Wednesday 9 January 2019

Stamping ground

A light layer of hoarfrost had descended upon our garden on Boxing Day, sprinkling the winter-green leaves and lingering berries with a dusting of icing sugar.


I was still feeling quite sore from our walk on Christmas Day, as I'd strained my muscles and my bad knee by trying to stay upright on the sticky, muddy steps leading down into the former clay pit.

The weather was still on its best behaviour, even if the sun was slightly veiled by a thin layer of clouds, so that it would have been downright silly to let some minor aches and pains get the better of us by staying indoors.

So, out for a walk we went, but we made sure to stay on level terrain this time.



Same as on Boxing Day last year, our destination was one of Antwerp's most interesting parks, which doubles as an open air museum of sculpture, Middelheim. Those of you who have been following my blog for a while have accompanied me there quite a few times already.

Walk In Like You Mean It. With these words, American artist William Forsythe is giving a clear message to everyone who enters the park through the main gates.

I was surprised that I'd never noticed the inscription before, but then learned it was part of an exhibition called Experience Traps: 16 Artists Lead You Up The Garden Path, which ran from June to September 2018, and in which contemporary artists tried to guide our physical and mental experience. Well, that's what it said in the brochure.



The museum has an impressive collection with a mixture of pieces from different periods. There are sculptures dating back to 1900, but also a lot of contemporary pieces and installations.



The combination of art and nature is quite enchanting and ensures that there is no chance of ever getting bored. We certainly never do.


We love visiting the park in all seasons, so we were actually quite surprised that our last visit was on Boxing Day 2017. We really must do better this year!

This stainless steel structure is called Firmament III, dates from 2009 and is by UK artist Antony Gormley.


We always take a different route, and there's no forward planning involved whatsoever. We just let our feet guide us, while my camera is taking photographs of anything that tickles my fancy.

I rather loved this amorous couple of silver and gold chairs, which can be found all over the park for people to sit down and admire the artworks.



But no matter which paths we take, we always end up here, at the Braem Pavilion, designed by architect Renaat Braem (1910-2001) and completed in 1971.

Its original design, in Organic Brutalist style, dates from 1963, but when permission was finally granted in 1968, it had to be adapted as the original available area was now reduced by two-thirds.

The concrete and brick building, its flowing horizontal lines nestling between the trees, instantly appealed from the moment I first clapped eyes on it. The white colour neutralizes the textural differences of the materials used, which are only apparent up close.


I was wearing the other wool skirt which I found at the same time as the Gor-Ray skirt. This one is unlined and unlabelled, which leads me to believe that it was handmade.

I did have to wear a half-slip underneath to combat its scratchiness, but surely its orange, yellow and green plaid fabric more than made up this minor discomfort.


Casting around for a top to wear with it, I suddenly remembered this vintage one which has all the right colours plus some additional sparkle. As a nod to the holidays, I was determined to wear as many of my sparkly garments as possible!

On top went a burnt orange cardigan, to which I pinned a cat brooch with sparkly eyes, a gift from Goody. A wide tan belt and mottled brown beaded necklace were my other accessories.

All items vintage or charity shopped.



Apart from its permanent collection, the Middelheim Museum also hosts temporary exhibitions.

The Braem Pavilion is perfect for smaller sculptures and other artworks which cannot be displayed in the open.

We were intrigued by the pavilion's unusual emptiness, which was only interrupted by an installation containing a curving row of 160 stamps with 160 drawings by Belgian artist Dennis Tyfus, who currently has an exhibition of his work, called My Niece's Pierced Knees, spread all over the park.  

For € 10, an empty booklet can be bought, allowing visitors to stamp their own book, making use of the ink pads placed at regular intervals.



If we should decide to return before the exhibition ends on March 17, we might bring our own booklet and try out a few of those stamps!

Meanwhile, you will have to make do with a view of my fur-collared green jacket, which I accessorized with a green beret and yellow fake fur cowl scarf.


Near the Braem Pavilion is this mirrored pillar, offering distorted views of its surroundings. This is also a favourite, as it invites endless photo opportunities. 


We continued our wanderings, meeting all sorts of strange creatures along the way.

Sadly, there wasn't a free table at MIKA, the museum café, so that we weren't able to grab a cup of coffee before returning home.




From the bridge crossing the moat and leading to the café's premises, we could see another one of Dennis Tyfus's works in the distance (top left). 

This one is called The Pogo Never Stops, a nod to the artist's punk roots. It is a nonstop dance performance by thirteen sky tubes, which have drawings of faces and T-shirts of noise bands, its other-worldliness enhanced by the mechanical noise of the blowers driving the sky tubes.

From here, we strolled back to our car, and had that longed-for cup of coffee back at Dove Cottage.

I'll be returning with another round-up of outfits worn in the last week of 2018 soon.


