DSC_0580
“Stadium” es una exposiciĂ³n del centro de arquitectura “Arc en rĂªve” en Bordeaux que presenta el proyecto para el futuro estadio de la ciudad por los arquitectos Herzog & de Meuron y aprovecha para analizar el fenĂ³meno de las instalaciones deportivas en general. La exposiciĂ³n tiene tres ejes: mostrar ejemplos famosos de estadios alrededor del mundo, recordar eventos deportivos grabados en la historia y ver el deporte y este tipo de construcciones a travĂ©s del lente del arte contemporĂ¡neo con algunas obras sobre el tema.
“Stadium” is an exhibit from the architecture center “Arc en rĂªve” in Bordeaux that presents the city’s future stadium project by architects Herzog & de Meuron and analyzes as well the phenomenon of sports grounds in general. The exhibit is constituted around three axes: it shows famous examples of stadiums across the world, it recalls memorable sporting events throughout history and it looks at sports and at their buildings through the lens of contemporary art with some works dealing with these subjects.

DSC_0135

Se dice que un francĂ©s visita el Mont-Saint-Michel un promedio de cinco veces en su vida. Y menos mal porque, al ser de los sitios turĂ­sticos mĂ¡s visitados del paĂ­s, parte de sus fondos contribuyen a que otros sitios menos afortunados se financien.

El atractivo del lugar es que es una isla sobre la cual se construyĂ³ una abadĂ­a y con el tiempo un pueblo y sus murallas. La evoluciĂ³n del sitio es evidente en las maquetas.

It has been said that French people visit the Mont-Saint-Michel an average of five times in their lifetime. And that’s a good thing, since being one of the most visited touristic sites in the country allows part of its revenues to support less fortunate historical monuments.

What is interesting about this place is that it’s an island where an abbey was built on top and where later a village and the walls were constructed. The evolution of the site is explained through these models.

DSC_0214

DSC_0217

DSC_0220

DSC_0224

El pueblo se ha convertido en un complejo de tiendas de souvenirs, restaurantes y hasta un hotel, pero la abadĂ­a todavĂ­a alberga una fraternidad de monjes que es la responsable de las misas en la iglesia. La abadĂ­a es impresionante, tiene un claustro de cuatro pisos, donde debajo del jardĂ­n estaba la cocina, las salas para recibir a los nobles cuando estaban de visita y otra para las visitas mĂ¡s modestas. El paseo es tambiĂ©n un buen ejercicio: se suben muchas gradas y la vista es hermosa. Definitivamente se entiende porquĂ© la gente querrĂ­a venir hasta cinco veces aquĂ­.

The village has become a complex of souvenir shops, restaurants and even a hotel, but the abbey still houses a fraternity of monks and nuns responsible for the masses in the church. The abbey is impressive, it has a four-story cloister where below the garden there was a kitchen, the rooms that housed the royal family when they visited and another one for more modest visitors. The outing is a good exercise as well: you have to climb a lot of stairs and the view from above is beautiful. I can see why people would want to come here at least five times.

