Musée Rodin

Day 3: Cloudy Morning

Musée Rodin

I love paintings more than sculpture, so originally, Musée Rodin was not in my itinerary,but thanks to my friend Lorraine, she told me, almost "force" me :P said " Trust me, you MUST visit Rodin, it's worth to go!!!"...and that's why I am here.

This is a typical post card shot of this museum, although the weather is not perfectly clear, it still reflects a sort of classic mansion feel found in some of the TV series, and actually it is a restored Hotel Biron with a beautiful rose garden.

I walk from hotel at 0830 towards the left bank arriving here at 1000, why take so long? because I am walking slowly, almost 80% slower compare with the momentum in Hong Kong, "intentionally" and naturally when I was landed in Paris. Entering the museum, the very first thing I've seen is...her!

Young Girl with roses on her hat - 1865-1870 by Auguste Rodin

I have to confess, she changed my entire world of sculpture, I stay with her for almost half an hour. I don't know why, simply looking into her face and eyes, it seems she is talking to me, asking me to join her in her past...I am "trapped" by her, and I think this is why Rodin is so extraordinary! I want to leave her and move forward to the other art pieces for almost three times, I failed!

She is the most touching sculpture art piece in my journey - a note that I'd like to write down before I forget.

I have a habit when visiting exhibition, read the title only after perceiving the art piece in my own way, and if only if it's necessary to find out more; otherwise, I love to leave the memory right there in the mean time.

You may ask why I didn't use this picture in my book if I am so fond of her?...I think, may be I just don't want to "interrupt"...


 

Forum des Halles ?

Day 2: Sunny / Warm afternoon 
    + Stormy rainy night / 20144 steps

Forum des Halles

      

...What's next? I didn't plan for another museum because it's only at the beginning of my journey, no rush right? and truly speaking, I need to be familiar with the streets in different arrondissements. 

So, what is nearby to Center Pompidou? It's Forum des Halles & the famous Église St-Eustache (Church St-Eustache). They are connected by a huge public square with lots of greenery, people just having their sun bath on the grassland or shopping in the huge arcade. 

I am here almost 1520, shopping mall is not my cup of "coffee", after lying on the grassland for half an hour, I've decided to walk slowly back to hotel, simply passing by Église St-Eustache. "Not enter?" you may say, well,yes, why not sometime next day, again, no rush!

To enjoy walking under sun bath with breeze, warm and airy, so relaxing and I am sure you can imagine it,too. Is my day end back to the hotel? not really.

After a quick refreshment, my favorite twilight time arrive, so there is no excuse for me to stay inside as I don't have a stunning street viewable window...I quickly grab my blanket to receive this magic moment at Pont Neuf.

What I can say is...speechless, I am "melted" into the twilight blue...watching Eiffel at the far end...

Beginning of the wind

then, it happens just within seconds, thick clouds gather up in the sky hiding all my lovely blue follow by a super storm like wind,rain start splashing onto us; what we people can do are running to find a shelter somewhere, catching the table decor that may be gone with the wind at those riverside càfe; "screaming" with laughter...

"What an amazing day, I am so lucky to experience such a dramatic weather changes within a day, interesting...what will tomorrow be like? I can't wait"...I wrap my blanket tight over my head and shoulder while running back to Relais du Louvre...

Centre Pompidou Paris

Day 2 : Sunny / Cold morning

0600 in the morning, after  "fully charged" last night, I am eager to start my adventure, but...Pompidou opened at 1100, so I have plenty of time to walk from hotel started by a simple breakfast of croissant + double espresso at Le Corona.

Walking around the street(Rue in French)nearby, it's always amazing to chase the shadows of sunlight, one of my favorite exercise; it leads me to a lot more rue out of my itinerary, and I don't mind getting lost if I have time...they are so beautiful...Bonjour stranger :D

As most of you may know that Pompidou has an unique architecture formed by an inside out design concept with pipes of plumbing, air & electrical cable,...etc mainly exhibit Modern & Contemporary Art. I can access quickly within minutes with my Pass, when I enter the hall, the neon sign at far end drawn my attention because it looks a bit vintage :D - my other favorite.   

