Latest news with #Impressionists
The Star
12-06-2025
- The Star
An impressive tourism palette in Normandy, France
Normandy (or Normandie), with its ever-changing skies and rugged coastline, initially appealed to local French holidaymakers before becoming a top spot for artists seeking to capture the fleeting moments of nature's beauty. In the late 19th century, the coastal region became a pivotal backdrop for the Impressionist movement, influencing artists to step outside their traditional studios and embrace the nuances of natural light on the landscape. Normandy was, for many Impressionist painters, their birthplace and home. The term 'Impressionism' originated from Claude Monet's 1872 painting, Impression, Sunrise, which depicted Le Havre at dawn. Monet was born in Paris but raised in the port of Le Havre and frequently returned to his hometown to paint its ever-busy port, and the interplay of light on coastal waters. His works from this period emphasise transient moments, capturing reflections and atmospheric conditions. The port city's proximity to Paris and its growing number of fashionable seaside resorts like Dieppe, Honfleur, Deauville and Trouville-sur-Mer meant that artists could simply travel to Normandy by train, and then incorporate a palette of colours into their artistic works. Many stayed to paint an artistic legacy that is hard to rival in any other part of the world. For over half a century, these seaside resorts and the historic riverside city of Rouen inspired the Impressionists. Breaking away from the more formal, classical themes of the early 19th century, the Impressionists were revolutionary in their preference for painting en plein air – or in the open air/outdoors – in natural light. Landscapes, towns, and scenes of daily life were their subject matter. While Monet's paintings are housed in numerous galleries and collections around the world, a remarkable number of Impressionist works can still be admired in Normandy. These paintings, where they were painted, and many other essential elements of French life provide good reasons for visiting Normandy. Road to Rouen My journey of discovery began in Giverny, beside the river Seine, 75km northwest of Paris. It was an excellent place to start my discovery of Normandy, as it was just a short drive from Paris. This is where you can enjoy the fresh air of the French countryside. Not only is the small town an important part of the Impressionist jigsaw puzzle, but its villagers also happily welcome visitors. The beautiful Rouen Cathedral and the city's half-timbered buildings inspired Monet. Monet's home and gardens here were his lifelong inspirations, which lead to his iconic Water Lilies series. The Fondation Claude Monet preserves his house and gardens, allowing visitors to experience the outdoor setting that inspired his creativity and imagination. The place was a magnet for other painters until Monet's death in 1926. While some took advantage of his hospitality, others stayed at the Hotel Baudy. In the late afternoon, I travelled to Rouen to enjoy dining on the open square of Place du Vieux Marche (Old Market Square), taking in the markets, walking along the river, and visiting the famous cathedral. Monet's paintings of Rouen Cathedral, depicting the structure at different times of the day and under varying light conditions, exemplifies his exploration of light and perception. The Musee des Beaux-Arts has a compelling display of Monet's cathedral series. The cathedral was built in two phases and two distinct styles. Work started on the Roman-inspired section in 1030, and in 1145, the Gothic-inspired section commenced. At 150m high and 145m long, it is France's highest and most asymmetrical cathedral since the reconstruction of its cast iron spire in 1876. For me, simply strolling along Rouen's medieval streets past half-timbered buildings was a highlight of this historic city. Village life in La Bouille Rouen is a large, bustling riverside city that offers many tourist activities and facilities, but it was Normandy's smaller towns and villages that were in my sights. Impressionists Alfred Sisley, William Turner and Paul Gauguin all painted here in the village, which dates back to the 13th century. Helpful signs aided my understanding of the sites and attractions around the walkable town. La Bouille, a small riverside village, was my base for two days. I wanted to enjoy village life while exploring the region. As an indication of expenses in a village compared to a big city like Rouen, my off-peak accommodation for two at the Hotel Le Bellevue in La Bouille was €77 (RM373) a night, and breakfast was €14.50 (RM70) a head. Meanwhile, a three-course dinner in the adjoining restaurant, La Table d'Hector, was €39 (189) per person without beverages. During my stay in La Bouille, I visited the nearby Museo Seine at Rives-en-Seine to learn about the history of the region and the importance of the river to everyday life across the floodplain. Honfleur is arguably the most picturesque fishing village along the Normandy coast. If you can't paint it, then at least take a picture of the place if you ever visit. Riverside Honfleur Honfleur is the quintessential seaside fishing town fronting the Atlantic Ocean where it meets the Seine. Apart from exploring the quaint seafront with its fishing fleet, the Musee Eugene Boudin, with paintings by Eugene Boudin and Monet, isn't to be missed. Boudin, an influential