Fancy footwear, a modern-art gallery fashioned out of old containers and a coffee table made from abandoned wood are just some of the highlights of the Bangkok Design Festival '09 that runs at various venues throughout the city from Thursday to October 21.
Part of an ambition to turn the Kingdom into Asia's design hub, the third edition of the festival is bigger and better than before, with more than 1,000 Thai designers showcasing their talents alongside 40 foreigns projects.
"The city will be enhanced by a range of projects that are being exclusively initiated for this event under the concept 'Balancing the Future'," says festival director Prathan Theerathada. "They all convey a sense of innovation, creativity and sustainability."
Prathan, who's also the editor of art4d magazine, launched the festival three years ago as private initiative. This year the government is providing support.
"The Bangkok Design Festival will lead Thailand into the new econolmic era throught its creative ideas and innovation, in accordance with government policy," says Deputy Commerce Minister Alongkorn Pollabutr.
"We need the inventive minds of Thailand's designers to stimulate and develop our economy under the umbrella of the 'Creative Thailand's designers to stimulate and develop our economy under the umbrella of the 'Creative Thailand' project.
"Our aim is to make Thailand the hub of creative industry in Asean and to enhance the economic value of creative industry from 12 to 20 per cent of Gross National Product by 2012," he adds.
the festival features everything from outdoor interactive installation art to a poster exhibition, film screenings to DIY workshops, and designers' talks to shopping.
It kicks off at the Victory Monument, Bangkok's so-called "Kilometre Zero". Passers-by are invited to participate in "Creative City Km.0", created by Briton Maria Stukoff and Thai graphic designers Apostrophy.
The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre is hosting various exhibitions, among them "Abundant Australia", a display of 160 innovatuve structural models fresh fro the Venice Architecture Bienniale.
Meanwhile B Muse, a group of young Thai curators and artists, shows how much fun you can have visiting a museum in the exhibition "What is your Dream Museum?"
"Do It Together by Knotting Else" sees 10 leading interior-design companies use recycle materials in environmentally friendly designs.
Award-winning designer Anon Pairot blurs the boundaries between his furniture and sculpture in "A Part."
Last but not least, is Designer's Saturday. Mark Holmes, a founding partner in one of the UK's greatest manufacturing successes of the decade, Established & Sons and Douglas Young, the founder and chief executive of Hong Kong's innovative retailer GOD/Goods of Desire will talk on October 10.
Over at Siam Paragon'a Pare Paragon, Thai talen is on show in an ultra-modern art gallery made of five containers decorated with a dozen balloon trees.
Supported by M150, Japanese architect Onishi Takaya - who teaches at King Mongkut University of Technology - designed the gallery to host "Degree Show'09", featuring fashion, jewellery, animation and graphic and interior design by the year's top design students.
At the Hall of Mirrors, the "DEmark" exhibition shows a selection of design works by Thai entre-preneurs and designers taking part in DEmark (Design Excellence Award) 2009, or ganised by the government's Department of Export Promotion.
Decor Mart converts its showroom into an art gallery featuring high-end German brand Hangsgrohe, with designs by Philippe Stark, Jaen-Mari Massuad, Antonio Citterio and Patricia Urguiola.
Thai brand Furniture House by Plato displays its futuristic home decor inspired by origami, and designer Krit Sangvivhien has the "Thainess" exhibition, focusing on traditional local craftsmanship, recycled materias and modern designs.
Architect firm G49 celebrates its 20th anniversay with "Twenty-Twenty", a showcase of 20 innovative project by both Thai and foreign architects inside 20 boxes.
Meantime Tiga invites 100 designers to take part in its exhibition, "Kiew-koy 100 Designs."
At Siam Centre you can see Thai proverbs interpreted as shoes at "Shoes'cream by Gold City", an exhibition by design students from Silpakorn, king Mongkut and Srinakarinwirote universities.
Siam Discovery hosts "Illustration Poster" by Takashi Akiyama, the econo-peoject "Rebuild/Refresh by SCG featuring DesignLab, and the photo exhibition "I Am a Thai Graphic Designer."