Up to the 5th floor, you will see a

spectacular outdoor view and while riding up the escalator, this is another interesting view that I've found: see? a lovely fountain with colorful modern art sculpture, a square for people gather around in the space of "modern & classic".

Actually, 5th floor is my target, showcases of artist between 1905 to 1970 mixed up with others like Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky, Pollock...,etc. It's worth to spend a few hours to see them one by one. 

I love to walk from the highest level that I can access (due to the
Pass restrictions, like Pompidou, I can't access 6th floor this time, but...I'll be back, ha ha!)because
when reaching the G/F or basement floor, my "fuel tank" should be emptied and ready to "Sortie". 

The art pieces inside are really gorgeous but I am sorry that I can't post the photos here due to copyright issue. So, here I've got one interior decor on the 4th floor, interesting right? This will lead you to a workshop for teenagers from age 13-16, quite fresh.

Well, when I've finished further down until reaching the G/F,it's around 1500. My spirit is high & full of happiness, but my body is exhausted. So...

...my fuel here! return to a shop at the rue I've passing by this morning. To me, the food is not important provided there is an espresso, but some other things always interested me and invite me to stay, guess what...?

...here it is! What a lovely"stop"of my first half day...what next?



 

Petit Paris - Entrée Sortie

click to enlarge

Hi Hi, 

Whenever I am devoted to something, I shall never know time flies, it's almost three months since the publication of my first book. 

Book Two will soon be released on 3 May 2020, and pre-order is accepted right now in Google Books.

After the first day of exploration around Pont Neuf, I was ready to start the journey of museums in Paris. First of all, what I needed to know was these two French words:-

Entrée = Entrance
Sortie = Exit 

If you do remember, I had a target in this trip - to find a painting in The Louvre; but also to visit 6-8 museums if I could. 

Museum in Paris are huge in space, I might need to spend at least half day inside even not looking the art pieces one by one in details as expected, but you never know; even though I did reserve two & a half days for The Louvre, it comes out I spent one whole day there only, Why? I'll let you know later, but first, lets start our journey from Centre Pompidou in next post. See you!

Remember Me

今天是受難節, 原本準備開始工作的我, 突然收到朋友的whatsapp, 傳來這條音樂短片Remember Me   (Words & Music by Deborah Govenor)

或許你不是基督徒, 又或許你覺得連續數天的復活節假期, 應該是用來休息, 逛街購物, 和朋友聚餐...

疫情令我們留在家中, 也許亦提供了一些空間讓我們思考一些在平日生活中, 原本會做或從來不會做的事. 

或許你會不明白為何我們這些基督徒那麽長氣,時常叫人信主?
如果你能感受現在全球與我們素未謀面,沒有任何關係的醫護人員,能以自己生命換取更多人的生存機會,那種無私和愛;也許會開始有少少理解復活節的真義. 和我們"長氣"的原因,邀請你細聽至少一次 Remember Me.

和大家一樣,我相信疫情總會過去,傷痛可以修補.在寫這片文章時,一正開啟 You Tube 聽Remember Me, 之後播出的這首歌旋律及歌詞,音色也很優美.容讓我藉着它來完結此文,因為我深信神創造的地球村是有希望的!
 
Look at the World  (by John Rutter)
Presented by The Advent Heralds Symphony & Singers

2D,3D,8D⋯⋯

昨晚叔仔介紹我聽兩首用8D 技術製作的歌, 條件是必需用耳機 headphone 聽, 普普通通的也可, 結果效果驚喜不已. 正如提示所言, 我不覺得正在用耳機, 而是環迴效果在腦袋週邊360度播放, 空間感極強. 我對音響器材認識有限, 但因為 ricketeer  的原故, 加上以往工作上偶爾也需要為客人設計能配合聽音響的空間, 所以也略懂皮毛. 結果重重複複聽了四次之多, 甚至忍不住立即WhatsApp給好友分享分享.