Impressionist from Honfleur, was known as the 'king of the skies'. He introduced Monet to plein-air painting, urging him to capture the changing skies directly. Honfleur's picturesque harbour, with its wooden houses and shifting light, became a frequent subject for both artists. I enjoyed a leisurely seafood dinner overlooking the port, which becomes quieter after the day-trippers have moved on. Not surprisingly, Honfleur is one of the most popular tourist sites in Normandy, attracting many who dine in seafood restaurants after wandering the historic streets. This charming port town, with its cobblestone streets and historic architecture, captivated many Impressionists. Cliffs and gardens of Etretat A natural stop on my way north from Honfleur to Etretat was Le Havre, as Monet's early works were painted in and around the port. The Musee d'Art Moderne Andre Malraux (MuMa) houses an extensive collection of Impressionist art, including Monet's works (Water Lilies) and those of his contemporaries. Further north, the dramatic cliffs and natural arches of Etretat provided a stunning backdrop for painters like Delacroix and Courbet. Courbet, like other Impressionists, was fascinated by the dramatic geological formations, the quality of natural light, and the clarity of the air. He appreciated that the composition of the sea, the land with its cliffs and rocks, and the sky was well balanced. In 1868, Monet lived in Etretat with Camille Doncieux, whom he was to marry two years later. He visited the seaside resort town on many occasions in the 1880s to work on numerous paintings depicting the cliffs under varying light conditions, and capturing their ever-changing appearance. The chalk cliffs at Etretat inspired many Impressionist painters including Monet who lived nearby. He, too, was fascinated by the dramatic cliffs and rock arches and was constantly looking for somewhere with outstanding natural beauty that he could paint. He sought sites to observe the effects of natural light on the sea and the limestone cliffs of what is known as the Alabaster Coast. He would move from one position to another, continually looking for the best natural lighting across the landscape. This explains why Monet painted so many pictures of the same scene. He wanted to capture the changing light at various times and during ever-changing weather conditions. As such, it was not only the beauty of the coastline that appealed but also its changing weather, including its tempestuous ferocity. In 1883 Monet completed a work entitled Stormy Sea In Etretat, which is currently housed in Lyon's Musee des Beaux-Arts. Like other visitors, I walked the clifftop paths that Monet once did, admiring the same vistas that inspired his masterpieces. However, it was the evocative art in the manicured gardens at Jardins d'Etretat that fascinated me most. Perched high on the cliffs above the seaside town, the Jardins d'Etretat are a striking blend of nature, contemporary art and architectural landscaping. The gardens were created in 1905 by actress Madame Thebault, who was inspired by Monet's paintings depicting the local seascape. After decades of obscurity, the gardens were restored and reimagined in 2017 by Russian landscape architect Alexandre Grivko. He designed modern topiary gardens that pay homage to the original Belle Époque spirit while combining avant-garde sculpture with environmental themes. The gardens at Etretat are a living cultural canvas that challenges the senses at every twist in the pathways that weave through them. Small towns like La Bouille along the Seine are ideal for enjoying French daily life. Visitors to the gardens can explore a series of distinct spaces with names like Impressionist, Emotion, and Aval, where immaculately sculpted foliage undulates in harmony with the cliffside. The experience is deliberately immersive, with art installations by global artists interwoven into the landscape to challenge the boundary between gallery and garden. In the town, Le Donjon – Domaine Saint Clair offers accommodation and refined Norman cuisine with sea views and accommodation. Normandy's landscapes, with their interplay of light and natural beauty, continue to resonate with artists and visitors alike. By following in the footsteps of the Impressionists, visitors to France can gain a deeper appreciation for their paintings and the environment that inspired them. Normandy also provides a wonderful French experience that is close to the air gateway of Paris. Even visitors with a limited appreciation of the Impressionists can travel to Normandy to appreciate it in a different light. The destination's tourism infrastructure and interpretation facilities make it easy for visitors to travel here to take in the beauty of the land and all that it has to offer. n The Normandy Impressionist Festival is staged annually throughout the province from July 1 to the end of August. Travel Notes How to get there: Fly into Paris (Orly or Charles de Gaulle airports) and hire a car to Normandy, or take the train to Rouen. Trains operated by SNCF depart from Charles de Gaulle, with the fastest direct connection taking about four hours (train changes at Arras and Amiens). Trains from Paris to Normandy depart from Saint-Lazare Station and cover the 135km distance to Rouen in just 75 minutes. Alternatively, join a multi-day river cruise from Paris that includes stops in Honfleur and Rouen. CroisiEurope operates boating tours of Normandy along the river Seine departing from, and returning to Paris. More info: Explore France ( and Normandy Tourism (