The shopping centre is also playing host to workshops, the "Young Creative Entrepreneur" exhibition and to a minimart that's selling products priced between Bt9 and Bt999.
The Thaoland Creative and Design Centre at the Emporium is hosting a series of talks, among them "The Dimension of the Plan - Communication Design Germnay," focusing on corporate design, digital media, typography and signage systems.
Following the successful screening of Gary Hustwit's "Helvetica" at the first festival, this year Pratha is bringing his new documentary, "Objectitied", which portrays the stories behind the work od elite product designers from around the world. The film screens at SF CentralWorld on October 15.
Shoppers should not miss the "BIG+BIH" fairs at Challenger Hall in Muang Thong Thani from October 13 to 18, hosted by the Office of Product Value Development.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Mighty Tyrannosaurus rex was evidently one sick puppy
Tyrannosaurus rex and its close relatives suffered from the potentially life-threatenin disease trichomonosis, which is still carried by pigeons, a study published on Wednesday showed.
Some of the world's most famous T rex specimens, such as "Sue" at the Field Museum in Chicago and the specimen at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, have holes in the lower jaw, which is a classic symptom of trichomonosis, the study by a team of US and Australian researchers showed.
"The holes in tyrannosaur jaws occur in exactly the same place as in modern birds with trichomonosis," says Ewan Wolff, a paleontologist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who worked on the study.
"The shape of the holes and the way that they merge into the surrounding bone is very similar in both animals."
Trichomonosis is carried mainly by pigeons these days, but they are generally immune to the disease. Birds of prey are particularly susceptible to trichomonosis if they eat infected pigeons.
Palaeontologists previous thought the holes in T rex were caused by tooth gouges or bacterial infections, but according to the study, which was puvlished in the peer-reviewed open-access PLoS ONE, the position and nature of the holes indicate that the dinosaur had a trichmonosis-typre disease.
The disease appeared to be quite common in tyrannosaurs and could have been deadly to those that were infected.
"As the parasites take hold in serious infections, lesions form bone. As the lesions grow, the animal has troble swallowing food and may eventually starve to death," says Steve Salisbury of the University of Queensland.
Researchers have found no other dinosaurs that had the disease, and believe it was spread between tyrannosaurs by biting or even through cannibalism.
Some of the world's most famous T rex specimens, such as "Sue" at the Field Museum in Chicago and the specimen at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, have holes in the lower jaw, which is a classic symptom of trichomonosis, the study by a team of US and Australian researchers showed.
"The holes in tyrannosaur jaws occur in exactly the same place as in modern birds with trichomonosis," says Ewan Wolff, a paleontologist from the University of Wisconsin-Madison who worked on the study.
"The shape of the holes and the way that they merge into the surrounding bone is very similar in both animals."
Trichomonosis is carried mainly by pigeons these days, but they are generally immune to the disease. Birds of prey are particularly susceptible to trichomonosis if they eat infected pigeons.
Palaeontologists previous thought the holes in T rex were caused by tooth gouges or bacterial infections, but according to the study, which was puvlished in the peer-reviewed open-access PLoS ONE, the position and nature of the holes indicate that the dinosaur had a trichmonosis-typre disease.
The disease appeared to be quite common in tyrannosaurs and could have been deadly to those that were infected.
"As the parasites take hold in serious infections, lesions form bone. As the lesions grow, the animal has troble swallowing food and may eventually starve to death," says Steve Salisbury of the University of Queensland.
Researchers have found no other dinosaurs that had the disease, and believe it was spread between tyrannosaurs by biting or even through cannibalism.
Thai master artist paints his picture of regional unity
Anative of southern Thailand, Taveepong Limapornvanich graduated from the Department of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Kansas in the United States.
He has built a reputation over 30 years as a painter,illustrator and designer.
An author and illustrator of many books, his creative works and publications include Drawing Techniques ,The Drawing Bible ,Watercolour Bible Thailand Sketchbook , and Watercolour Paintings of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn .He has numerous Thai pocket books on drawing and design to his name.
His artistic prowess is reflected in the wide range of techniques and media he uses: oil, watercolour,acrylic, and pencil.
Today, his paintings are prized in numerous private collections around the world.
