Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum - Self

"Self" is a frozen sculpture of the artist's head made from 4.5 litres of his own blood, taken from his body over a period of 5 months. Described by Marc Quinn as a ‘frozen moment on life-support’, the work is carefully maintained in a refrigeration unit, reminding the viewer of the fragility of existence. The artist makes a new version of Self every five years, each of which documents Quinn’s own physical transformation and deterioration.


In 1999, all of Marc Quinn's ‘blood head’ self portraits were exhibited together. Each portrait is a documentation of the artist’s head, as it ages every five years, and so represents a portrait of the artist over a fifteen year period.

Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum - Zombie Boy (Rick)

Marc Quinn's sculptures are disquieting but beautiful at the same time. Some - many - are scary - at least I found them so. 

This piece is called Zombie Boy (Rick) Cu Pb NnFe Mg Si.  It's made of orbital-sanded flap-wheeled lacquered bronze and was created in 2011.

Just click on either photo to see the detail which is extraordinary.  As I walked past Zombie Boy I felt his eyes following me - in fact I had the strong feeling that perhaps he wasn't a sculpture at all but one of those street people who don't move and then suddenly spring to life.

He is astonishingly beautiful. 

Thanks to Philippe who informed me that Zombie Boy is a real person, with real tattoos - do take a look at the link. 

Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum - Fire!

As I said yesterday, this area of the exhibition is forbidden to children unless accompanied by an adult. Whether it's because of the subject matter of the sculptures or because an unaccompanied child and fire could be dangerous, I don't know.

This piece is called Matter into Light: the Discovery of Fire (2011).  It's made of hand-treated cobalt-plated bronze, concrete, stainless steel, cement board, ceramic and bioethanol liquid.  This is one of a series of burning sculptures which thanks to new technology, can burn with real fire inside the museum without a flue.

Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum - the Guard

Screens surround the entrance to this space, the Salle de la Baleine, with a notice saying that children may not enter without an accompanying adult. Here you'll find an interesting mix of skeletons that belong to the museum and skeletons created by Marc Quinn, for instance Another Angel.  You'll also find a fornicating couple on a bed of fire which I suppose is the reason for the notice.  More tomorrow ...

This photo shows the guard on duty bathed in light - I couldn't resist snapping the scene.

Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum - Coral Nervous Breakdown

Coral Nervous Breakdown - has to be the perfect title for this piece!  Created in 1997 it's made of stainless steel, concrete, polyurethene and sponges.

The second scupture is called Mustard Nervous Breakdown. (1998)

Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum - Evolution

As you walk into the Salon d'Honneur in the Oceanographic Museum you see these 8 enormous sculptures of foetuses which are called Evolution and were created by Marc Quinn between 2005 and 2007.

Take a look a the second photo which shows their size compared to the visitors admiring them.

"The piece Evolution grows under the attentive gaze of Prince Albert I of Monaco, founder of the Oceeanographic Museum, who, in his autobiography, The Career of a Navigator' wrote:

'During my navigator's career I received fromthe sea a few testimonies concerning the laws which determine her role among the forces of the world ... It gave me a serene confidence in that destiny which the balance of the universe imposes upon oganic creatures along with the eternal cycles of life and death.'"

Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum - Another Angel

This piece is called 'Another Angel' and is made of patinated bronze.  The exhibition is beuatifully staged with subtle lighting creating interesting shadows.

Marc Quinn at the Oceanographic Museum - Planet

Last year the Oceanographic Museum mounted an exhibition by Damien Hirst.  This year it features another British artist, Marc Quinn.

This monumental baby called Planet (painted bronze and steel) waits for you outside the museum.

The exhibition is called 'The Litteral Zone.'

Jerry Brotton wrote 'The litteral zone, where sea meets the shore, where life on earth begins and ends, it is the location of origins, where chaos solidifes into form, where travel starts and concludes, a point of departure and a place of arrival, it is a space of fusion and of separation, where we try - and often fail - to distinguish nature from culture. And as a direct consequence, this is a space where creativity is at its most extreme and profound.'

Here's a timelapse video showing the installation of this 6 tonnes baby:

Stars 'N' Bars - Kate

Our last day (for the moment) at the newly renovated Stars 'N' Bars and another photo of Kate.  I much prefer unposed photos and this is exactly that. Kate was chatting to customers and doing what she does so beautifully - making everyone feel totally at home.

Love the new Stars 'N' Bars ...