DSC_0153

DSC_0162

DSC_0171

DSC_0420

DSC_0422

DSC_0189

DSC_0196

DSC_0212

DSC_0231

DSC_0232

DSC_0245

DSC_0246

DSC_0254

DSC_0257

DSC_0261

DSC_0282

DSC_0280

DSC_0291

DSC_0300

DSC_0322

DSC_0319

DSC_0327

DSC_0334

DSC_0336

DSC_0346

DSC_0349

DSC_0358

DSC_0362

DSC_0363

DSC_0365

DSC_0366

DSC_0368

DSC_0371

DSC_0403

DSC_0410

DSC_0380

DSC01370
El Met es probablemente el museo mĂ¡s grande y el mĂ¡s impresionante que he visto hasta el momento. Fui muy ingenua al creer que por estar en Manhattan, donde no hay bien mĂ¡s preciado que el espacio, iba a ser reducido o por lo menos un poco modesto. Todo lo contrario, no tengo ningĂºn recuerdo de gente estorbosa, ni de grupos de turistas que no te dejan ver una obra. La visita, un sĂ¡bado por la noche, abierto hasta las nueve de la noche, fue fluida y agradable.
Me agarraron desprevenida en la entrada: yo llevaba mis 50 dĂ³lares en la mano para las dos entradas y la muchacha en la taquilla me preguntĂ³ que si sabĂ­a que esa tarifa es opcional, que uno puede pagar lo que quiera para entrar. No supe quĂ© contestar y no querĂ­a que pensara que era tacaña, terminĂ© pagando la tarifa completa. En retrospectiva no me arrepiento por eso, el museo vale cada centavo y mĂ¡s, me da pesar no haber regresado otro dĂ­a para ver las salas que me hicieron falta. Porque no creo haber visto ni la mitad del museo en las cuatro horas que estuve allĂ­ y volver al Met estĂ¡ en los primeros lugares de cosas que quiero hacer cuando regrese a Nueva York algĂºn dĂ­a.
Empezamos por lo lĂ³gico: el Ă¡rea de arte griego antiguo. Digo lo lĂ³gico porque en esos dĂ­as estaba llevando el curso de mitologĂ­a griega en Coursera y puedo decir que es mucho mĂ¡s divertido ver todas las obras cuando se les entiende un poco. Me encantaron las reconstrucciones de habitaciones romanas del siglo I antes de Cristo. Eran una maravilla y lo hacen imaginarse un poco mejor cĂ³mo eran las casas en esa Ă©poca.
QuerĂ­a verlo todo: arte precolombino, de OceanĂ­a, arte medieval… tienen hasta pinturas del siglo XX que no entiendo por quĂ© no estĂ¡n en el MoMA y que mi mamĂ¡ no termina de entender por quĂ© son consideradas arte. Pero creo que la sala que mĂ¡s me impactĂ³ fue el templo egipcio de Dendur, con el espejo de agua enfrente. Y por supuesto, mis lamassus, mis hermosos lamassus que ando buscando a todos los museos a los que voy y que voy a tener que hacer prueba de gran fuerza de voluntad para no mandar a copiarlos para la entrada de mi casa cuando sea millonaria.
The Met is probably the biggest and most impressive museum I have seen so far. I was very naĂ¯ve when I thought that because it’s located in Manhattan, where space is the highest-valued commodity, it would be small or at least a little modest. On the contrary, I have no recollection of annoying crowds, or of groups of tourists that keep you from looking at an artwork. The visit, on a Saturday night when it’s open until 9 pm, was nice and fluid.
I was caught off-guard in the entrance: I was carrying the exact 50 dollars for both tickets when the lady at the counter asked me if I knew that this fee is optional, that you can pay whatever you want to get in. I didn’t know what to answer and I didn’t want her to think I was cheap, so I ended up paying the full recommended fee. In hindsight I don’t regret this, the museum is worth every penny and more, but I’m sad I didn’t come back later to see everything I didn’t get to visit that day. Because I don’t think I saw even half of the museum in the four hours I was there and going back to the Met is one of the first things I want to do when I’ll go back to New York one day.
We started with the logical choice: the area devoted to ancient Greek art. I say logical because in those days I was studying Greek mythology in Coursera and I have to say it’s much more fun to see the works when you understand them a little bit. I loved the reconstruction of the Roman rooms from the First century B.C. They were absolutely wonderful and they really help you visualize what those villas looked like at that time.
I wanted to see everything: Pre-Columbian art, art from Oceania, medieval art… They even have XXth century paintings that I don’t understand why they’re not at the MoMA and that my mother still doesn’t get why they are considered to be art. But I think the most astonishing part was the Egyptian temple of Dendur, with its own reflecting pool. And of course, my lamassus, my beautiful lamassus that I look for at every museum I go and that I will have to show great strength at not copying them for my home’s entrance once I become a millionaire.
DSC01369
DSC01371

DSC01374
DSC01375
DSC01376
DSC01377
DSC01378



DSC01382
DSC01383
DSC01384

DSC01386
DSC01387
DSC01390
DSC01391
DSC01392
DSC01393
DSC01394

DSC01396
DSC01397
DSC01399
DSC01400
DSC01401
DSC01402
DSC01403
DSC01404
DSC01406
DSC01407
DSC01408
DSC01409
DSC01410
DSC01413
DSC01414


DSC01418
DSC01419
DSC01420
DSC01422

DSC01426
DSC01428
DSC01429
DSC01430
DSC01432
DSC01433
DSC01436
DSC01434
DSC01435
DSC01437
DSC01438

DSC01439
DSC01441
DSC01442
DSC01446
DSC01451
DSC01452

DSC01454
DSC01455
DSC01456
DSC01458
DSC01461
DSC01462

DSC01464


DSC01467


DSC01470
DSC01471
DSC01472


DSC01476
DSC01477
DSC01478
DSC01479
DSC01480
DSC01481
DSC01482
DSC01483

DSC01485
DSC01486