Joaquín Torres García

Joaquín Torres García was a painter, writer and art theorist who born in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1874. He is famed as founder of  Constructive Universalism, an art form that incorporates Latin American historic symbols and pre-Hispanic cultures. He completed his studies in Barcelona and then traveled across New York, Italy and finally settled in Paris in 1928. He linked with Modernismo art movement in Barcelona and did so many murals for Antoni Gaudí. In Paris he established friendships with Man Ray, Joan Miro, Joseph Stella etc.

In 1934 he returned to Uruguay with all the European art in his mind and molded a new style ie; Constructive Universalism. He wants something that is not stained by European art and founded this on the belief that simple objects and shapes could be understand prevalently irrespective of cultural/art academic knowledge.

In 1942, Torres García Workshop was created, a place of collective work and teaching, where his students learned to go through the course of art. He died in Montevideo, on 8 August 1949.

América invertida (inverted America, 1943)

Construction in White and Black (1938)

Construction in White and Black (1938)
Medium:Oil on paper mounted on wood
Dimensions:31 3/4 x 40 1/8" (80.7 x 102 cm)

This painting belongs to the series of gridded, bichromatic, abstract compositions Torres–García made between 1935 and the early 1940s. In this work, irregular, geometric forms evoke primal architectonic structures, and the dramatic contrast between light and shadow on the many planes creates an effect of depth and volume. The painting reflects the artist's deep engagement with the indigenous art and architecture of the Americas and, in particular, his interest in Incan stonework. The strong shading in each rectangular compartment gives the impression of stacked blocks, visually mimicking Incan masonry.(MoMA)

Constructivo (1928)-Ink on paper

Construcción 1944

The above mural  was done in 1944 by Torres Garcia for a hospital built for tubercular patients in Montevideo. There were 34 murals in total. Even though his age(he was about 70 years old was not suitable for this work, he started painting the walls by May 1944 since this being a unique opportunity to achieve in practice his theory that Constructivism was the ideal style to incorporate into modern architecture.Real problem arose when the whole work was unveiled on a public ceremony.The art critics declared them violent and aggressive and cautioned that the strident colors, would disturb the sick who were in need of physical and spiritual repose. The debate for and against the murals that ensued in the press went on for months, to such an extent that eventually a humorous note was published declaring that the murals had "turned out to be more dangerous and lethal than the Koch bacilli."

By 1970, the seven murals by Torres-García were in danger of being lost, threatened by the deterioration of the building. The Torres-García Foundation funded their restoration; removed from the walls and transferred to canvas, they were donated to Montevideo's Museum of Visual Arts, where they were shown in a Torres-García centenary retrospective in 1974. The following year, together with a large selection of Constructivist works by Torres-García, the murals were exhibited in Paris. In July 1978, as part of the exhibition "Geometría Sensível" in Rio de Janeiro, 73 works by Torres-García including the seven murals were destroyed in the fire that also consumed the entire collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

This painting, Construcción, 1944 is Torres-García's study for El Sol, the largest mural (over twenty feet long) of the project. This work is valuable not only because it is a testimony to the scope of the Constructivist muralist movement, and of its irreparable loss, but also because of its sheer originality.

Dos figuras constructivas primitivas (1945)

No (2012)

No (2012)
118 min
Director: Pablo Larraín
Writers: Pedro Peirano (screenplay), Antonio Skármeta (play)
Stars: Gael García Bernal, Alfredo Castro, Luis Gnecco
Country: Chile
Language: Spanish

In Pablo Larrain's Pinochet Trilogy, the movies Post Mortem (2010) and No (2012) (remaining one is Tony Manero released in 2008) are depicting somewhat similar situations (sure, the politics is different in both periods); superseding a reign to another.
After 16 and half years of tyranny in Chile, the head of military junta, Augsto Pinochet was prompted to call for a public referendum due to International pressures. The result of this plebiscite will decide whether the panache of power would stay on Pinoche's head for the next 8 years.
"A 'Yes' vote would mean, "Yes, I want Pinochet to stay in power. A 'No' vote would mean, "I don't want Pinochet in power; I want free elections". Says Larrain.
Rene Saavedra, the protagonist played by Mexican actor Geal Garcia Bernal, an ad film maker was persuaded for the No campaign, which consist of telecasting advertisement videos made by Pinochet supporters as well as his opponents through TV. Every night both the groups get 15 minutes to prove their stand.
The transformation of  grey color (in Post Mortem) to multicolored makes us feel the journey of Chilean people from somewhat cadaverous to a new hopeful landscape. Rene is unwilling to show 15 years of sufferings to people. Instead he is revealing the colors of hope and freedom. His target is how to fill viewers mind with charm, pleasure, the dreams of future and to prove them that the referendum cannot be rigged by Pinochet thereby tempting the mass to vote.
Since both the films are placed in a turning point of history, one is dead frozen, time is almost static, showing the painful shades of future; but in the other, time is finding its path, snows are defrozening. The languages he used in both films are entirely different and so sharp, scintillating, as Rene said in the movie "First of all, i would like to say what you are about to see fits with the current social context"
The film is based on the unpublished play El Plebiscito, written by Antonio Skármeta, starring Gael García Bernal, Alfredo Castro; Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film in 85th Academy Awards.