Among his proudest achievements was his 1999 solo exhibition in Bangkok to commemorate the 72nd birthday of His Majesty The King.
The paintings were auctioned by Christie's in Thailand and the proceeds from the auction were donated to the royal projects of Chai Pattana and the Sai Jai Thai Foundation.
In this book Asean: Portrait of a Community ,Taveepong shares his love with all Asean member countries as depicted in his watercolour rendering of Asean countries through his artistic eyes.
He has built a reputation over 30 years as a painter,illustrator and designer.
An author and illustrator of many books, his creative works and publications include Drawing Techniques ,The Drawing Bible ,Watercolour Bible Thailand Sketchbook , and Watercolour Paintings of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn .He has numerous Thai pocket books on drawing and design to his name.
His artistic prowess is reflected in the wide range of techniques and media he uses: oil, watercolour,acrylic, and pencil.
Today, his paintings are prized in numerous private collections around the world.
Among his proudest achievements was his 1999 solo exhibition in Bangkok to commemorate the 72nd birthday of His Majesty The King.
The paintings were auctioned by Christie's in Thailand and the proceeds from the auction were donated to the royal projects of Chai Pattana and the Sai Jai Thai Foundation.
In this book Asean: Portrait of a Community ,Taveepong shares his love with all Asean member countries as depicted in his watercolour rendering of Asean countries through his artistic eyes.
Unique gift for Asean leaders
An impressive picture book on the Asean region will be Thailand's parting gift as it vacates the association's chair,writes Thanida Tansubhapol
"L inking people with arts will help them appreciate and be proud of the closeness of one's community," said Vitavas Srivihok, director-general of the Asean Affairs Department at the Foreign Ministry.His words later inspired the birth of an artistic book entitled "Asean: Portrait of a Community" which will be presented as a special gift to the 10 Asean leaders at this year's final Asean gathering this month in Cha-am/Hua Hin.
What makes this book unique is the compilation of sketch drawings of all Asean leaders, as well as the top tourist attractions of the region. The livelihoods of the Asean peoples are portrayed in the natural flow of water colours.
The project took shape in June after an exchange of ideas during a friendly chat between Mr Vitavas and artist Taveepong Limapornvanich.
"The ministry thought it should have a surprise gift for the leaders. I'm sure it will be unlike anything they have previously received from other countries," Mr Vitavas told the Bangkok Post.
But to complete the book was quite a challenge for Mr Taveepong.
"It took me two full months to sketch about 150 pictures from the 10 Asean countries.
"Every day, I spent about 18 hours on average drawing about two pictures. I would start around 3pm to 4pm and finish by about 6am the next day," he said.
In addition to the book,10 large-size smiling portraits of the leaders, which took him more than 10 hours each to finish, will be displayed at the Asean summit.
"Although some of the leaders were not smiling in the originals, I painted them wearing a beaming smile," he said.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's portrait was the most difficult to draw because he looked different in different poses - sometimes rather bloated,other times thin.
"But the painting of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak came out the best," said Mr Taveepong.
Mr Vitavas is particularly impressed by the pictures of the 10 Asean leaders shaking hands with Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan. To him, they looked so real.
Another major challenge was which distinctive tourist landmarks should be chosen from each member state for the book.
In Indonesia and Thailand, there are simply too many attractions to choose from.
"Since each country was afforded only six pages or 18 prominent tourist sites for entry into the book, I needed to do a lot of thinking and research before finalising the list," said Mr Taveepong.
"I included the places which I thought would make the leaders realise that the Thais did know quite a bit about their neighbouring countries."
"About 40% of the pictures used as samples for the drawings came from my own album, the pictures I took when I travelled to those countries," he said.
Mr Vitavas said:"I am impressed that he was able to capture the diversity of each country and the common culture depicted in the book, such as the
pictures of dancing girls or the type of trishaws running in the streets of Asean countries."
"In the trishaw pictures, all Asean nations have their own style of trishaws, except Brunei, which uses a boat instead," he said.
Mr Taveepong thought Malaysia provided an ideal country for the drawing.
"I studied in Malaysia for two years and that made me feel accustomed to its culture and architecture,especially with what I saw in Penang," he said.
