Roberto Burle Marx as a context-sensitive designer
As a painter, Roberto Burle Marx was an international abstract expressionist. But as a garden designer and landscape architect he showed a high degree of sensitivity to context - I say ’surprising’ only because I was so slow to appreciate the complexity of this point. His planting was voluptuously Brazilian, like his mother, and Marx could see no reason for using European plants. Nor did he see any reason for the hard detailing to draw inspiration from the land of his father: Germany. Instead, he drew upon the country whose language is spoken in Brazil. The accompanying photograph is of Copacabana Beach - but could just as well have been taken in Portugal. Until I went to Portugal, I thought this amazing design was an example of Burle Marx inventiveness as an abstract painter. I was very wrong.
This rather astonishing piece of Portugese crochet reminds me of the artwork of Damien Hirst? [blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/04/joana_vasc...]
See also:
1. Damien with his piece ‘The Sacred Heart of Jesus’ from ‘The Death of God’ exhibition.
(Image no17)
2. Damien with his piece ‘For the Love of God’(Image no10)
3. Damien with his piece ‘The Incredible Journey’ from the ‘Beautiful Inside My Head Forever’ exhibition. (Image no1)
[abcnews.go.com/International/popup?id=3234825...]
Not sure where Damien is going with all of this; I wonder if he knows either? His mother’s name is Mary Brennan - does this suggest a troubled Catholic upbringing as ‘the major influence’ for the UK’s wealthiest artist?
It is interesting that his musings through art have struck such a public chord.
What did you discover about Portugal in your travels that made you reassess the inventiveness of Burle Marx?
Comment by Christine — January 4, 2009 @ 12:40 am