Life, Love, Death And Other Trifles- Jan Saudek (1991)

Life, Love, Death And Other Trifles- Jan Saudek (1991)
Directors, Writers: Slawomir Pultyn, Jaroslaw Rybicki
Country: Czech
Language: Czech
Run time: 34 min

A glance at the life and works of  Czech photographer Jan Saudek. It includes footage of him while working with models, visions about subjects like woman, happiness...Not so deep, but lively and interesting.

Live Flesh (1997)

Live Flesh (1997)
"Carne trémula" (original title)
103 min
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Writers: Pedro Almodóvar, Jorge Guerricaechevarría, Ray Loriga, Ruth Rendell (Novel)
Music: Alberto Iglesias
Country: Spain
Language: Spanish

Victor was born in a deserted New Year night under Francisco Franco's mustache in 1970 as a prostitute's son. Fate brought him to an apartment of a junkie, Helena after 20 years, with whom he had a fabulous intercourse before. A bullet fired from gun in that room blossomed flowers of sin and expiation in the minds of characters within that frames of "Crane Tremula".
Live Flesh, directed by Pedro Almodovar is a glittery, electrifying piece of art showing the flow of immortal sins from mind to body. We cant take eyes from screen for a single moment and it twitches the skin inside. Elena becomes a devout wife to David, an ex-cop saved her from Victor since she is responsible for his life in wheel chair. The return of Victor from prison creates tensions in the couple's life and Elena realizes nakedness of truth adding intense colors to her reparation.Clara, by Ángela Molina is another remarkable woman in the movie. She was put behind the bars of threatened love for her husband, Sancho, the colleague of  David.
Bunuel's "Ensayo De Un Crimen" sets off the spark and is getting more fire like towards the end.Elena is played by Francesca Neri and Javier Bardem as David. Also Alberto Iglesias's wonderful music made flesh more delicious and tempt us to eat more.

Norah Borges Art

Norah Borges

Norah Borges was a painter, visual artist a prominent memner of avant-garde literary grouip called Florida Group in Buenos Aires. She was the younger sister of ultraist writer, Jorge Luis Borges.
She was influenced by expressionism and modernity during the Geneva years and when the family reached Spain (1919-1921) they were attracted to Ultraist Movement that opposed Modernism. The illustrations of Norah helped Jorge Luis Borges to thrive ultraism in Argentina after their return.
She died at the age of 97 on July 20th, 1998.

This work of Norah is a fresco portraying a mother and child painted in 1920, during the family's second and final sojourn in Island of Majorca. She did this on the staircase of Hotel del Artista in Valldemossa where they stayed.

Spanish Musicians-Músicos españoles

In all of our games she was always el caudillo, I the slow, timid, submissive one. She climbed to the top of the roof, traipsed through the tress, and I followed along with more fear than enthusiasm. 

—Jorge Luis Borges, Norah

Veronica-La Verónica

Venus and Cupid -Norah Borges- November,
1924 15 x 15 cm, Woodcut

Ajedrez (Chess) (1922)-Norah Borges
(for a poetry by Jorge Luis Borges)

Beyond the Hills (2012)

Beyond the Hills (2012)
"Dupa dealuri" (original title)
150 min

Country: Romania | France | Belgium
Language: Romanian

Director: Cristian Mungiu
Writers: Cristian Mungiu (screenplay), Tatiana Niculescu Bran (inspired by non-fiction novels of)
Stars: Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Valeriu Andriuta

The fate of a remote secluded monastery in Romania changes when Alina came there to see her old colleague in orphanage, Voichita who is now a nun there. The religious activities of these nuns are headed by a priest. Alina cant cop with the situations and gradually her voice is rising there. She gets transfigured as an enemy in the eyes of the puritans.
The movie don't have a language of a blasphemous film. But it shows us the activities of a secluded society that still lives in the chains and the shadows of its past leaders. All are prisoners here, the leader is just an illusion. The priest and followers are clamorous about sins in the holy books and scriptures, but they are unaware of sins in reality. Even they are treating a rebel by old methods. Movie is directed by Cristain Mungiu and has bagged Best screenplay and Best Actress in Cannes 2012.

Our Grand Despair (2011)

Our Grand Despair (2011)
"Bizim büyük çaresizligimiz" (original title)
102 min

Director: Seyfi Teoman
Writers: Baris Bicakci (novel), Baris Bicakci (script)
Stars: Ilker Aksum, Fatih Al, Gunes Sayin

Country: Turkey | Germany | Netherlands
Language: Turkish

The peaceful cohabitation of bachelors Ender and Cetin is disrupted when they allow a friend's sister to move in with them. The 30-something longtime friends are overwhelmed by the presence of the uncommunicative Nihal. What possessed them to accept the responsibility of a university student in their home? Especially a girl struggling with the trauma of recently losing her parents in a car accident. But simple daily rituals like sharing meals eventually bring the three roommates together for more pleasant moments. Nihal soon comes out of her depressed shell and the two men discover a vibrant beautiful young woman. Always caring and protective gentlemen, Ender and Cetin are intent on being conscientious guardians. Nihal enjoys discussing literature and poetry with scholarly Ender, and she finds comfort in boisterous Cetin's earthy humor. Nihal is touched by the men's loyal friendship: in a sort of bromance since high school, Ender and Cetin now seem like an old married couple... Before...(IMDB)