Travel |

September 14, 2016

A Tourist’s Guide to Montserrat

Montserrat Monastery

Located 50 kilometers northwest of Barcelona, Montserrat is not just a spectacular rugged mountain range, but is also a spiritual destination. Home to Benedictine monastery and miles of serene walking trails, it is no surprise that Montserrat is a popular day-trip destination for those visiting Barcelona.

Traveling to Montserrat
Montserrat is best visited from Barcelona, and easily accessed by train, bus and car. For those taking the train, once you reach Montserrat-Aeri, you will then be able to choose between taking a funicular or a cable car up to the monastery, although the majority would agree that the cable car offers a much more scenic journey.

Black Madonna and the Monastery
Montserrat has always been a popular pilgrimage spot, and is home to the Black Madonna, a wooden statue that was found in 880 AD, glowing at the back of a cave. Legends states that when attempts were made to move the statue away from the mountain, it became impossibly heavy, and so a chapel was built around it. The monastery, which is home today to several Benedictine monks, was then later established in 1409. When visiting the Black Madonna, keep in mind that this is the most revered relic in Catalonia, so expect to spend some time waiting in a line.

Montserrat Museum
The Montserrat Museum is another popular stop on the mountain, and while you may not expect much from a museum with such an out-of-the-way location, it actually contains some seriously impressive art. The displays feature pieces by Catalan masters, with some of the highlights being the artwork by Dali, Miro and Picasso.

Walking Trails
There are numerous walking trails crisscrossing around Montserrat, with one of the most popular starting at the Funicular Sant Joan, from where you can walk to Sant Jeroni, the highest point on Montserrat. The hike between Sant Jeroni and the monastery takes about two to three hours, offering panoramic views over the local landscape, and while all of the main trails are quite well-marked, picking up a trail map from the information desk is still advised.

Dining
If you are visiting Montserrat on a day-trip, then you can either bring your own lunch, or dine at one of the venues on the mountain. The two formal restaurants to be found here at Restaurant Montserrat and Restaurant Abat Cisneros, but there are also two canteen-style venues for those who want a quick and casual bite. Montserrat is incredibly beautiful, and if you are visiting on a pleasant day, it could be worth visiting the small supermarket, as well as the nearby market stalls, to pick up a few items for a picnic on the mountain.

Montserrat is a destination that holds a special place in the heart of many Catalans, and is worth a visit if you want to experience a unique spiritual side to the region. From the scenic cable car ride at the start of the day, to a picnic lunch overlooking the mountain’s rocky landscape, to a visit to the Montserrat Museum to view some world-class art, a day spent in Montserrat promises to be a fascinating one.

Lifestyle |

May 30, 2016

| OROGOLD

Museum of Fine Arts

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The fourth largest museum in the USA, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts is home to over 450,000 pieces of art, making it one of the most comprehensive art collections in the world. With a vast range of permanent collections, as well as an exciting schedule of revolving exhibitions, this museum beautifully displays works of art from a wide variety of cultures and art movements from all over the world throughout history.

Permanent Collections
The permanent collections at the Museum of Fine Arts span every continent of the world and focuses on a number of different themes. The Art of Europe Collection includes the work of several major French Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, such as Manet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet and Degas, while the American art collection includes significant pieces from the 18th and 19th century, by artists such as John Singer Sargent, John Singleton Copley, and Gilbert Stuart. The museum is also home to the largest collection of Japanese artwork under one roof outside of Japan, and many of the museum’s early Buddhist paintings and sculptures are envied by even the finest of Japanese museums.

Current Exhibitions
The Museum of Fine Arts always has a number of fascinating temporary exhibitions on display, with the current schedule definitely making a special trip to the museum worthwhile. Visiting Masterpieces: Pairing Picasso is an exhibition that is on until the end of June, and compares and contrasts different artworks by master artist Pablo Picasso. This gives visitors the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study these magnificent paintings up close, learning more about the range of techniques and styles that were utilized by the artist. For those interested in design, #Techstyle is an exhibition that will inspire you, as it takes a look at the innovations that have come about by merging fashion with technology. Another important fashion exhibition that is currently being held at the Museum of Fine Arts is the Kenneth Paul Block exhibition, featuring the work of one of the most important fashion illustrators of our time.

Museum Activities
In addition to touring the museum’s extensive art collection, visitors can also take part in some of the museum’s extra activities. The museum’s Gallery Talks are one- hour thematic talks by specialist curators, educators, scholars and artists, while the Artist Demonstrations give visitors the chance to meet with an artist and learn more about their inspirations, as well as their artistic process. Drawing in the Galleries are drop-in drawing sessions, where visitors can sketch from objects around the museum, as well as live models, and there are also adult art classes on offer for those who want to develop their artistic talent even further.

The Museum of Fine Arts is open every day of the week and is easily accessed by both car as well as public transport. When it comes to seeing the sights of Boston, the museum should definitely be at the top of the priority list for any art lovers, as the scope of their world-renowned collection simply cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Lifestyle |

May 11, 2016

| OROGOLD

London’s Spring Art Exhibits

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London’s art scene is always thrilling, and this spring sees some truly exciting exhibits hitting the capital. From pieces by an underground cartoonist to historic Dutch paintings, these are some of the hottest art exhibitions in London this spring.

R Crumb: Art and Beauty
Robert Crumb was considered to be the most famous underground cartoonist in the world, although his underground status has been slowly diminishing over recent years as the artist has begun the transition into the world of art galleries. Crumb’s latest exhibit, held at the David Zwirner gallery in West London, features 54 pieces of work that the artist has been creating since the mid 90’s, many of which put Crumb’s erotic imagination on display. Women are the focal point of many of his pieces, and a number of recognizable sports stars are on display, as well as snapshots and drawings of everyday inspiring women on the streets of London.

Dutch Flowers
Flowers are not just visually pleasing, but are in fact symbols for everything from passion to love to sympathy to celebrations, and the Dutch Flowers exhibit is all about these beautiful botanicals. Located at London’s National Gallery, the display of paintings dates back to the seventeenth and eighteenth century, and while the exhibition may be small, with just 22 paintings in an intimate setting, the talent on display is extraordinary. From microscopically accurate representations of plant life to vases overflowing with blooms, Dutch Flowers mirrors the inspiring balance between nature and art, while also depicting the many different concepts that flowers symbolize.

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Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse
Gardens have always served as immense forms of inspiration for artists all over the world, and this is especially true for the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Avant Garde movements. Painting the Modern Garden: Monet to Matisse can be found at the Royal Academy of Arts, and features a collection of work from world-famous artists. Dating from the 1860’s to the 1920’s, pieces from the likes of Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet, Matisse, Cezanne and more are on display, depicting exactly how the modern garden has shaped the work of these master artists. Many of the pieces here are classics, and, when displayed with others that also focus on the same subject matter, the overall effect is most definitely powerful.

Conceptual Art in Britain
There is plenty of debate about conceptual art, and while many may only associate it with the past decade, conceptual art actually arose over forty years ago. British artists played a huge role in the development and evolution of conceptual art, and this exhibit depicts this impact in a clear and concise manner. Key pieces of British conceptual art are on display, with the overall exhibition aiming to make conceptual art more intelligible and appreciated by the general public.

London has long since been an epicenter for art and culture, and the city is constantly home to some of the most exciting art exhibitions around. From classic pieces by world-famous master painters to modern British conceptual art, these exhibits are the highlight of London’s art scene this spring.