy with themselves and in addition, their self-esteem is normally high. if you wanna know which can of person you are you just have to pass the questionaire.

And what else...

New Web Browser: Google Chrome

The most part of the population know about explorer, some have heard about Firefox and a little few know that safari could be something more than a tourist tour in africa to see how lions yawn. These three web browsers from microsoft, mozilla and apple have a new competitor: Google Chrome!

These guys from google can't stop. Bill Gates needs to start thinking something new otherwise, someday, his windows will not be enought to get positive results. Google is targeting all the possible manners to make money, and then, stole microsoft market, in the new internet technologies.

Chrome is presented as an easy browser, quick and simple. However it has been configured to support the challenges that new internet applications such as video present. A new function which seems to be revolutionary is the capacity that the browser has to isolate the opened webs, in order to avoid global collapses if one site is blocked.

Google's blog announces the launch of these chrome since today in 100 different countries. you can read an understandable comic which explains the main characteristics of Google Chrome.

Oh! And it is gonna be an open source program, so, all users are allowed to contribute to its development (and obviously it's free).

And what else...

An Antropological introduction to youtube

Michael Wesch, antropology professor from State University of Kansas, presented at the Library of Congress, in June 23rd 2008, a video presentation on how YouTube has led to the development of new forms of self expression. Questions like privacity, media network, love, human relationships, etc., are changing with this new internet era are discusses.



Also, how to make your videos popular is explain. For more information you just need a click.

And what else...?

Fête du vin de gaillac

This week-end in the central south of France takes place "la fête du vin de gaillac". All wineries from Gaillac present their best wine. Gaillac claims to be the oldest French wine after those of Languedoc and Provence. They are made of the grape varieties Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Duras, Fer or Syrah.

You can get all the information about that wine exhibition and some more things with a simple click.

And what else...?

The origin of stuff

Festival de Gavarnie

Once a year, the "festival de gavarnie" takes place. It consits in theatre performance which take place in the middle of the gavarnie's circus. Gavarnie's circus is one of the most impressive natural highlights of the Pyrenees. It consists in an amphitheatre-like valley, or valley head, formed at the head of a glacier by erosion. It is more impressive as the performance takes place at 1300m and the top of the circus is as high as 3000m, then there is a 1700m big wall behind the performance! Awesome!

The plan for this week-end is attending to the performance and then climb to the top of the circus. I guess it would be like a 10h climbing starting at 6am!

and what else...?