Paris

I have moved to Paris last weekend and will be living here for six months, so expect many Paris news from now on!

Suggestions are accepted.

Robert Adams, The Place We Live

Robert Adams is an American contemporary photographer whose latest exhibition, "The Place We Live, a Retrospective Selection of Photographs", is being shown at the Reina Sofía Museum (Madrid), until May 20.

His photographs reflect like no one else's the loss of connection with the land in contemporary US. This exhibition shows the evolution of American West through over four decades and its consequences for the land and nature. Always black and white, his photographs are not intrusive or judgmental; they let visitors think by themselves avoiding visual harangues. In spite of that, at times his photographs evidence equally discouraging situations. In some cases, his photographs could even bring visitors memories of that land dissociation in other countries or territories.

 This exhibition, mainly based on his US work, also includes photographs taken in Sweden. A highly-recommended show, if you decide to visit, remember that it's quite a large one (I would allow at least one hour to see it all). You can access for free from 7pm on a daily basis.

More Info:

Dates: January 16 – May 20, 2013
Place: Sabatini Building, Floor 3 (Reina Sofía, Madrid)
Curators: Jock Reynolds and Joshua Chuang
Organised by: Yale University Art Gallery in collaboration with Museo Reina Sofía

World Book Day

Do you like books? Today I am lucky enough to be in Madrid, where the World Book Day (23rd April) is a large-scale celebration.

There are books everywhere and the atmosphere couldn't be better. Although the 10% discount is far from being an amazing incentive, there are many events going on at bookshops and libraries today, even on the streets and that is enough to catch the attention of tourists and passers-by.

In half an hour Booker prize-winning novelist John Banville will be at the Real Casa de Correos, in Madrid city centre, to hold a conference, including Q&A time.

Also around that area, in Callao, there is a red carpet waiting for everyone who would like to take their picture with the book they have bought for themselves or as a present for someone else. The aim is to have a map of Madrilenian readers through their books (and to make people buy books, obviously).

However, even if Madrid tries, Barcelona wins by a mile. Today they not only have books, but also roses. 

The circus is in town

"When we set out to make this short, our intention simply was to observe the phenomenon of fashion bloggers and street style stars. As we started to review the footage, two salient trends became apparent: fashion editors frustrated by the ensuing commotion outside of shows, and the rise of "peacocking" street style stars as a result of the proliferation of blogs. This film examines these themes from both perspectives".

TAKE MY PICTURE from GARAGE Magazine on Vimeo.

If you have the time to watch this video, do so, it's very interesting. A couple of years ago (actually four years ago!) I was in Paris while the Couture shows. Of course I was then extremely excited about being there, (not exactly attending the shows, but outside, obviously) and seeing everyone (Giovanna, Carine, Emmanuelle, Grace, Franca...). Those were the post-teen years when I still believe in the purity of fashion. But after watching the video above I couldn't help but feeling sad.

Why sad? Because it's really like a joke. Fashion is all about magic, yes. Models posing on editorials is fine, it's their job, what dreams are made of and all that... but I can't cope with the editorial/styling people posing (Anna dello Russo moment) doing idiotic movements. Seriously? These street-style snaps were supposed to be spontaneous and now people seem to dress up to be photographed, no matter what. That's the issue now, to have your picture taken and to be on blogs around the world. And then what?

Does it really mean something anymore to be on blogs? I have the feeling that fashion is no longer celebrating well-dressed people, but just eye-catching outfits. Am I right?

This week on Pinterest

Fashion prostitution

I can see why this Louis Vuitton AW13/14 by James Lima video is polemic. Sex always sells and of course it's easier to get noticed if something is controversial. But isn't it the whole sex-thing too overused? I don't understand how people still take the bait. Katie Grand is very talented, no doubt about it, but this video could also be offensive for some. Every day there is less tolerance on prostitution, yes. However, art has no boundaries and even if it portraits the models playing prostitutes, it reflects the inspiration for the last LV fashion show. What can we do if Mr. Jacobs was inspired by Parisian prostitutes for his show?

 

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Reading between the lines

Which is your favourite tube line? This year is London's tube 150th anniversary and to celebrate it Penguin asked twelve authors to share their tale of the city in no more than 15,000 words, each of them inspired by a different tube line.

The result, an amazing collection named Twelve Stories from Twelve Authors, is available at the TfL online store for £60, slightly exorbitant, but totally worth it.

The 12 authors include: Fantastic Man; Kids Company; Danny Dorling; John Lanchester; William Leith; Richard Mabey; Paul Morley; John O'Farrell; Philippe Parreno; Leanne Shapton; Lucy Wadham; and Peter York. They all offer a global view of this huge city.

Which one is your favourite line? Mine will always be the Piccadilly Line. The first time I lived in London I happened to get accommodation close to that line and I've felt a familiar attachment to it ever since. Furthermore, the Piccadilly Line is one of the best lines, it is never closed at weekends, it has only minor delays (especially if you compare to lines like the Metropolitan), it is not one of the terribly overcrowded ones (Central) and it is also quite fast.

Also, when you live in a city in which you necessarily use the public transport at every turn, you end up having laughed and cried and slept and dreamt and eaten and drunk and kissed and joked... on the tube. So the tube is somehow part of it.

If you want to read more on the story of the oldest underground on earth, here you are 150 facts for 150 years of the Tube.

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Festival season

Music tees have never been my thing. It might be that in my mind they are too teenagerish or maybe that normally music tees are so cliché that it's just too obvious, but this one has got me.

Even if I am not a Joy Division super fan, I think the extremely nice typography together with the summery colour make this one a must have for the festival season.

They are sold at Wornby