A Quite Artsy Weekend

I visited the MoMa yesterday. That's one of the great advantages of living in New York: having the museum right there. At moments I may even forget about it, but it doesn't matter, it will be there. So comforting... I wish all my relationships had the constancy of my relationship with the MoMa!

The lines, of course, were around the corner. Tourists and more tourists, English degraded as the third language in the place. I'm not sure if they were there for the paintings or because it was part of their long list of must-dos in New York. Anyway, they were there, with their cameras, tired feet and subway maps.

But enough of digressions, this is supposed to be about the paintings, isn't it?

I didn't really walk by any of the permanent collections, since the time was short. I concentrated at the three major exhibitions: Joan Miró, Marlene Dumas and Van Gogh.

Miró was unintelligible and genial as always. The exposition is organized chronologically from 1927 to 1937. It was great to see his evolution during those pos-roaring twenties, pre-war ( WW and Spanish Civil War) years. I might be exaggerating a little, but in paintings of the "Rope and People" series I saw a beginning of the style that later would become acclaimed in Picasso's "Guernica." A big surprise for me was to learn that even for apparent spur-of-a-moment works such "Portrait of a Dancer," Miro sketched endlessly before getting to the final arrangement.

Ahhh, a little comment that I can't avoid indulging in: there were these two ladies there, who reminded me terribly of Mary Wilkie (Diane Keaton's character in Manhattan). It was great! I followed them around for a few minutes, trying to catch some hilarious line, or maybe a mispronunciation of Van Goghrrhhr. Sadly, It didn't happen. I think they noticed I was around too much and got weirded out by my stalking manners. Ow well, ... I tried, if they had cooperated it could have been a quite funny story.

Marlene Dumas' work was definitely the big event of the day for me. Absolutely fantastic! I'm actually quite embarrassed that I had never heard of her before. Had you??? (Ow God, please say no... ) I was in a mist of amazement, surprise, and somewhat shock that totally incapacitated me of coming up with any analytical response . Dumas' paintings are extremely revealing of the artist behind it. I felt like walking through someone consciousness (or would it be unconsciousness?), being able to experiment her fears, aggressivity, doubts and even sexuality. Let art be revealing, instead of using it as a curtain to one's personality? Now that is subversive! I'm a already a fan.

At 3:30, after walking out of the museum for a while to get some fresh air - and my thoughts in order - I had my appointment with Van Gogh. What can I say about Van Gogh? First, it's sort of surreal (in its adjective form, please) to be able to actually see the original Starry Night just a few inches of my face. It took me a lot of strength to hold myself from touching it. I guess my fear of being forever banned from the MoMa, added to the fact that my very favorites- the sunflowers - were not there kept me behaved. I was actually a bit sad, looking at all corners hoping they could be hidden somewhere, but no. No sunflowers for me. It may have been for the better though... can you imagine if I happened to overcome my fear, touch one of the paintings and possibly ruin forever the most solid relationship I've had in years? That would be a sad, sad thing.