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Christopher Booth's avatar

Your piece (another lovely meditation) reminded me of a Matisse show in London roughly a decade ago. I went with my wife, and I can say it was gently life-changing. It was focused on the paintings he made of his studio, the curtains, and the objects within it that he collected for their beauty, for the way they made him feel.

I dug out the catalogue just now, because I vaguely remembered a quote which had inspired us to spend a bit more money on nice things, just for their beauty rather than utility, and how it has improved our life no end.

I found the quote:

"My purpose is to render my emotion. This state of soul is created by the objects that surround me and that react in me: from the horizon to myself, myself included."

There is a beautiful portrait by Cartier-Bresson of Matisse in that studio. Do please look it up.

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Buckwheat Blues's avatar

Thank you for finding the quote!

Looked up the Cartier Bresson shots in the studio, so much mood in them! All the flowers, birds, Matisse's layers of clothing, texture and patterns everywhere. I really like the detail on everything and how lived in it is, not combed through to be slick and presentable to the outsider. Seeing and feeling the artist's habitat is an interesting exhibition theme.

There was a great exhibition at the Met last year that I think you would have enjoyed https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/vertigo-of-color You could almost see them hanging out together that summer.

Maybe this comes with growing older – all through my twenties I was living in стрекоза Крылова mode, accumulation happened purely through experiences – the home was just modern minimalism, and I was completely uninterested in doing things to it constantly, adding, buying, it seemed so boring and stifling. I preferred spending all time and money on constant travel, eating out at special places, concerts and so on. Even the child didn’t slow us down much but moving here did.

Now things still feel impermanent, but I have evolved to buying two paintings, this is an unheard-of admittance of commitment for me, because I was determined stay within several suitcases and ready to go. And it is very true that these little things matter, because life passes when you’re waiting for a better time or solution. And having things you like around you does a evoke an emotional response that makes the everyday more enjoyable.

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A Water Bearer's avatar

Did you ever catch Glass Akhnaten at the Met?

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Buckwheat Blues's avatar

Unfortunately, no, but I would love to! Have heard a lot about it. The trailer looks very impressive.

The Ring Cycle (Robert Lepage) also looks magnificent, hope to see it one day.

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Sarah Wiles's avatar

Enchanting and informative!

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Buckwheat Blues's avatar

Thank you! ❤️

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ETat's avatar

People at auction houses do not disappoint, because they are display product, a culmination of work by many professionals, from tailors to stylists to dance and etiquette teachers. Some do come out of general art appreciation...most likely a very small percent.

By professional reasons, I have visited other category of places filled with beautiful things and generally populated by beautifully appointed people: interior design showrooms. It's always an aesthetic pleasure, even if other circumstances are not.

What do you do, professionally?

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Buckwheat Blues's avatar

My background is in advertising and marketing which are big on presentation as well.

I enjoy the auction houses for fun, not for work.

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Konstantin Asimonov's avatar

Well, I don’t like Gumilyov.

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Buckwheat Blues's avatar

Same, same.

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