Took these a few weeks ago, and was wondering what to write about them, only to remember the significance of todayâs date: 17 years ago today I started My Funny Eye! The internet has changed so much in that time, but Iâm very grateful that my own corner of it is still pretty much the same. So, I raise you all a glass and thank you for being here throughout the years đ„
Vermeer
Magdalena Abakanowicz
Edvard Munch
Magdalena Abakanowicz
Robert Indiana
Continuing on from my earlier post; over the years Iâve taken pictures of people looking at art without thinking much about it. I now realise that I should be more mindful of doing so, as I could easily turn it into a project. These are from the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Tate Modern and the Courtauld Gallery in London, and Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The three first pictures are from the packed Vermeer exhibition that was on a couple of years ago, and can you believe it, I got told off for taking pictures of people! Thatâs never happened before. In the old days youâd get told off for taking pictures of the art on display, but this was a first. They made me delete pictures there and then, but I didn't show them all the ones Iâd taken. I think it might have been because they didnât want it to be known how busy it was, or maybe it was a privacy thing. But guys⊠itâs me! I take pictures of people from behind, weten jullie dat niet? Although pic 5 is clearly evidence to the contrary⊠đŹ
I only took one picture during the gig me and Z went to a few weeks ago, and this was it. I got a text from her a week later saying, âAaahhh, I want to rewind one week and go to the Justice gig tonight!!â. I felt exactly the same; I think it was the first gig that Iâve ever wanted to see again, exactly how it was, because it was that good. We have since made a pact that we will commit to see them every time they tour. The rest of their current tour are all festival shows, but I think I draw the line there. I mean, Iâm 50 this year *
* Iâve said this so many times since I turned 49 that I donât think Iâm letting myself be the age I am. I also say it a lot, as so many new people I meet say âYou donât look old enough to have a 15 year old!â, to which I reply âIâm 50 this year!!â đ€Ș
I canât tell you how fortuitous it is that at the same time as I decide to keep going here, a new-to-me camera falls into my hands. The 50mm lens is growing on me too; I like how my pictures now donât look exactly like they usually do.
Oh, and to continue on the love of winter theme: have your bestie who lives abroad come and stay with you (for the second winter in a row), so you can go to the cinema on a rainy day, walk home through the neighbourhood under a too small umbrella, bring her along to your weekly choir (oh man, I havenât even told you guys about that yet) where everyone welcomes her with open arms and you get to sing standing next to each other for the first time. You might go to exactly three exhibitions, as sheâs only staying for three nights, and you eat delicious food and drink delicious hot drinks (these pics are all from those days). On one of the nights youâre lucky enough to be able to walk up the hill to watch one of your favourite artists at a gig (WARNING - FLASHING LIGHTS!!) in the local live venue, which was the reason for her coming in the first place. Itâs one of the best gigs youâve ever been to and your watch tells you youâve taken 5000 steps at the gig - which was you dancing the whole time. You talk life for four days, figure stuff out and part by saying âYou/I need to do this more oftenâ and one of you remembers that this exhibition will be on this summer, and that that is a perfectly good enough of a reason to do it all over again.