Brunei and Burma are the only two Asean countries Mr Taveepong has never visited.
Unlike the other water-colour drawings in the book,the sacred Shwedagon Pagoda of Burma needed to be done twice.
He said he needed to do this because it was difficult to tell the foreground from the background in the
sample picture. There are also many smaller pagodas around the main one, said Mr Taveepong.
"I have not made the paintings of one country inferior or better than the other countries. If I felt that they needed to look better, I reworked them."
"I believe that when the leaders open this book, they will be surprised at how the Thais came to know about these places [as some are not common tourist spots]," the artist said.
In the past 40 years, no Asean country has done anything like this. It will be evidence for people to remember Thailand as the chair of Asean this year, he said.
Mr Vitavas hopes this artistic masterpiece will help Asean to become better known among its own people and around the world.
"The pillar of socio-culture under the Asean Charter should be improved as it would be a linkage of the people and this book will be a good gateway," he said.
Both Mr Vitavas and Mr Taveepong believe that many countries would be surprised at how resilient Thai people are in the face of ongoing political instability in the country, which is now being expressed through art.
The drawings are now on display for the public at Siam Paragon shopping mall until tomorrow, after which the exhibition will be moved to CentralWorld from October 5-8.
After that, all the pictures would be put on display at the meeting venue at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Chaam/Hua Hin in order to allow all Asean leaders to appreciate their portraits on their way to the meeting room.
"L inking people with arts will help them appreciate and be proud of the closeness of one's community," said Vitavas Srivihok, director-general of the Asean Affairs Department at the Foreign Ministry.His words later inspired the birth of an artistic book entitled "Asean: Portrait of a Community" which will be presented as a special gift to the 10 Asean leaders at this year's final Asean gathering this month in Cha-am/Hua Hin.
What makes this book unique is the compilation of sketch drawings of all Asean leaders, as well as the top tourist attractions of the region. The livelihoods of the Asean peoples are portrayed in the natural flow of water colours.
The project took shape in June after an exchange of ideas during a friendly chat between Mr Vitavas and artist Taveepong Limapornvanich.
"The ministry thought it should have a surprise gift for the leaders. I'm sure it will be unlike anything they have previously received from other countries," Mr Vitavas told the Bangkok Post.
But to complete the book was quite a challenge for Mr Taveepong.
"It took me two full months to sketch about 150 pictures from the 10 Asean countries.
"Every day, I spent about 18 hours on average drawing about two pictures. I would start around 3pm to 4pm and finish by about 6am the next day," he said.
In addition to the book,10 large-size smiling portraits of the leaders, which took him more than 10 hours each to finish, will be displayed at the Asean summit.
"Although some of the leaders were not smiling in the originals, I painted them wearing a beaming smile," he said.
He said Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva's portrait was the most difficult to draw because he looked different in different poses - sometimes rather bloated,other times thin.
"But the painting of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak came out the best," said Mr Taveepong.
Mr Vitavas is particularly impressed by the pictures of the 10 Asean leaders shaking hands with Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan. To him, they looked so real.
Another major challenge was which distinctive tourist landmarks should be chosen from each member state for the book.
In Indonesia and Thailand, there are simply too many attractions to choose from.
"Since each country was afforded only six pages or 18 prominent tourist sites for entry into the book, I needed to do a lot of thinking and research before finalising the list," said Mr Taveepong.
"I included the places which I thought would make the leaders realise that the Thais did know quite a bit about their neighbouring countries."
"About 40% of the pictures used as samples for the drawings came from my own album, the pictures I took when I travelled to those countries," he said.
Mr Vitavas said:"I am impressed that he was able to capture the diversity of each country and the common culture depicted in the book, such as the
pictures of dancing girls or the type of trishaws running in the streets of Asean countries."
"In the trishaw pictures, all Asean nations have their own style of trishaws, except Brunei, which uses a boat instead," he said.
Mr Taveepong thought Malaysia provided an ideal country for the drawing.
"I studied in Malaysia for two years and that made me feel accustomed to its culture and architecture,especially with what I saw in Penang," he said.
Brunei and Burma are the only two Asean countries Mr Taveepong has never visited.
