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Mónica Boixeda
Between the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea, with an incredible view of the Bosforo, sits the Topkapi Palace http://www.topkapisarayi.gov.tr/. Built by order of the Sultan Mehmed II a few years after the final collapse of the Byzantium, it was the centre of administration for the Ottoman empire for the following four centuries – until 1853, and the Christian era, when the Sultan Abdulmecid decreed that the headquarters move to the modern Dolmabahçe Palace. Today, the Topkapi Palace is a museum dedicated to those far away glory years of the Ottoman Empire, and which houses some of the most magnificent treasures in the world. Visitors who wander the vast and winding spaces are often grateful for a tourist guide to show them the Pearl room for example, which holds the Topkapi head, embellished with precious stones, gold and emeralds – or the room which displays the famous Indio-Turkish throne from the 18th century. But one thing we would advise you not to miss out on is the extraordinary collection of talismanic shirts, made famous recently thanks to the publication in Istanbul of Hülya Tezcan´s Las Camisas Mágicas del Palacio de Topkapi. In Turkish culture, great importance has always been placed on magical practice – whether aesthetic or ritual – as a lesson for the future, from coffee, to the summoning of the omnipresent Turkish eye, or nazar to cast curses. Tezcan´s book speaks of the power of the talismanic tops to make the fighter invisible in battle, to protect from evil, to maintain good health and aid fertility. The latter was the case with the powerful Sultana Nurbanu –...
Mónica Boixeda
Let´s see. Let´s see. How do I start writing about someone who, in spite of; every effort, all the Black Metal you’ve ever heard, all the drugs you consumed, all the countries you´ve visited, all people you’ve met and all books and statements you’ve read, un-fortunately, has shaped your sentimental life for as long as you can remember, because come on, let´s face it, your parents listened to Julio so loud, that the sound winded up at your room. Although, you could probably say that your parents only listened to Triana; were hippies and had the vinyls of the Ramones, you cannot deny that you heard Julio Iglesias and it made you feel a bit more romantic: you didn’t walk, you flew with Julio. Before continuing, let´s review “One day you, one day me” from the classic album Emotions (1979). An energetic, three-minute disco-style song, in which Julio is the Spanish “Travolta”, that made you dance as a wild tigress while wearing your favorite flared trousers and platforms shoes. “You are like that, I´m like you. To love like this, to hate each other, and then to die for love” I love to hate you Julio. But apart of make you dance, he hypnotizes you, try listening to the song wearing headphones, when the girls finish singing the chorus, there is an oscillation effect in the same style of Tangerine Dream, Klaus Schulze or Kluster. And it was the perfect time. If I could do a remix I would raise such effects. Imagine; Julio was not only sexy, he was also cutting edge. Uh? That album also has classics...
Mónica Boixeda
The Museum of Fine Arts in Seville is putting on an exhibition between the 8th of March and 29th May called “Images & Myths in Andalusian Painting, Bellver Collection,” and will display many of the key Andalusian paintings from 1830-1950. The show, which will be divided into seven different sections, consists of 171 pieces from the Mariano Bellver collection, and will be held in the fifth room of the Seville museum. Though the majority of the artists exhibited are from Seville, there will also be the work of artists from other parts of Spain who have chosen to show their work in Andalusia. One of the sections of the museum is about the arrival of artists to Andalusia from countries such as England and France, who helped to bring about the birth of romantic painting in Spain. Another section, called “Romantic Customs” will include the work of Federico M. Eder, Cabral Bejarano, Domínguez Bécquer and Cortés Aguilar, along with others from the middle of the 19th century. In “Andalusian painters in Italy” – as the name suggests – is the work of José Villegas Cordero and Rafael Senet Pérez. As you journey through the seven sections of the exhibition, you are able to follow the evolution of painting in Andalucia through time, up until the 1950s. More information: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/cultura/museos/MBASE/index.jsp?redirect=S2_1_3_1.jsp¬icias=1477&novedades=1 Museo de Bellas Artes de Sevilla: Plaza Museo 9, 41001 Sevilla, España MiLK This is a rare exhibition which traces the evolution of art in one of the richest regions of Spain. Don´t miss out on your chance to go along to “Imágenes y mitos en la pintura andaluza. Colección...
Mónica Boixeda
In a surprising move, back in February the Barcelona council awarded the annual “Premio de Arquitectura y Urbanismo Ciudad de Barcelona” award, which recognises the best construction of the year, to Antoni Gaudi´s Sagrada Familia – or rather, to the project carried out last year – the continuation of the Catalan architect´s plans, which have been deemed impossible for many years. The decision of the jury – presided over Carlos Ferrater, along with Xavier Monteys, Daniel Giralt Miracle, Zaida Muxí and Mónica Gili – has provoked a controversy. For a group of important architects, and various cultural figures and city-dwellers (who have organised a protest), it is inappropriate to consider the Sagrada Familia a building of 2010. Many believe that the decision of the jury was influenced by pressure from the tourist industry, rather than a fair, group decision – and that the public should have had more of a say in the final outcome. Another criticism has been that the granting of the award to the Sagrada Familia is not only an insult to contemporary Barcelona projects, but also that it gives a message of reactionary bias, characterised by the defense of restorative works – a break with the “neos” (“neo-kitsch“) who are in direct opposition to such types of works; such as for instance that of Museo Can Framis de Poble Neu, which was transformed from an old factory to a new public space, and the winner of last year´s award. The committee has been attacked for favouring remodelled buildings, and “imitation” works over projects which work hard at new, innovative use of materials and space –...
Mónica Boixeda
Science museums are very famous around the world but the CosmoCaixa, as the Museo de la Ciencia of Barcelona is known, is one of the most interesting that Europe has, not only for the temporary exhibitions that it presents but also for the permanent ones that you can enjoy in it´s galleries. The interesting thing about this place is that you can visit it with the whole of you family because there are not only galleries thought of especially for adults about advanced science but also other ones where the younger ones can learn by playing. Some of the more interesting samples that there are is the Geological Wall, which was created from 7 real rocks through which you can appreciate the world´s geology; the Flooded Forest which presents the ecosystem that you can find in the Amazon; the Matter Room, which shows the evolution of matter throughout time and the life of the animals. Here you can observe live animals, make experiments and more. But what really strikes the spectators, whether they´re old or young, is the Planetarium. Inside you can take part in a travel through space and time learning about stars and planets. CosmoCaixa became one of the most important science museums in Europe. You can rent apartments in Barcelona if you want to visit this beautiful...
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