Tags
David hasselhoff, Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranite a Second Before Awakening, E.F. Tours, Fragonard, Great Expectations, Guernica, Kandinsky, Madrid, McDonald's, Modern Art, Monet, NCIS, Picasso, Pollution, Renoir, Salvador Dali, Seattle, South Park, The Eiffel Tower, The Reina Sophia, The Thyssen Museum, Van Gogh, Wikipedia
Day 25 – Madrid
Pauline decided to go off one her own today. She wanted to do a bus tour, which cost too much for two people who can’t get into their bank account. Luckily we were able to borrow some money to see the other two famous museums in Madrid, other than Prado. After moseying up for breakfast and taking our time to get ready, we decided to take the day in chunks so we didn’t get too exhausted.
We first went to the Thyssen museum, where there are paintings by Kandinsky, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Fragonard, Picasso, and many other famous painters. No matter how many art galleries you go to, it is still incredible to see them in real life, up close. This museum was a little easier to get around in, and Mom and I didn’t get lost, so we were able to see the whole museum. The experience concluded with some sore backs. Luckily it was cloudier today than usual, so it was not so hot outside, but more muggy. However, the sky wasn’t gray, like you would expect on a cloudy day—it was yellow. I have to assume that this is because of the smog that comes with a big city (except for Seattle, it seems). I especially noticed the layer in Paris looking down from the Eiffel Tower. The brown film can be seen in my pictures.
After more McDonald’s and some rest (including the viewing of South Park’s version of Great Expectations, I had to show Mom where Pip got his name), we went to the second museum, which is right next to our hotel: The Reina Sophia. This museum was significantly different than the others, as it holds solely modern art (twentieth century). This included Picasso (featuring “Guernica”) and Salvador Dali. Seeing Picasso’s work after viewing so much art from the 12th-19th centuries was a whole new experience. Picasso’s work is so sad, distorted people and faces crying, twisted and tangled fingers, screaming mothers with dying children. “Guernica” especially drew forth emotion, maybe more for me because I studied it a few years ago.
A short summary of what this painting is all about borrowed from Wikipedia:
Guernica shows the tragedies of war and the suffering it inflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians in response to the bombing of Guernica by German and Italian planes during the Spanish Civil War. This work has gained a monumental status, becoming a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war, an anti-war symbol, and an embodiment of peace. On completion Guernica was displayed around the world in a brief tour, becoming famous and widely acclaimed. This tour helped bring the Spanish Civil War to the world’s attention.
Dali was also featured at this museum, and all I had known of Dali before this experience was his melting clocks. Now, I have a whole new appreciation for his work. At first, you are confused, and a little disgusted, thinking that this guy was probably on drugs while he was painting. Often times he includes random objects floating in space, nudity, and disfigured objects, all painted with a strange preciseness that is different from Picasso. Picasso captivates you because you have to work to see the real picture, but Dali throws the picture at you, leaving you to figure out what exactly it all means. At first I was put off by the grotesqueness of his work. But now, after a nap where both artists ran through my mind in random colors, shapes and figures, I woke up to a realization that this new art is made to make you think, and gives you a chance for an individual narrative and understanding. I can’t get Picasso’s images out of my head, and after looking at them from a perspective of the time in history (World War II), I have a new appreciation for the anger and sadness that bursts from his figures. I don’t think I will ever forget Dali’s work “Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomagranite a Second Before Awakening. I laughed at first, confused and a little weirded out after so much time spent looking at the beautiful renaissance and rococo styles of the earlier centuries. But now, after some reflection, I realized how innovating it was to have art that gives you the tools to create your own meaning, rather than a story that is clearly painted for a specific impact. Now I am so interested in Dali that I plan to get on Amazon when I return to get a book that includes all his work. Don’t get me wrong, I probably won’t be getting prints of these paintings to hang on my wall or anything, but I get it.
After the second museum, Mom and I got some ice cream and went to the room. We ate it while searching for something in English, only to find dubbed versions of some old movie with David Hasselhoff and NCIS. It was entertaining for a bit to hear the weird voices they used for characters we know, but then quickly became more annoying than fun, so we turned it off, and I fell asleep (at 8:30). After a little late night nap, I am able to chat with Jake and Ray and read for awhile before falling asleep again. I’m just that tired.