Unlike the other water-colour drawings in the book,the sacred Shwedagon Pagoda of Burma needed to be done twice.
He said he needed to do this because it was difficult to tell the foreground from the background in the
sample picture. There are also many smaller pagodas around the main one, said Mr Taveepong.
"I have not made the paintings of one country inferior or better than the other countries. If I felt that they needed to look better, I reworked them."
"I believe that when the leaders open this book, they will be surprised at how the Thais came to know about these places [as some are not common tourist spots]," the artist said.
In the past 40 years, no Asean country has done anything like this. It will be evidence for people to remember Thailand as the chair of Asean this year, he said.
Mr Vitavas hopes this artistic masterpiece will help Asean to become better known among its own people and around the world.
"The pillar of socio-culture under the Asean Charter should be improved as it would be a linkage of the people and this book will be a good gateway," he said.
Both Mr Vitavas and Mr Taveepong believe that many countries would be surprised at how resilient Thai people are in the face of ongoing political instability in the country, which is now being expressed through art.
The drawings are now on display for the public at Siam Paragon shopping mall until tomorrow, after which the exhibition will be moved to CentralWorld from October 5-8.
After that, all the pictures would be put on display at the meeting venue at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Chaam/Hua Hin in order to allow all Asean leaders to appreciate their portraits on their way to the meeting room.
HAVE YOU SEEN THE DRAGON
This weekend the Mekong River will again erupt with its myterious fireballs. What are they? Join the never-ending debate and make up your own mind.
The phenomenon is as enigmatic as it si beautiful. Thousands of pink and red bursts of light-the "naga fireballs" sometimes called "ghost fireballs"-rise from the Mekong in Nong Khai on the Lao border.
It might as well be an episode in "The X-Files" sci-fi television series. It happens only at this time each year, under the full moon of the 11th lunar month, which falls on Monday on the old Laotian calendar.
The glowing spheres, the size of chicken eggs, hang in the air for a few minutes before disappearing, leaving in their wake astonishment, mystification and many many questions.
a hoax? A miracle? Why only at this time of the year? Why Nong Khai?
Manas Kanoksil is one of the "myth busters". The local doctor has been observing and studying the fireballs for more than 10 years.
The science that he's applied tells him that the bizarre phenomenon is the combustion of natural gases released from the riverbed and heat drifting on the surface.
The combustion requires a complete set of perfectly natural occurrences, including the relative positions of the earth, sun and moon. Hence its occur rence on the last night of Buddhist Lent.
However, the local people tend to be more interested in swapping science for mythology.
Way back at the birth of legends, the story goes, Nong Khai and other settlements along the Mekong were created by the water serpents called nagas.
Only later was the saga imbued with Buddhist fancy: The Lord Buddha ascended to heaven for Lent to visit his mother and his return during the full moon of the 11th lunar month was cause for rejoicing.
To show their delight, the nagas shot fireballs into the air.
The drama continues. A television crew once tried to convince, witnesses that it was a hoax perpetrated by the Lao on the far side on the river. Unfortunately, the only proof was videotape of a few Lao firing their rifles into the air.
A painter living on the Thai bank, Manas Anuraksa, remains enchanted by the fireball phenomenon, regardless of the explanation.
"It's very peculiar, and we're not sure who or what causes it, but whatever it is,I believe this mythical event could make Nong Khai special enough to become a wonder of the world."
Manas is right. The sleepy little town, once known to visitors only as a place to get a cold beer before crossing teh border to Laos, has become a popular destination thanks to the bizarre annual show.
Every year more than 300,000 people come to see the fireballs, and no fewer are expected this weekend, when they're scheduled to recur.
One way to watch them is rent a motorcycle and ride eastward along the Mekong from Muang district to Phon Phisai and Rattanawapee.
Ask around about the best spots to stop-the riverbanks get quite crowded in places-and keep your eyes peeled from 6 to 9pm.
There will also be religious ceremonies marking the end of the three - month Lenten retreat, plus longtailed-boat races, fireworks and illuminated floats.
Strictly sideshows, of course-you have to see the fireballs.