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Joy Sarkar inaugurates solo art show by Anupama Arora Mallik
Joy Sarkar and Anupama Arora Mallik Music composer Joy Sarkar joined others to inaugurate Echoes in Colours , a solo art exhibition by emerging artist Anupama Arora Mallik at a prominent art gallery in Kolkata. Other notable personalities present included Ayon Ghosh, Badal Pal, and Prosanta Kumar Basu, all of whom lauded the artist's evocative work and emotional depth. A self-taught artist with a background in medicine, Anupama made a remarkable transition from a successful two-decade-long career as a consultant pathologist to pursue her lifelong passion for painting. "Art was always my quiet refuge," she shared, reflecting on how it provided her solace and balance throughout her medical career. Inspired by nature and the spirit of the Impressionists, Anupama's work blends both representational and abstract styles. While she uses a mix of brushes and even her fingers at times, it is the palette knife that has become her signature tool, allowing her to create richly textured layers on surfaces such as canvas, tile, wood, and glass. The exhibition, themed Echoes in Colours, seeks to celebrate the timeless beauty of the world around us and share that joy through vibrant, emotive compositions. Each piece invites viewers into a journey of colour, emotion, and movement, crafted with a sense of spontaneity and intuitive grace. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Birla Evara 3 and 4 BHK from ₹ 1.75 Crore* Birla Estates Learn More Undo 'This city has always held a special place in my heart,' said Anupama. 'Kolkata is the cultural capital of India, and exhibiting my work here as a solo artist had been a dream for a long time.' The exhibition was curated by Madhuchanda Sen, and was attended by art enthusiasts and cultural connoisseurs alike.
The Guardian
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Lupe Fiasco on his new art project and looking at rap ‘in a deep academic way'
'What does it mean to record outside, not just rap outside like a cypher, but actually record outside with the intention of completing a full song completely written and inspired outdoors?' rapper Lupe Fiasco mused while discussing his latest project, Ghotiing (pronounced 'fishing'). 'What are the limitations and constraints? What do you have to prepare to go into that environment? Onlookers, insects, the weather, noise, any kind of distraction.' En plein air rapping, as Fiasco calls it – after the school of painting that was popularized by Impressionists like Monet and Renoir – involves going to a promising location and fishing for lyrics and beats. He has been fine-turning the practice ever since he came on as a visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for the 2022-23 academic year – ghotiing throughout MIT, in LA, and elsewhere, while also teaching it to his students. 'It's a practice that I've been using and playing with and working through for the past few years,' he said. Fiasco has just released the first project of this site-specific rapping via the MIT List Visual Arts Center's website. The nine-track effort (seven which are currently available) is a cohesive collection of music with a distinct jazz flavor that feels like a throwback to the Native Tongues era of hip-hop. For Fiasco, these tracks are an emanation of the environment that he fished them from. 'The goal is to have a certain level of ownership of the space by being completely aware of all the objects that are around it,' said Fiasco, 'and how these objects are affecting or influencing, consciously or unconsciously, your experiences.' To celebrate the release, Fiasco will be holding a concert on 2 May as a culmination of the Artfinity Festival. Sonically and lyrically, there's a certain kind of beguiling simplicity to these tracks, with lines that tend to be short and filled with internal rhymes. There's a sense that the Chicago rapper is more after sound than sense, as in the triplet, 'Filling up the staircase / Airspace tethered to the pear tastes / Electron share shape.' Elsewhere, Fiasco plays with the everydayness of the MIT campus, as when rapping about a giant steel sculpture made by Alexander Calder: 'Tourists on their summer trips give it OKs like the number six / Walk around alongside or up under it / Or ignore it / Like can't see the trees, cause the forests / Or adore it / And explore it.' As the rapper shared, the mundanity is very much the point. 'One of my key creative functions is decorating the mundane, finding the profound narratives or insights in the mundane,' he said. 'You can see that tradition from Kick, Push, which was about skateboarding. For me it was very mundane, it was a toy. It was like, make a song about this toy. I try to look for the things that people perceive to be mundane and unpack the profound things that are within it.' Ghotiing required Fiasco to solve the many technical challenges raised by site-specific recording. According to him, it could make for awkward moments to be channeling hip-hop inspiration in public environments where anyone might intervene. Being a veteran performer helped, as did putting on his 'ghotiing uniform' – usually an MIT jacket – to let people know he was up to something and to give space. Surprisingly, Fiasco said that being a celebrity didn't pose much of an issue for him. 