EU Trip Summer 2007 - Munich

Munich was an unexpected city where I didn't add into my itinerary until last minutes and it turned to be one of my most favorite cities I have ever visited and would like to go back again! It has charms of Southern Germany with freer, more relaxed atmosphere and friendly local people.
I happned to see some guys in swim sweats river surfing in the park next to the US Embassy. I wish I could have my brother's surfboard then!

Someone told me that the museums in Germany are huge. Yes, it was true. For example, Haus der Kunst doesn't look immensely grand from outside but once I started looking at art inside the galleries, I realized this is a nice big museum to showcase contemporary art. Probably I was fortunate to see one of the best matches that museum has made: Gilbert & George Major Exhibition was up there after its successful run at London's Tate Modern.

Another museum Pinakothek der Moderne was generously spacious. Dan Flavin's florescent light works sit together really comfortably...














The next day I walked around the Nymphenburg palace where the Bavarian Wittelsbachs(German dynasty that ruled Bavaria from 1180 to 1918) had built and used as the chill-out summer residence. This picuture doesn't tell how pretty all the buildings and garden are.

I especially liked the pink walled Amalienburg built from 1734 - 1739 for the then ruler's wife Maria Amalia as a little hunting lodge..! It has a hall of mirrors and a kennel room for the hunting dogs next to the entrance and its rococo decoration is just breathtaking. Its location in a very quiet forest is so perfect for summer retreats.


While I was browsing the rooms in the Nymphenburg palace, I was overwhelmed its rococo style. Not only its interior decoration but also the famous Nymphenburg porcelain figures are in different rococo poses! I mean they are so playful, charming and flirty. Look at this lady figurine on display picking her nose! I love it!


After I enjoyed the treasures of the 18th Century, I was moving onto the 21st century's art exhibit, Documenta 12 in Kassel.

EU Trip Summer 2007 - Basel

This is one of past-due photo postings from my iphoto library.
Before the memory would completely fade, here are some photos I took during my trip to Switzerland and Germany in
June 2007.



I was traveling around using Die Bahn, which is an express train connecting cities within Germany and major cities in its neighboring countries. My first stop was Basel to check out some art fairs. Basel is located on the border of three countries, Germany, France and Switzerland but there was no one who checked your passport or any IDs. It's just a big station like Grand Central Station. Although I found a gate to France, I didn't attempt to go though it just to get my passport stampted, instead I went straight to see one art fair Scope Art Basel.


















Art Scope Basel was pretty much same as other Scope fairs in NY and the Hamptons (I've not been to others such as in London). It was laid-back and the exhibitors are usually young galleries. Maybe because I was particulary looking into contemporary Chinese art this time, there were so many artworks fulfilled in several booths.


Works on the wall by Wu Junyong and Mao Sculpture by...I forgot. At Chinese Contemporary, Beijing, London, NY.

The next day I had only about 2.5 hours to visit Art Basel, the largest Contemporary art fair in the world. There were more than 300 booths so how could I be done with this gigantic fair?? I was literally running through the alleys between the booths.


The entrance of Art Basel. Yinka Shonibare sculpture at James Cohan, NY. All art dealers were busy selling!






























Artworks were sold really well at Art Basel. Jack Pierson, "The Cripple Begger Knew a Priceless Secret," 2007, $300,000 - Sold, Regan Projects, Los Angeles.








Franz West sculptures - Reserved and Sold. Martin Kippenberger on the wall - Sold, Grässlin, Frankfurt.














This is one of a few ceramic works I found at the fair. Scatola Brillo by an Italian artist duo Bertozzi and Casoni, $30,000 - sold, Sperone Westwater, NY.



This floor installation was also sold!


























Another building Art Unlimited next to the main building was dedicated to video installations, performances, emerging galleries and so forth. I wanted to see them as many as possible but time ran out. I jumped onto a tram to catch a train to Munich, the next stop.

Cao Fei, known for her video work, was doing her performance with her artist father.

Art Design Miami Basel 2007