The phenomenon is as enigmatic as it si beautiful. Thousands of pink and red bursts of light-the "naga fireballs" sometimes called "ghost fireballs"-rise from the Mekong in Nong Khai on the Lao border.
It might as well be an episode in "The X-Files" sci-fi television series. It happens only at this time each year, under the full moon of the 11th lunar month, which falls on Monday on the old Laotian calendar.
The glowing spheres, the size of chicken eggs, hang in the air for a few minutes before disappearing, leaving in their wake astonishment, mystification and many many questions.
a hoax? A miracle? Why only at this time of the year? Why Nong Khai?
Manas Kanoksil is one of the "myth busters". The local doctor has been observing and studying the fireballs for more than 10 years.
The science that he's applied tells him that the bizarre phenomenon is the combustion of natural gases released from the riverbed and heat drifting on the surface.
The combustion requires a complete set of perfectly natural occurrences, including the relative positions of the earth, sun and moon. Hence its occur rence on the last night of Buddhist Lent.
However, the local people tend to be more interested in swapping science for mythology.
Way back at the birth of legends, the story goes, Nong Khai and other settlements along the Mekong were created by the water serpents called nagas.
Only later was the saga imbued with Buddhist fancy: The Lord Buddha ascended to heaven for Lent to visit his mother and his return during the full moon of the 11th lunar month was cause for rejoicing.
To show their delight, the nagas shot fireballs into the air.
The drama continues. A television crew once tried to convince, witnesses that it was a hoax perpetrated by the Lao on the far side on the river. Unfortunately, the only proof was videotape of a few Lao firing their rifles into the air.
A painter living on the Thai bank, Manas Anuraksa, remains enchanted by the fireball phenomenon, regardless of the explanation.
"It's very peculiar, and we're not sure who or what causes it, but whatever it is,I believe this mythical event could make Nong Khai special enough to become a wonder of the world."
Manas is right. The sleepy little town, once known to visitors only as a place to get a cold beer before crossing teh border to Laos, has become a popular destination thanks to the bizarre annual show.
Every year more than 300,000 people come to see the fireballs, and no fewer are expected this weekend, when they're scheduled to recur.
One way to watch them is rent a motorcycle and ride eastward along the Mekong from Muang district to Phon Phisai and Rattanawapee.
Ask around about the best spots to stop-the riverbanks get quite crowded in places-and keep your eyes peeled from 6 to 9pm.
There will also be religious ceremonies marking the end of the three - month Lenten retreat, plus longtailed-boat races, fireworks and illuminated floats.
Strictly sideshows, of course-you have to see the fireballs.
Renoir's late works highlighted in Paris
Pierre-Auguste Renoir is best remembered as the master of bright Impressionist snapshots of real life,but an exhibition opening in Paris this week highlights his switch in style in his later years.
He was 72 and well-established when he famously said in 1913:"I'm starting to know how to paint. It has taken me over 50 years' work to get this far."
"Renoir in the 20th Century", a highlight of this season's Paris arts calendar,runs until January 4 at the Grand Palais before travelling to museums in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
"The show seeks to explore a period and aspects of Renoir's works that are neglected and often ridiculed," said curator Sylvie Patry.
On display are 100 oils, many rarely seen, as well as sculptures dating from the last 30 years of Renoir's life (1841 to 1919) when his art evolved from lightdappled Impressionism to figure studies inspired by old-school painters such as Titian and Rubens.
Renoir, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley revolutionised European painting by transforming the treatment of light and form in art.
Seen as one of the fathers of modern art, Renoir came to challenge the movement in the 1880s to concentrate instead on drawing and studio work, in reference to the old masters.
As a self-styled figure painter, he concentrated on female nudes, portraits and studies from models, testing himself against past greats.
"He progressively gave up subjects on modern life that the Impressionists loved to instead evoke a timeless world,a sort of classical Greece reinvented in southern France," Patry said.
In the first decade of the 20th century his work inspired by the south of France and from models led to new compositions such as the Odalisques and,above all, the Bathers of 1918 to 1919.Renoir described the Bathers as "a springboard for future research". Patry said it was "the sum of all his admiration"for Ingres, Titian and Raphael.
