Tag Archives: Lily’s pick

Better than fiction: Far Out Isn’t Far Enough

Far Out Isn’t Far Enough: the Tomi Ungerer story is a documentary about French illustrator Image result for Far Out Isn't Far Enough and writer Jean-Thomas “Tomi” Ungerer. He emigrated from France to the United States in his twenties, and experienced the Golden age of advertising illustrations in NYC. He then stepped into children’s book industry, later flourished in creating political posters. It provides an overview of his creative career is visually and intellectually stimulating. Ungerer’s personal experience put the audience in perspective of his work. For instance, Ungere’s children’s books often have elements of fear, this is due to his childhood experience. This film is true to the artist’s creative process, which is influenced very much by what’s around him. It is amazing to see his journey pursuing what he is interested in, and at the same time, pushing the public’s boundary on the image of a children’s book author–Ungerer was in the middle of the controversy when he did erotic illustrations while famously known as a children’s book author, his books were banned from public libraries at one point.

Ungerer seems very spirited even in his old age, passionate about life and art. The documentary highlights his playful personality. He is an important figure in the world of art and he inspired many artists, including the creator of Where the Wild Things are.

Image result for Far Out Isn't Far Enough

 

Books by Tomi Ungerer:

The Three Robbers

Fog Island

Oto (in Hebrew)

Crictor (in Italian)

 

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Better than fiction: Defiant Requiem

Better than fiction: Defiant Requiem

Following the narratives of survivors, Defiant Requiem tells the unbelievable story ofDefiant Requiem Rafael Schachter, a Czech conductor who sparks hope and spirit among his fellow prisoners, in the darkest time at the Terezin concentration camp. This documentary is nicely done: the mournful music really enhanced the survivor’s account of their history with the Holocaust and with their source of hope–Schachter. It was Schachter’s endless pursuit of music that made labor and torture more bearable; it was through music, that the prisons were able to express something they did not dare to say to the Nazis. It is a remarkable film to watch; it is painfully beautify.

Related: art produced during the holocaust

Terezín : voices from the Holocaust

My secret camera : life in the Lodz ghetto

Art from the ashes : a Holocaust anthology

 

Mystical Landscapes

Mystical Landscapes is the latest exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), featuring 90 Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night over the Rhone at Arles, 1888.paintings and 20 works on paper by 36 artists from 15 countries. Among the breathtakingly beautiful works, are paintings by Van Gogh, Monet, O’Keefe, Munch, Gauguin, and many other famous artists. Another highlight was works by Canadian painters, such as Emily Carr and the group of seven, were also a part of the exhibition.

Mysticism is “the feeling of connecting with a deeper reality, a power much greater than ourselves, is a mystical experience. These experiences may reach any of us through the contemplation of nature and the cosmos. We are moved by the beauty of sunrise and sunset, the stars in the night sky, the reflections of the moon on lakes, the power of the ocean waves and the vision of snow-capped mountains”.

This exhibition collects the artists’ mystical experiences of something greater than themselves, expressed in paintings. I think it is truly eye-opening because I have never thought about landscape paintings in a religious sense. The audio guide does a great job providing background information of artists’ life, so I had a better understanding of their paintings.

Despite of my love for Van Gogh and Monet, Eugene Jansson’s paintings caught my eyes. Image result for eugene jansson artistHe explores the contrast between the night and the street lights. His depiction of cityscape at night is usually seen as the representation of the death of spirituality, whereas the other artists’ nature landscape in the exhibition is seen as the rise/development of spirituality.

 

Tips: Free audio guide with admission; be sure to take advantage!! The exhibition opens from Oct 22 2016 to Jan 29 2017

 

Related reads:

The letters of Vincent van Gogh

Van Gogh’s imaginary museum : exploring the artist’s inner world

Mad enchantment: Claude Monet and the painting of the water lilies

Defiant spirits : the modernist revolution of the Group of Seven

Inward journey : the life of Lawren Harris