Jenny Plake Designs: Contemporary

Friday, November 1, 2013

Art History Meets Halloween: Part I

Being a Halloween fan and Art Historian has it's fantastic connections. The history of Halloween, or All Hallow's Eve, dates back as early as the 16th century, and is a celebration of remembering the dead or saints (hallows). In it's beginning as a holiday, festivities were much like with modern day; feasting (although there were much more apples than plastic wrapped sugar), costume wearing for telling spooky ghost stories (okay, well more like folk stories), and of course the tricks or games played believed to have started by the Irish (Oh, those pranksters!). Also, it is the eve of All Saints Day, November 1st, which marks the end of harvest season and beginning of the 'darker' part of the year; winter season (later came day light savings time). There are various accounts on whether it is considered a pagan or religious holiday depending on which part of Europe you ask. However, today it seems different cultures have made it their own concoction, which is the reason for this treat of a blog post. The following examples show strong inspiration for today's classic halloween characters: mummies, skeletons, witches, ghosts and spiders. If we remember Karl Freund's 1932 film, The Mummy, or the now iconic serial killer mask from Wes Craven's Scream series, these art historical images pose as inspiration for the ever popular holiday characters and costumes. Although, the artworks shown here were not originally created for the holiday spirit. Some remember the dead, study the dead, symbolize the dead, strip down to the bones, commercialize the bones, and so on... they are still images that continue to inspire with their individual art historical statements.

King Tutankhamen, Thebes, Egypt, Dynasty XVIII, ca. 1323 BCE, Egyptian Museum, Cairo

Anatomical studies of the human skeleton sketches, Leonardo da Vinci, ca. 1510

The Incantation, Francisco Goya, oil on canvas, 1797 – 98, Lazaro Galdiano Foundation, Madrid

Amorōnagu "girl who fell from heaven", is a tennyo (celestial maiden) from the folklore of the island of Amami Ōshima, in Kagoshima prefecture, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, first half of the 19th century

Nissaka Man receiving a child fron a ghost, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, ca. 1844. This night scene illustrates the moment when the ghost of the murdered woman hands over her baby to her husband. The rock upon which her blood flows becomes the abode of her spirit which cries out every night.

Head of a skeleton with a burning cigarette, 1886

Vincent van Gogh, Oil on Canvas, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

The Scream, Edvard Munch, oil, tempera and pastel on cardboard, 1893

Vampire, Edvard Munch, Lithograph, 1895

Human skull consisting of seven naked women's bodies  Photograph: Philippe Halsman, 1951, after a drawing by Salvador Dali

Maman 1999, Steel & Marble sculpture installation by Louise Bourgeois, 2008, Tate Modern, London

Self portrait with skeleton by Marina Abramovic 2003 Photograph: Marina Abramovic/Sean Kelly Gallery New York

For the Love of God, Damien Hirst, Platinum, diamonds and human teeth, 2007

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Italian Desgin: Palazzo Gorgoni in Puglia

Located in a 18th century city, Galatina, Italy, this charming Baroque palazzo exudes historic character, contemporary living and artistic touches. Palazzo Gorgoni features a grand entry courtyard, pool courtyard with hydromassage corner, roof top terrace with amazing views, wonderfully preserved marble staircase and architecture, contemporary steel kitchen, luxurious bedrooms and baths with charming artwork and much, much more!

OH! Not to mention that this one of a kind Italian palazzo is exclusively for rent! Think Puglia has all the details. It sleeps 16 people and ranges in price from $16,070. To me it looks well worth the price for a one of a kind Italian experience with 16 friends!