Also onshow are rarely-seen sculptures by the elderly Renoir, who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and worked in support with young artists able to carry out the physical work.
He was 72 and well-established when he famously said in 1913:"I'm starting to know how to paint. It has taken me over 50 years' work to get this far."
"Renoir in the 20th Century", a highlight of this season's Paris arts calendar,runs until January 4 at the Grand Palais before travelling to museums in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.
"The show seeks to explore a period and aspects of Renoir's works that are neglected and often ridiculed," said curator Sylvie Patry.
On display are 100 oils, many rarely seen, as well as sculptures dating from the last 30 years of Renoir's life (1841 to 1919) when his art evolved from lightdappled Impressionism to figure studies inspired by old-school painters such as Titian and Rubens.
Renoir, Paul Cezanne, Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley revolutionised European painting by transforming the treatment of light and form in art.
Seen as one of the fathers of modern art, Renoir came to challenge the movement in the 1880s to concentrate instead on drawing and studio work, in reference to the old masters.
As a self-styled figure painter, he concentrated on female nudes, portraits and studies from models, testing himself against past greats.
"He progressively gave up subjects on modern life that the Impressionists loved to instead evoke a timeless world,a sort of classical Greece reinvented in southern France," Patry said.
In the first decade of the 20th century his work inspired by the south of France and from models led to new compositions such as the Odalisques and,above all, the Bathers of 1918 to 1919.Renoir described the Bathers as "a springboard for future research". Patry said it was "the sum of all his admiration"for Ingres, Titian and Raphael.
Also onshow are rarely-seen sculptures by the elderly Renoir, who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis and worked in support with young artists able to carry out the physical work.
An artist with politics on his mind
Ai Weiwei, one of China's most controversial artists, may be the son of a poet who was a cultural icon for a new communist China 60 years ago, but he has nothing but scorn for those in power today.
"It's so surprising to see that after 60 years in power the communists have not improved their propaganda machine," Ai said in an interview at his home in Caochangdi, an artists' colony in the northeast of the capital.
"They're just so terrible, and they carry on as before, but all they have done is to distance themselves even more from the people and how they think and feel."
The 52-year-old Beijing native moved into a quiet courtyard house with a garden here nine years ago. Today, his home-studio compound is bustling with activity, as dozens of young men and women toil behind computer screens.
In his battle against government propaganda,now in full swing ahead of huge celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on October 1, Ai has deployed his best weapons: art and the internet.
In addition to opening his first solo exhibition in Beijing this month, Ai has a widely popular but often censored - blog, on which he writes political commentaries, publishes photos and broadcasts his films.
"In 60 years, all the authorities have succeeded in doing is to destroy their own ideology," said Ai, a large man with a round face and a salt-andpepper beard, dressed in blue work clothes.
"Before coming to power, they spoke about democracy, the end of one-party [Nationalist]rule and the need for freedom of expression.
"They used that platform to gain power. Now,if you talk about these same ideas, you are a criminal and thrown in jail."
His father, Ai Qing, was a member of the Communist Party and became one of the cultural celebrities of the newly created PRC in 1949.
Eight years later, he was denounced and sent to a labour camp.
Later rehabilitated, he is again revered today.Ai himself first came to prominence in the late 1970s as a member of an avant garde group of artists known as "The Stars". He then moved to the US, where he lived for more than 10 years before coming home in the 1990s.
Today, he is a target of both censorship and careful police scrutiny.
Ai leads a group of volunteers investigating the collapse of schoolhouses in the massive May 2008 earthquake in southwestern Sichuan province that left more than 87,000 people dead or missing.
Schools bore the brunt of the quake, with thousands collapsing on top of students, fuelling angry charges from parents that corruption had led to shoddy construction.
Last month, police prevented Ai from testifying at the trial in the Sichuan provincial capital Chengdu of a fellow quake activist, Tan Zuoren,who was charged with "inciting subversion of state power".
"Police officers struck me and detained me for 11 hours so that I could not attend the trial,"he said.
"It's unbelievable - the state violates its own laws and tries to cover that up however it can.Only old gangsters can get away with that."
