Wobbly bottoms, impressionist gardens and a lovely invitation. An Artistic Review of Autumn 2010. Article by Malcolm Thompson BEd (Hons) Happy New Year to everyone. The last two months of 2010 were hectic artistically speaking. Three major exhibitions in Madrid, the Salvador Dali sculptures in Alicante and a lovely invitation to go to an exhibition by Linda Halbert, so let’s get started. Madrid in November can be a very beautiful place. A city largely abandoned by tourists can have an ethereal calm not often experienced in the heat of summer. The Museo Del Prado, surrounded by autumnal trees looks particularly striking this time of year. However, all is not well. If one wanted to visit the two ticketed exhibitions on the same day, Rubens and Renoir for example, it gets complicated. We purchased tickets for the Rubens expo earlier online but because the website was unclear how to book the Rubens and Renoir exhibitions together, we not unreasonably decided to buy tickets for the Renoir expo when we arrived at the Prado box office. We were told this was not possible. After visiting Rubens we would have to collect our coats and bags, hand in the audio guide, walk half way around the building, join the freezing queue of people who had not the foresight to buy pre-booked tickets for Renoir, (a long queue I might add), and re-enter the building. After a few incredulous remonstrations with the obviously fed up ticket lady and with Carol tugging at my sleeve telling me we won’t get in at all if I continue along with the security guard fingering the pouch of her handcuffs somewhat nervously, we had to accept the inevitable. One wonders if the mastermind who planned this debacle could competently organise a social evening in a bodega if you get my gist. As it turned out, the Renoir queue disappeared to practically nothing around about siesta time, so Carol had a word with security guard on the Renoir entrance who let us in without fuss. Moving on: Rubens was exceptional. ’The Three Graces’ stealing the show. A work of gigantic proportions, the male viewer is presented for his delectation and enjoyment three of the most exquisitely biteable, kissable, slapable female arses in the history of painting. Or is that just me then! Renoir was equally enthralling, positively captivating. Renoir had the knack of making remarkable paintings of very simple subjects: onions, a girl sleeping with a cat on her lap, two women reading a letter were all given the Renoir treatment to marvellous effect. The third exhibition in Madrid was ‘Impressionist Gardens’ held in the Fundacion Caja Madrid. Presented like a who’s who of painting, Pisaro, Klimt, Van Gough, Monet, Manet et al. It was a powerful demonstration of how the impressionists were inspired by gardens. This exhibition is on until the 13th of February 2011 in the Plaza San Martin. At the Prado, Rubens is on until the 23rd of January and Renoir finishes on the 6th of February 2011, so you still have time for winter city break to walk off all the turkey and pudding. Returning to the local area, MARQ in Alicante is temporary home to five Salvador Dali bronzes. Displayed in the front courtyard. They make a stunning display and will be their until January. But be advised, one would have to be a hardened Dali fanatic to fully appreciate the somewhat quirky aesthetics of these works. It is often said of Dali that his work demonstrates the psychology of someone who has a deep fear of impotence and dying. The surrealist notion of fear is shown in 3D solid metal in a large, cold and somewhat intimidating manner. If you are a Dali scholar reading this you might care to email a few key insights to me. Finally, to my lovely invitation. Local artist Linda Halbert invited TIM to an exhibition of her work in aid of the Pinoso Cruz Roja. The exhibition is being held at El Seque restaurant near Pinoso until the 9th of January. She is an outstanding artist and we should all make an effort to go and see it. Linda runs classes for beginners and improvers in a variety of media and can be contacted at [email protected] and on her website www lindahalbert.com where you can find details of all Linda’s classes and exhibitions. She has also been published in December’s issue of ‘Leisure Painter’ how’s that for prestige! If you have an art related event you would like TIM to attend then let me know, we are very happy to support the arts in the area. Finally, finally, readers of ‘The Artist’ magazine look out for my letter in the January issue. TTFN [email protected]