the
weather’s been a tad dreary around these parts and it looks to hang
around for at least another week or so (as i write this the sun is beginning to
shine her happy face.) i don’t always see that as a bad thing but an
opportunity to get in some valuable gallery time. the boy thought likewise so
we grabbed our pre-purchased train tickets, our museum cards and a heavily
flavoured starbucks and made our way to amsterdam. the train is so accessible
and can be reasonably priced when you get a good deal, i'm like a kid when i board the train, first in and a window seat secured. i so love hanging out with
the boy. he watched me squeal as rows of coloured tulip fields rushed before my
eyes and i attempted to snap photos amidst the dirty windows and power lines. this is only the third time i’ve been to amsterdam, but like i’ve said proudly
before, rotterdam is my beloved new home and sometimes i neglect the small
calling of her nearby big sister. both of them individually unique and charming
in their own ways. i also like to shake it up everytime i go, no vintage
shopping or nine streets wandering this time, but an incredibly inspiring art
fix delivered perfectly by the newly renovated rijksmuseum and the awesome home
of modern art, the stedelijk museum closeby. we had plans for van gogh, but as
any art lover will know, you can never determine just how long you’ll spend
looking at works, especially when there is a huge array of your favourites in
such close proximity. the rijksmuseum was obviously busy, very busy. at one point, after 4 shoulder nudges and
pushes from impatient art onlookers, i was getting a little over it. did i mention that this was within 15 minutes of us stepping foot inside? an
incredible collection and an even more impressive renovation process, the
building is simply stunning. i was told that the number of visitors had jumped
from 3000 to 10000 per day, a crazy thought that makes GOMA’s numbers seem
pretty sweet. i saw some beautiful dutch history (including some never seen before rembrandts)
but after a couple of hours i was ready for some time with my modern loves. the
stedelijk was beautifully quiet, and as we wandered into each room, my heart
would beat even faster. confronted with some rauschenberg, rothko, sherman,
kelly, mondrian, matisse, de kooning, flavin and lewitt and then topped off with
some gispen and eames design, i was in heaven. my favourite of the day? a perfectly pastelled de kooning inspired by
his time on long island. won my heart on
first glance. as the day crept on and the temps dropped we sought refuge in the
newly opened marks & spencer. anyone that knows me well (or follows me on
ig) knows that i am a fiend for british food. i grew up with it and would
choose a scotch egg over a cupcake anyday (well, maybe 70% of the time). so i grabbed a bag and filled it with treats that would make my nanny kit proud. custard creams, walnut whips, hot cross buns, mini pork pies and some scotch
eggs were the chosen ones. i look forward to venturing back sooner rather than
later, i can’t deny a vintage wander for too long. amsterdam, you were damp and
dreary yesterday but in rain, hail or shine you’re a great city with some
amazing art. as any true rotterdammer (or surrogate one) would say, you’ve
graciously earnt your second place ranking. wink wink.
pretty girl.
time to take my new pants and shoes out for the day.
favourite. (de kooning)
i love art you can walk on. (carl andre)
a sol dewitt masterpiece and my love.
mondrian and his pastel love.
stunning botanical gouaches at the rijksmuseum.
love a bit of (upside down) ellsworth kelly.
view from the train.
2 comments:
That de Kooning! <3
I'm pretty much living vicariously through all your art gallery shots haha
x
you and your boy in matching blue and mustard = cute.
x
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