I just got this urge – out of the blue. I absolutely had to visit the Centre Pompidou this weekend. With zero preparation, I hurried my way over to this temple of pipeline architecture. Turned out they had renewed some of their collections. My first encounter ended up being with Jackson Pollock and the American Action Painting.

The museum gave me a fascinating ride throughout the previous century’s art skyline. I got doused kindly, steadily to an imagination wonderland. Braque’s colorful fauvism.

Followed by Matisse’s black-lined experiments.

Then the American Action Painters, where gesture – painting on large surfaces, sometimes placed on the ground, or color purged directly from the tube, slabbed vividly with hands or even feet – was a key part of the process.

The Acton Painting movement started working its way in me. I realized that what I had sketched together, in a minute’s time in our wedding, as a part of my dance piece, had already been along these very lines. It’s been a while that I haven’t painted. As often, the desire to do so starts cooking itself up in me. And then, one day, the blob just has to come out. I feel this happening soon. Being soused by other people’s work is a wonderful trigger.

As I stepped out from the center, I was pretty much “drunk” by all the impulses I’d been digesting. Now they’re stewing. How wonderful to have this luxury of being able to discover, see and sense. Paris is a heaven for artsies like me.

3 Responses to “Soaked up in Art”

1. audrey says:

   August 25, 2008 at 7:10 pm

   the pompidou is such a wonderful space. i have a friend who is an architect and i love hearing him talking about the building’s design. and it’s really nice that should the feeling come over you, in a split second you can venture out and be in the midst of such lovely paintings.

   i find the same thing, being in the atmosphere of art inspires me, and it is so good for the heart. i had the idea to steal away to the met this past weekend, but in the end i did not have the time…

   when you come to visit, you will love the new metropolitan of modern art space. it is wonderful… so spacious and full of wonderful paintings… it’s like a playground.
2. kitty says:

   August 27, 2008 at 4:47 am

   great that you had a good time. I can relate to the sudden need to see something inspirational or simply different.

   I’ve only been to the museum once. It is really way the heck out there isn’t it? I just remember a walk down a long, long road with stalls selling tons of stuff on either side. Then a grey neighborhood and this huge park out of nowhere. Parc de la Villette was fun.

   Happy Wednesday, married lady!
3. Susu says:

   August 27, 2008 at 12:33 pm

   Audrey – Art is like a pacemaker for the heart. It can keep you going in marvelous ways and long after the actual experience. I’m sure I’ll enjoy immensely visiting the Metropolitan of Modern Art. Thank you for making me think of that. All in all, I’ll try to make the most of my time in NY art visit wise.

   Kitty – Sounds like you’re talking about the Parc de la VIllette exhibition center, but I might be wrong. The neighborhood in that area is a bit shabby, but they organize great concerts. Pompidou is also in an area known as not one of the safest hoods in Paris, but in daylight it’s pretty safe.