Get Closer

earlier this year the Metropolitan Museum of Art held a free photography contest asking entrants to photograph a small detail of any work of art in the permanent collection, 

which moved them and captured their imagination.....the text that follows these images was submitted by the photographers themselves as their personal interpretation

 on the meaning of the detail...

these are just two of the many examples from Get Closer

that captured mine...

detail photo by Jia Guo

Indian Girl or the Dawn of Christianity

In the 19th century, an aboriginal girl is fixated on the cross.
In the 21st century, a New Yorker is holding her iPhone in the same pose.
The objects and the times are different, but perhaps there is more than the pose that is space-time invariant?

detail photo by Dana Lim Vanderheyden

La Nuit by Aristide Maillol

Aristide Maillol- La Nuit : Is she resting, reflecting, crying or perhaps sleeping?  Only by crouching next to the sculpture does one know that the face is fully sculpted and quite serene. When viewing this “hidden” part of the sculpture, one feels as if a secret is being revealed — the secret of the face that Maillol hid from the casual observer


via Tumblr and Metropolitan Museum of Art 

The Opulence of the Emperor!

'The Emperor's Private Paradise:  Treasures from the Forbidden City'

currently showing at The Metropolitan Museum in NYC showcases an abundance of elaborate possessions of possibly the most extravagant Emperor in Chinese history.

The Qianlong Emperor who reigned from 1736-1795 during the Qing Dynasty commissioned an opulently, over the top retirement compound to be built for him in 1771.

No expense was spared to create an ostentatious, wall to wall, two acre masterpiece of riches, which housed the most expensive art and furnishings that could be procured.

 Comprising works which contained rare woods, gilt bronze, porcelain, lacquer and semi-precious stones.

Alas, he never resided there, and the 'Emperor's Paradise' remained untouched

 and unlived in since Imperial times.

Ancestral portrait of the Qianlong Emperor (1736-1795)

Ornamental Linghi Rock of limestone-
 great for the Sculpture Garden!

Throne and Footstool made from purple sandalwood and cedar.
Depicting the deer in the' Buddhist Paradise'

From the Bower of Purist Jade in wood, lacquer and gilding

Panel from the Studio of Exhaustion from Diligent Service (love the name!)
sandalwood, jade, lapis lazuli, malachite, purple sandalwood and glass

And now for my favourites!

Now these are really pushing the envelope!




These amazing rootwood pieces were seen in paintings as early as the 11th Century depicting Buddhist figures seated on furniture like this. These early images were meant to signify the religious figures' indifference to comfort and worldly possessions. They were at one with natural organic forms, whilst being very uncomfortable!

During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) the culturally elite started to commission furniture like this to be carved to resemble naturally contorted roots.




I could just imagine a new design project featuring a room full of this!
These are sculptural masterpieces!



All images via Metropolitan Museum of Art and Culture Grrl