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Tuesday 22 February 2011

China Girl

A year ago the art world was buzzing over one of the pearl treasures of China. The Emperor's Eastern Pearl Court Necklace (Chaozhu), incorporating 108 flawless natural freshwater pearls, gold, coral, and other gemstones, was sold for a staggering price of US$ 8.7 million at Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong. 134 cm long and with pearls measuring from 9.6 to 10.65 mm, this necklace belonged to the emperor Yongzheng from the 18th century Qing Dynasty. 
 
© Sotheby's 
The pearl court necklace, incorporating a Buddhist rosary design, had been introduced as a part of the official ceremonial dress by the Qing Dynasty in 1636.
The portrait of the Yongzheng emperor wearing formal court attire depicts him wearing almost identical, if not the same necklace as the one that has been auctioned. There are only five other known Eastern pearl chaozhu in China, all located in the Palace Museum in Beijing. The Eastern pearl necklace is considered to be of the highest cultural significance. 
  
Inspired by the rare beauty I checked my collection of gemstones. See, I smuggle bring the colourful bits from all over the world: pearls, jade, lapis lazuli, turquoise from Asia, malachite from Ural, amber from Latvia, corals from the Dominican Republic, crystals are available in abundance here in Switzerland. One must have a hobby, n’est pas? 

The idea of making a Yongzheng-inspired piece was sitting in my head for a long while rather quietly. Until a few days ago Ralph Lauren presented his Fall 2011 ready-to-wear collection in New York (no, unfortunately I didn’t watch it from the front row or backstage, I did it online, eating chips on the sofa; a nice option too: no need to splurge on a flight ticket and new boots).

Can you even believe it?...when everybody else is desperately waiting for spring, fashion designers are already looking forward to next winter, brrrr. Although I wouldn’t mind a three month winter extension if I got to wear one of  Lauren’s pieces… 

 Photo: Gianni Pucci / GoRunway.com
 
Like Oscar de la Renta in his last collection and Marc Jacobs last season at Louis Vuitton, Lauren looked to the Orient for inspiration - China specifically. The models wore jade earrings and coral lips, red lacquered heels on the equally glossy runway. I can empathise :-). And I finally made my version of the Emperor’s pearl necklace and a pair of matching earrings. Thank you, Ralph. 

Saturday 19 February 2011

Sara

Inspired by a photo event yesterday (later more on that one) I picked up my camera and snapped a few shots of a friend who passed by the showroom. Portrait photography is my second dream slash plan, and Sara is my favorite subject so far… I photographed this stunning young woman on several occasions, but the soft diffused light of a February afternoon was just perfect…



Sara’s face makes me think of poems of Anna Akhmatova and Russian aristocrats in exile for some reason… 

The bird began to sing the song of light and pleasure
To us, who fears to lift looks from the earth,
Who are so lofty, bitter and intense,
About days when we were saved together. 
(Anna Akhmatova)

Thursday 17 February 2011

Catching Up

Ten more days to go till the end of my exposition and it’s time for a little mid-term update. Guess what? I got recognized on the street yesterday. “Nice article!” someone said. Palms of my hands sweating, I run walk briskly  to the nearest newspaper stand and buy 5 copies of Aargauer Zeitung - utterly failing to look nonchalant. :-) Frantically leafing through I get to the page 32 and tah-dah! – here I am. 
 

Aargauer Zeitung from 16. Feb 2011. Click to enlarge.

Ursula Burgherr (www.ursulaburgherr.ch), a journalist from the Aargauer Zeitung, did a great job translating my chaotic, mosaic-like bits of thoughts into smooth romantic impressions on life, people and Swiss culture. 

Quite a few visitors passed by the showroom after reading the article, and thank you for all the nice emails and sms :-).  Next Saturday, Feb 26th I am making a little closing event at Unikat (Obere Halde 32, Baden) from 17h to 21h. I am looking forward to see more of you there, to share a glass of something, and to cheer for the coming spring.

Have a warm weekend.

Love,
AB

Monday 14 February 2011

Happy Valentine's!

I think I am seriously in love! Her name is Annie and she is 11 months young, a little “Fish” just like me. She came with her parents to my Showroom a few days ago, well not exactly came, rather she has been carried in – like a little princess :-) 
 Annie's parents married on Feb 14th, it was the only available date, they explain, but we know better, don’t we? So hearty congratulations to all couples who celebrate Valentine’s Day!!!

And a Happy Birthday to my blog. I started to put my thoughts and feelings on the blue screen on a sunny St.Valentine’s Sunday morning one year ago, and it turned out to be a true adventure. I made new friends and have discovered a lot of things about myself along the way.   

I wish you all a lovely Valentine’s Monday!

Your AB

Sunday 6 February 2011

Thank you


It is kind of strange, really: I can’t find the right words to share my impressions and thoughts about my vernissage in the showroom UNIKAT last Friday evening… Perhaps because all I wanted to express, I said in my paintings, or because photographs are so vivid, they can speak for themselves…

Looking for quotes about art, I found and liked very much this one of Friedrich Nietzsche: “There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.”  It made me think about the atmosphere at the opening: if it was not cheerful, it was certainly very warm. An intensive exchange of impressions and ideas, and thoughts. Challenging and stimulating at the same time.

So all I want to say is Thank you. To those who came and shared this event with me, and to those who encourage my artistic search from afar. It really means a lot to me.


Last preparations...


 Culture journalist and actress Verena Hoehne kindly agreed to do a reading and share her thoughts about art.


Stella  (left) with a friend


Thank you and have a great week.

Love,
AB