Ai's public profile is very different from his private persona. In the Chinese media, only his mainstream projects - such as his work helping to design the Bird's Nest stadium for last year's Beijing Olympics - are mentioned.
His new exhibition in a private gallery in Beijing's trendy 798 art district features only a few pieces - one is a map of the world made of thousands of layers of cotton, symbolising China's position as the "workshop for the world".
"The government-run places don't want to show my work. I'm not interested anyway, as they are always subject to censorship rules," he said.
In October, he will open a much bigger show in Munich, entitled "So Sorry".
He described his latest effort as "complicated and huge", exploring a variety of themes, from Nazi leader Adolf Hitler to modern China and the Sichuan earthquake.
So far, Ai has avoided prison, though others in China have been sentenced to jail for similar provocations. He says he is fully aware he could fall foul of the authorities at any time.
"I am afraid, but I am more afraid that if I do not speak out, then I'll have no more chance to be afraid any more. It can happen to me any time," he said.
"It's so surprising to see that after 60 years in power the communists have not improved their propaganda machine," Ai said in an interview at his home in Caochangdi, an artists' colony in the northeast of the capital.
"They're just so terrible, and they carry on as before, but all they have done is to distance themselves even more from the people and how they think and feel."
The 52-year-old Beijing native moved into a quiet courtyard house with a garden here nine years ago. Today, his home-studio compound is bustling with activity, as dozens of young men and women toil behind computer screens.
In his battle against government propaganda,now in full swing ahead of huge celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic on October 1, Ai has deployed his best weapons: art and the internet.
In addition to opening his first solo exhibition in Beijing this month, Ai has a widely popular but often censored - blog, on which he writes political commentaries, publishes photos and broadcasts his films.
"In 60 years, all the authorities have succeeded in doing is to destroy their own ideology," said Ai, a large man with a round face and a salt-andpepper beard, dressed in blue work clothes.
"Before coming to power, they spoke about democracy, the end of one-party [Nationalist]rule and the need for freedom of expression.
"They used that platform to gain power. Now,if you talk about these same ideas, you are a criminal and thrown in jail."
His father, Ai Qing, was a member of the Communist Party and became one of the cultural celebrities of the newly created PRC in 1949.
Eight years later, he was denounced and sent to a labour camp.
Later rehabilitated, he is again revered today.Ai himself first came to prominence in the late 1970s as a member of an avant garde group of artists known as "The Stars". He then moved to the US, where he lived for more than 10 years before coming home in the 1990s.
Today, he is a target of both censorship and careful police scrutiny.
Ai leads a group of volunteers investigating the collapse of schoolhouses in the massive May 2008 earthquake in southwestern Sichuan province that left more than 87,000 people dead or missing.
Schools bore the brunt of the quake, with thousands collapsing on top of students, fuelling angry charges from parents that corruption had led to shoddy construction.
Last month, police prevented Ai from testifying at the trial in the Sichuan provincial capital Chengdu of a fellow quake activist, Tan Zuoren,who was charged with "inciting subversion of state power".
"Police officers struck me and detained me for 11 hours so that I could not attend the trial,"he said.
"It's unbelievable - the state violates its own laws and tries to cover that up however it can.Only old gangsters can get away with that."
Ai's public profile is very different from his private persona. In the Chinese media, only his mainstream projects - such as his work helping to design the Bird's Nest stadium for last year's Beijing Olympics - are mentioned.
His new exhibition in a private gallery in Beijing's trendy 798 art district features only a few pieces - one is a map of the world made of thousands of layers of cotton, symbolising China's position as the "workshop for the world".
"The government-run places don't want to show my work. I'm not interested anyway, as they are always subject to censorship rules," he said.
In October, he will open a much bigger show in Munich, entitled "So Sorry".
He described his latest effort as "complicated and huge", exploring a variety of themes, from Nazi leader Adolf Hitler to modern China and the Sichuan earthquake.
So far, Ai has avoided prison, though others in China have been sentenced to jail for similar provocations. He says he is fully aware he could fall foul of the authorities at any time.
"I am afraid, but I am more afraid that if I do not speak out, then I'll have no more chance to be afraid any more. It can happen to me any time," he said.
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