Letter from Madrid
"When Benedikt Taschen extends an invitation to go somewhere, to see something, it is best to go" - Impressions of the Taschen Collection and Martin Kippenberger show as seen by Eric Kroll
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Then for a sneak preview of the Taschen Collection. Room upon large room of large paintings by Mike Kelley, Martin Kippenberger, Albert Oehlen and others, large photographs by Helmut Newton from his Big Nude series, Thomas Struth color landscapes, and Cindy Sherman images from all periods of her career plus sculpture pieces by Jeff Koons that used to make me blush. Off one of the big big white rooms I caught a glimpse of a Julius Shulman color photograph. I was getting closer. Once inside this smaller room I found the Eric Stanton water colors and manipulated photo montages, so unique and strange. Off to one side were the selection of black and white Elmer Batters foot photos. This was my room. This was where Benedikt had worked to put in a museum context, work that wouldn't normally be considered "worthy" of hanging on a museum wall. And of course, Benedikt is right. The Stanton and Batters work is pure expression.
Before hiking over to preview the Kippenberger exhibition at the Palacio Velázquez Parque del Retiro I rushed upstairs to again view Picasso's "Guernica" which I hadn't seen since the early 1980's when it was exhibited at New York City's MOMA.
Later rushing back to an `invitation only' luncheon sponsored by the Ministerio De Cultura for the dual art openings. Delicious food, drink and company with toasts by the gallerist Juana de Aizpuru, painter Albert Oehlen and Mr. Taschen among many.
I managed to get distracted that afternoon and evening and got to the Casa Ciriaco too late or so I thought. It appeared closed and my friends and myself got a cab and drove away. I thought to call Rainer Opoku's mobile phone and he said "No" we are here. So back we went and knocking on a shuttered window, the doors were opened to a most tipico Spanish restaurant with warm light, long tables filled with Europe's cultured society with Benedikt in purple shirt and high spirits. I asked Veronica Weller who this person was and who that person was. It wasn't until later that I realized I was seeing, in person, some of the pages of Helmut Newton's SUMO book. I asked to be introduced to Thomas Struth, surrounded by beautiful women. I met Swiss auctioneer Simon de Pury who auctioned off a SUMO No. 1 in 2000 for $ 320,000. I recognized Michel Würthle, owner of the Paris Bar in Berlin, a favorite spot of Helmut and June Newton.
Page 1 2 3 4 5
Page 1 2 3 4 5
Then for a sneak preview of the Taschen Collection. Room upon large room of large paintings by Mike Kelley, Martin Kippenberger, Albert Oehlen and others, large photographs by Helmut Newton from his Big Nude series, Thomas Struth color landscapes, and Cindy Sherman images from all periods of her career plus sculpture pieces by Jeff Koons that used to make me blush. Off one of the big big white rooms I caught a glimpse of a Julius Shulman color photograph. I was getting closer. Once inside this smaller room I found the Eric Stanton water colors and manipulated photo montages, so unique and strange. Off to one side were the selection of black and white Elmer Batters foot photos. This was my room. This was where Benedikt had worked to put in a museum context, work that wouldn't normally be considered "worthy" of hanging on a museum wall. And of course, Benedikt is right. The Stanton and Batters work is pure expression.
Before hiking over to preview the Kippenberger exhibition at the Palacio Velázquez Parque del Retiro I rushed upstairs to again view Picasso's "Guernica" which I hadn't seen since the early 1980's when it was exhibited at New York City's MOMA.
Later rushing back to an `invitation only' luncheon sponsored by the Ministerio De Cultura for the dual art openings. Delicious food, drink and company with toasts by the gallerist Juana de Aizpuru, painter Albert Oehlen and Mr. Taschen among many.
I managed to get distracted that afternoon and evening and got to the Casa Ciriaco too late or so I thought. It appeared closed and my friends and myself got a cab and drove away. I thought to call Rainer Opoku's mobile phone and he said "No" we are here. So back we went and knocking on a shuttered window, the doors were opened to a most tipico Spanish restaurant with warm light, long tables filled with Europe's cultured society with Benedikt in purple shirt and high spirits. I asked Veronica Weller who this person was and who that person was. It wasn't until later that I realized I was seeing, in person, some of the pages of Helmut Newton's SUMO book. I asked to be introduced to Thomas Struth, surrounded by beautiful women. I met Swiss auctioneer Simon de Pury who auctioned off a SUMO No. 1 in 2000 for $ 320,000. I recognized Michel Würthle, owner of the Paris Bar in Berlin, a favorite spot of Helmut and June Newton.
Page 1 2 3 4 5
An 'invitation only' luncheon sponsored by the Ministerio De Cultura: toasts by painter Albert Oehlen...
