March 2015 – Fennyblack

White masks in Four Seasons, the five stars hotel of Florence

It was a sunny afternoon when a friend of mine just asked me to go outside and try to visit the very exclusive gardens of Four Seasons Hotel, in Florence. Why not?

We could have a walk in the garden and then enjoy a fruit juice there (considering that it’s Sunday, and it’s the day after Saturday, the end of the weekend, it’s better not to drink again and be ready for Monday)..

So.. we were saying fruit juice, or detox cocktail, isn’t it?

Anyway, we just went around and suddenly we noticed different white sculptures in those gardens..I couldn’t ever imagine there could be so modern sculptures in that location! I felt as being in the Sculpture gardens of Washington DC! Those are the gardens and their wonderful tress and flowers:

Apparently, all the sculptures represented a sort of contrast between the traditional, romantic and ancient age on one hand and the modern, mixed and distorted reality on the other hand, look at those pictures:

Ugo Riva sculptures - Four Seasons gardens — Ugo Riva sculptures – Four Seasons gardens

And here you are some details: see the stuff sticking the masks! They are cartoons statues, pieces of glasses, mobile phones, Micky Mouse, Winnie the Pooh and all those characters that are part of the youngest life:

Ugo Riva sculptures - some cartoons details — Ugo Riva sculptures – some cartoons details

If you’re interested in discovering more about Ugo RIva (as me), here you can find some more info about his life and works of art.

Discovering Van Gogh (Alive) and his Japanese side

I decided to have a visit to this news exhibition about Van Gogh: there won’t be his actual paintings, just projections of his paintings. The exhibit is located in an old church of Florence, Santo Stefano Church, near Ponte Vecchio.

It taught me different things about Van Gogh life and, above all, his Japanese side. I already knew he was mad – think everybody know that – but when I read he used to chop off some of his body parts (like his ear) I was completely astonished. And I also read about his use of the color: blu and read for crazy mood, rage and contrast, as here:

Vase with red poppies, Van Gogh — The red vineyard, Van Gogh

then yellow..

yellow for the best mood: so bright as his sunflowers and rooms that became yellow-painted

then the violet and purple, which were used to get the standard pale stars (of his popular paintings) more lively and particular. From Van Gogh words, he said that if you look better into each star you will surely notice these shades that make it not so common:

The starry nights, Night Terrace and others, Van Gogh

And then what sounds very new to me: for a period of his life he was influenced by Ukyio-e paintings, that’s why also the projections represented different Japanese aspects: the red and white flag and sun, candid flowers and peach blossoms, portraits about Japanese ordinary persons..and so on. One of the distinctive aspect of these paintings is that very heavy black lines that outline each subject of the drawings. Watch here:

Iris - Van Gogh and his Japanese side — Iris – Van Gogh and his Japanese side

It was an interesting date with the artist, a mad and tormented soul that seems to have fight with the outside, finding the rest the world in his work of arts.

I’m on top of the DO-OME, Florence, part 1

It’s time to upload some new pictures for you! It’s been a while I haven’t written any article, so busy!

But now I’m ready for maybe one of the best articles, with the best pictures: views from the top of Dome of Florence and the Bell Tower too: Brunelleschi vs Giotto, what a contest!

It was Saturday afternoon, after 2 hours working hard in the gym, why don’t take a tour of the city and enjoy those wonderful and breath-taking moments? Enjoy them!

Dome of Florence - views from the top of the Bell Tower — Dome of Florence – views from the top of the Bell Tower

Brunelleschi's Dome of Florence and views — Brunelleschi’s Dome of Florence and views

Bell Tower, Florence: views from the top

What do you think about these views?

Well, if you would enjoy some more pictures from another perspective – from the top of Brunelleschi’s Dome (the Cupola), just follow me! You’ll discover some very exclusive points of views 🙂

Exhibit to Schifano – ‘Orizzonte N.2’, Florence

Yesterday, Saturday afternoon, what to do during a Saturday afternoon in Florence if you don’t want to spend time shopping somewhere and you have already gone for a walk (2 hours walking!)…?

Well let’s check on Zero Florence website for any update about events, theatre..something different. And here you are the great discover: exhibition – free – pop art – Schifano Yes! Starting at 6 pm: