art | Daydream Tourist

Feb 2

Till Death Do We Part: Love, Art, and Funerary Monuments

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. Something must be in the air this month because we’re discussing LOVE in art. Check out all the stories below!

The Tomb of Maria Theresa & Francis I, Kaisergruft, Vienna. Despite his infidelity, Empress Maria Theresia of Austro-Hungary was deeply devoted to her husband Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor. She designed their dual tomb with portrait busts that would forever gaze at each other. (Photo: Gregg, flickr)

Romantic pursuit, courtship, and love in general whether between Gods and Goddesses, royals, or peasants, is a common theme in art history. Universally appealing and understood, it crosses cultures and time periods. While it’s interesting to infer attitudes from the images used, we have to extrapolate from these ideal pictures to see what “love” was like for everyday people. Studying mortuary monuments are one little glimpse into these romantic relationships. Some memorials are so personal and meaningful, we can’t help but feel the love these couples shared.

Jan 26

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A Day Trip to Jiufen, Taiwan

Taipei has plenty to offer travelers but if you need a little change of scenery, it’s easy to get out of the city. I went on a day trip to the north coast to an area known as the Bitou Cape and the village of Jiufen (or Chiufen). Here I found gorgeous rock formations, a mining town architecturally planted in another era, a beautiful, hidden temple, and stunning views of the coastline.

Beautiful Northern Taiwan coastline

Jan 19

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How to Take Photos in a Museum

The ubiquity and quality of cameras today means that every travelers can take lots of photos. As more and more museums are now allowing photography*, there is the potential for crowding and distraction among visitors who are more interested in getting their shot than with enjoying the art. I want people to visit cultural destinations like archaeological sites, religious buildings, museums, and historic homes, but your camera should be used in a way that adds to and does not distract from your experience. If you want to take photos in a museums, it’s best to obey some general guidelines so that you and the other visitors have an enjoyable art experience.

We’re all impressed by the ancient Greek statue “Laocoon”, but do we all need to take a straight-on, full view picture of it?

Jan 13

Artisti al Muro (Artists on the Walls), Padova - Marisa Merlin

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Temporary Art on the Streets of Padua

A passerby admires “Germination” by Marisa Merlin, on the streets of Padua

While I love museums, I get excited when art breaks out of its proverbial frame and interacts with viewers in new ways. Last October, I was fortunate enough to see an outdoor art exhibit sponsored by the city of Padua entitled, “Artisti al Muro,” or, Artists on the Walls. These 21 temporary pieces were scattered around the old city – some blending in with and some in stark contrast with their surroundings. These works included naturalistic wire sculptures of plants, fabric canopies, and ghostly figures. My favorite piece was “Germination” by Marisa Merlin which reiterated for me how successful mixed media pieces can be and how critical public art installations are.

Jan 5

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Van Gogh 2015: 125 Years of Inspiration

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are discussing the 2015 Art Outlook. Check out all the stories below!

If you’re like me, then you spend January contemplating where to go in the New Year. Do you plan several small trips close to home, or is this the year of the big, adventure getaway? While you think about that, let me try to tempt you with a few art pilgrimages options to see one of the greatest painters of Western Art – Vincent Van Gogh. In honor of the 125th anniversary of his death this year, several superb museums in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France will be hosting events and exhibits celebrating his unique and visionary art.