'People don't really care,' he said. 'There's a certain kind of, 'Oh that's Lupe,' or 'That's Professor Lupe, he's a dope-ass dude.' That has its own kind of reputation. Sometimes people sneak out like, 'Yo, lemme get a selfie,' but for the most part, in terms of ghotiing, people don't really care.' As for creating beats, Fiasco enlisted AI for assistance – he primarily used Suno, a generative AI program founded in Cambridge, MA, that specializes in making music. 'You get people to make beats, and they'll probably make one beat for months. You can't really do that when you got the battery on your laptop running down and the sun's going down and it's getting cold.' Fiasco worked by putting the AI-generated beats through an editing process, going through dozens of generations of the same beat to get one that was of interest. Fiasco situated AI on a spectrum of the many different tools that musicians have created and adapted for themselves. 'It's like if the saxophone player made the saxophone – which is rare, but real,' he said. 'My students can write their own music production software, which is akin to someone like Havoc from Mobb Deep, right, who makes the beats and raps over his own beats. So I see that tradition as just as valid as going into the lab and making the AI that will sit and train the data.' Fiasco's intention to exhaust the potential of a particular place, as well as to embrace everything uncontrollable about recording outside in order to make his compositions more creative, brings to mind the French writing collective the Oulipo, or Workshop of Potential Literature. That group embraced constraint in writing as a means of inspiring creative freedom and would often work in situ as Fiasco does. It's a group that the rapper knows well, assigning their literature to students in the course he teaches at MIT, as well as making it a part of the entry exam to his Society of Spoken Art (SOSA) guild of rappers. 'One of the mandatory readings in my class is Raymond Queneau's Exercises in Style, one of the leaders of the Oulipo school,' he told me. 'And then also, one of the tests that people take to get into SOSA is A Void, the book that's written without the letter 'e'. So that same approach to heavily constrained writing is embedded in the process.' Ultimately, the Chicago rapper has big goals for his work with higher education. He wants to approach rap in a way akin to how linguists have approached the study of language, breaking it down into discrete chunks that can be analyzed, and putting it through formal rigor. One day, he'd love to see programs at prestigious universities make the sorts of things he's pioneering as part of a whole hip-hop curriculum. 'Maybe one day there will be a graduate program, and there's a hip-hop degree, and I'm teaching the rap portion of it. The hope is that rap gets put into a space where people can take it and run with it in a very deep academic way. Maybe eventually you can become a tenured professor in the rap department at MIT.'
Time Out
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The best Hong Kong events in May 2025
The famous Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris have collaborated with the Hong Kong Museum of Art to present this special exhibition on two of the greatest masters of the Impressionist art movement: Paul Cézanne and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This is the first large-scale exhibition of the two Impressionists in Hong Kong, showcasing 52 masterpieces on loan from France. See how the pair found innovative ways to reinvent the art of their time, how they viewed the world, and how they captured the rapidly changing times around them. Cézanne and Renoir were also longtime friends and likely influenced each other's works, as well as later becoming beacons of inspiration for later painters such as Spanish surrealist master Pablo Picasso. The Cézanne and Renoir exhibition will run from January 17 to May 7. Tickets are priced at $50, with concessions available. Note that the Hong Kong Museum of Art is closed on Thursdays as well as the first two days of Chinese New Year (January 29-30). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out Hong Kong (@timeouthk)
India Today
25-04-2025
- India Today
The floating palace
FFloating moodily on Lake Lucerne, offering some of Switzerland's—and possibly even the world's—best views, The Mandarin Oriental is less accommodation and more a destination kind of vibe. This grande dame hotel spotlights the Belle poque era, and opened as the Palace Hotel Luzern back in 1906 (the hotel still retains the rooftop hoarding). MandarinOriental took over in 2019, and four years of massive renovations later, opened to guests in late 2022. Despite the extensive makeover, it retains much of the panache, glitz and old-world-glamour of its earlier avatar. Can you imagine a more sublime conflation than an epic setting, Swiss order and reliability and Asian hospitality, in the hallowed portals of luxury hospitality? The 88 rooms are lovely and well-appointed but the 48 luxury suites are spectacular, and some even open out to patios and balconies overlooking the lake, with views that the Impressionists would resurrect for. The facade of the hotel (Photo: Mandarin Oriental Palace, Lucerne) Food at the Colonnade looks and tastes like an enchanted forest come to life