之後...我驚歎科技發達之餘, 令我重想昨日的經歷. 由於教曾崇拜取消, 結果在家中意外地聽了三堂道. 早上是活石堂的網上崇拜, 下午收到深愛堂WhatsApp錄音版, 晚上收到好友轉發的YouTube 視頻版; 就這樣, 思潮起伏了一整天, 尤其在最後一輯講道中, 提及我一對好友在近期 半年内的種種遭遇, 正正讓他們夫婦的人生由2D 轉化成3D , 甚或將來的8D...

疫情令我們"被困", 不少人嚷着苦悶, 是現實環境把我們困住, 還是人生停留在2D 被自己所熟識的二維空間困住? 人如果沒有經歷跌盪, 又或經歷過後, 沒有反思, 依然固我, 停留在安舒區...以為一切也是理所當然的; 此刻, 我們仍然是一個沒有3D的生命, 因為欠缺了深度(D). 

或許這是我聽到8D 技術而情緒高漲的原故罷, 因為人生真的可以很精彩; 要把你遇到堪呵痛苦的際遇來成長? 又或是被困不能前行? 全屬你自己的決擇.

最後讓我引用以下一段時常提醒自己的説話, 亦是我最敬重的牧師對人生的一些定義, 祝願我這對好友早日身心康復, 活出更精彩的人生, 生命如煙花燦爛!

"生命的神蹟不是歲首煙花匯演, 叫全城的人嘩然.
         但神蹟的確是煙花, 叫身旁的人嘩然.
               不管是從哪一點開始,
                   你都可以叫自己的生命耀眼,
                       叫你身旁的人嘩然,
                           當你的生命迸出耀眼光芒的時候." 

（你欠生命一份神蹟～楊牧谷著)

寫下...怕會忘記

從2020年1月份至今我陸續邀請了30位親朋作首讀預覽. 收到20組書評, 當中不乏對本書的寫作對象, 體裁, 篇幅長度, 排版設計, 相片調色, 繪畫色彩, 文字内容等多項提出不同的意見; 範圍涵括面頗全面, 有理性分析, 也有感性思考的回覆. 

在我決定開始創作這個系列之時, 最令我感到難以決擇的是: 要商品化嗎?
也許無容置疑是理應商品化, 用設計技巧來處理並出版; 大部份朋友的意見也證明應該朝這方向而行, 否則又何需網上發售呢? 沒錯...

...但在繼續製作Entrée Sortie時, 我竟沒有把上述提及的各項上, 作太明顯的修正! 抱歉令大家失望.  並非因為你們的意見不好或不被看重, 反之我認為是很細心及有見地; 只是, 翻複思量了好幾週, 至少到目前這刻, 我仍被”初心”叫我保留”她的個人化"罷了, 也許還是免不了要付上一些代價.  

容許我在此向大家陳明我所謂的”初心”, 以下是Petit Paris系列的原創結構: 

對象:              任何需要空間又或想思考前路的人

體裁:              繪本型式的短詩集
篇幅長度:      A5, 一百頁以内的小書

排版設計:      簡潔, 最少修飾
相片調色:      最少修正, 色彩角度光線情景與拍攝時保留最大相符 

                       (即使不幸手震 out of focus :P)

繪畫色彩:      monotone/ gray scale + 全色水彩中頁
文字内容:      接近手寫字體, 簡潔
其他:              相片,插圖與短詩存在於不同空間

就是這樣...只想讀者能和我同處當時那一刻的巴黎…即使不一定令人嚮往, 卻可以稍作喘息.  倘若有一天以上一切都要改變, 但願你仍然喜歡和我飛翔...! 

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