28 comments:

  1. You do live near some of the nicest parks to visit. I've been to an art park similar to this in Seattle. What a joy that you can visit as often as you like.

    Your outfit is wonderful! I especially like that bold scarf.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Suzanne! I really love this park, which is considered one of the best of its kind in the world. I know I'm really lucky that it's virtually on our doorstep. xxx

      Delete
  2. What a stunning park! I want one like this in Victoria! I'm entranced by the art...so amazing. Love your skirt and the top you paired with it - that yellow cowl is glorious! Happy Wednesday!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Sheila! It really is a stunning park, which is why we keep visiting. Nature and art, what's not to love? xxx

      Delete
  3. I love this green jacket with yellow scarf. You look amazing Ann. Thank you for this wonderful walk.
    With a very huge hug Tina

    ReplyDelete
  4. What an interesting park! Lucky you to live close by! I love all your photos, and of course your lovely outfit. Thanks for your comment on my blog XXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Linda. I'm pleased you love my photos. xxx

      Delete
  5. It is such an amazing park, Ann! You really do have such lovely scenery nearby! Your outfit is fabulous! I love orange and green together and your accessories are just perfect! Hope you're having a great week, Ann. XXX

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Sasha. I'm sure the scenery here is a lot less exciting than in your part of the world! xxx

      Delete
  6. i hope you will give the artist/museum the 10€ when you return to stamp in which book ever.....
    (sayd as an always underpaid artist)
    :-D
    that skirt makes me think it was esp. made for you - it hugs your figure perfectly! and the warm green & orange-y colors you´r wearing here are so flattering for you....
    love the sparkley blouse!
    tons of hugs! xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You've got a point, Beate! I'd gladly pay € 10 for an empty book if I were to use all 160 stamps. But not for just one or two to show on the blog. For this, the guy gets free advertising from me in return ;-) When I saw the skirt, I loved it immediately, but thought it wouldn't look good on me. I was surprised that it did! xxx

      Delete
  7. That is a place I would love to visit. I was interested to hear that there are installations by Antony Gormley. I was originally from the beautiful North East of England and still visit often, the fantastic Angel of the North is a stunning and massive landmark on the way past Newcastle and into Northumberland. It's a spectacular sculpture.
    You look sophisticated and stylish in the outfit you chose for your outing, it really suits you. xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So that's why his name sounded familiar! I LOVE the Angel of the North! I've never seen it for real though, but it must be impressive. Must go and check it out one day! xxx

      Delete
  8. Such wonderful sculptures! It's brilliant you have so much sculpture in your parks - I wish we did the same here. We have lots of wooden sculptures in country parks but usually of animals.

    The hoarfrost is so pretty!

    I loved your outfit; lovely colours and you look very cosy and elegant. I love your sparkly blouse; how pretty is that? And the fake fur cowl is fab!
    xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Veronica! That park is really special, as it's also a museum of sculpture. Our other parks are quite boring in comparison, and some may have wooden sculptures of animals too ;-) xxx

      Delete
  9. Your colourful outfit is beautiful - the pieces all work together so nicely and you look so cosy for a walk on a cold day. What lovely artworks to see too!

    Hope that you are having a lovely weekend and your 2019 has been off to a great start :)

    Away From The Blue Blog

    ReplyDelete
  10. Middelheim is the sort of place I could lose hours in. Those photos of you with the stamps are very striking, the colours and composition just perfect!
    xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Hazel, and Jos was very pleased to hear you loved his photos of me and the stamps! xxx

      Delete
  11. Your frost photos are unbelievably beautiful! I love them! What an interesting place this look. I love the idea of being able to stamp in your own book to remember what you saw!
    Your outfit is really nice- I like the top particularly. I couldn't cope with the scratchy-skirt I'm afraid- I don't cope with scratchy very well!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Kezzie! I was wearing a half slip under the skirt, so it didn't scratch at all. I wouldn't be able to wear it otherwise. xxx

      Delete
  12. it's an amazing walk and your pictures are really stunning and so nicely put into collages! Love them!
    And I also love particularly your matchy ensemble!. The fabulous color combo and great accessories really rock!. Lovely that you found a perfect top for this skirt!. This is something that puts a smile on my face!
    besos

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad to hear you love my collages. I love making them. It allows me to show more photographs without you having to scroll through endless pages ... I'm also glad to have put a smile on your face! xxx

      Delete
  13. I agree, your parks are really wonderful! So interesting. I'd like to see more art in parks here. Those frosty photos are breathtaking. Xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I do think you have some sculptures parks in the UK as well, but I'm not sure there's one near you. But then again, you have the most wonderful scenery. I do miss Wales! xxx

      Delete
  14. Oooh, *love* that orange and green outfit. It's such a great colour combination.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Mim! That outfit was a happy coincidence. I'd no idea I was going to wear that top with the skirt, but I must say I was quite pleased with the result. xxx

      Delete