Stars 'N' Bars - the Celebrity Walk of Fame

We're back at Stars 'N' Bars today and walking up the stairs to the Star Deck.  Looking at the photographs on the wall it would seem that anyone who is anyone has been to Stars 'N' Bars - Whitney Houston, Muhammed Ali, all the racing drivers (of course) but sports stars in most disciplines and so many stars of music and film and much more too.

It's all great fun looking at the photos ...

Monaco Grand Prix - the Twizy

This tiny Renault electric car, the Twizy, can be seen on the Monaco roads - somewhat smaller than the Formula One cars we saw yesterday ... but with one thing in common, they each accommodate only one person.  Renault's answer to the Smart, I suppose.  

Congratulations to Mark Webber - 2nd Monaco win! 

Monaco Grand Prix - Vroom vroom ...

It's race day in Monaco which is abuzz with excitement - who will win? 

This photo was taken at the Historic Grand Prix a couple of weeks ago but it seemed suitable for today even if it is a much older version of today's cars - and a little smaller!

Have a great day everyone and enjoy the race.

Vroom vroom ...

Monaco Grand Prix - Take the Train

If live or are staying outside Monaco, the easiest way to get to the Monaco Grand Prix is by train.  Forget driving - you'll never find anywhere to park.

Once off the train, all you have to do is check your Stand ticket, look at the sign and follow the relevant arrow.

Qualifying today ...

Monaco Grand Prix - the Stands

If you are a Formula One fan you can't but be excited as you enter the stands - massive steel structures that, from this viewpoint, mask the harbour.  The stand in the smaller photo faces the pit lane (its back to the sea) and the third photo gives you an idea of the security involved - this is the base of the long stand that faces the harbour, just before the swimming pool.

Stars 'N' Bars - Mika Hakkinen's McLaren Mercedes

With the Monaco Grand Prix on this weekend, let's get in a racing frame of mind with Mika Hakkinen's West McLaren Mercedes MP4-15 2000 car which is fixed to a wall in Stars 'N' Bars. I didn't have a wide-angle lens with me, hence you see only the middle of the car!

There's no better place in Monaco to get in the mood for motorsport than Stars 'N' Bars - so many of the drivers go there.

Stars 'N' Bars - the Kart on the Ceiling

Stars 'N' Bars is famous as a sports bar and restaurant - you'll see Mika Hakkinen's West McClaren Mercedes MP4-15 from 2000 on a wall and here - on the ceiling, no less -  is a kart.  You'll see, if you can read upsidedown, the names of Roberto Toninello and Jules Bianchi.

Stars 'N' Bars - the Entrance

As you enter Stars 'N' Bars you'll see this counter  on the right.  One of the friendly staff will find you a table or you can have a drink at the bar. You can also buy souvenirs here.  

More tomorrow ...

Stars 'N' Bars - Follow the Arrows ...

Not sure where to go?  Follow the arrows. 

 

Stars 'N' Bars - Kate!

Everyone knows Stars 'N' Bars, the sports bar and restaurant on the port of Monaco.  It's been going since 1993 when Kate and Didier renovated an old abandoned warehouse and started serving great burgers, great music and all in a fabulous buzzy atmosphere. 

It's been closed for three months for refurbishment and is now open - and I can tell you, it's fabulous!

And if you know Stars 'N' Bars, you'll know the delightful Kate posing for us outside the new entrance.

This is a hangout of the rich and famous in Monaco and particularly the sports stars.  Let's spend a few days exploring the inside --- a Grand Prix car on a wall, walls of photographs, great bar, stunning views over the Grand Prix paddock and harbour.

Come back tomorrow ... 

Monaco Yacht Club - Dining with Friends ...

Last night I was invited to a birthday celebration at the Yacht Club of Monaco.  Happy Birthday, Casper! Very good it was too - superb food and wines - which is why this post is late!

This is my darling friend, Donald, who lives in Beaulieu-Sur-Mer chatting to Marianne who is 90.  A beautiful Danish woman - oh, to have her bone structure and energy ...

The Historic Grand Prix - The Decorated Gordini

This decorated car is a Gordini T11/15 built in 1947.  Seems a sacrilege to me that a beautiful old racing car should be painted like this but perhaps other people don't agree.  It certainly stopped me in my tracks!

(Thanks so much to Jean-Michel who informed me the art is by Patrick Moya, a well-known local artist.)