Glenn Brown in Budapest

While in Budapest I went to the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art. Both the Ludwig and the Contemporary Art Museum in Budapest were hosting rival contemporary European video art exhibitions. But I felt that I had seen about as much video art as I could for the time being, so just viewed the Glenn Brown exhibition and the permanent collection at the Ludwig. This made the museum entrance fee kind of a rip off, but I was so confused by the HUF to Australian dollar conversion rate (100 HUF = $0.57AU) that at the time I had no idea how much it cost.

I never really got into Glenn Brown's work, only viewing it briefly in the many Art Now type books in which he is featured, but seeing it in person I have a new appreciation. The painting's surfaces are ridiculously flat and smooth. However, many of his paintings include painted depictions of brush strokes, so it produces kind of a tromp l'oeil effect. This was pretty effective I was often left wondering whether I was actually looking at his paintings, or just prints stuck on canvas. However this did not detract from their interest. They were surprisingly beautiful in the flesh.

The rest of the Ludwig collection was quite nice too, with a bigger emphasis on European artists, and especially painters, which for me is a bonus, however it felt quite small after all the American galleries. WHich was in a way nice not feeling overwhelmed by the volume of work seen, and actually being able to appreciate it and allow it to sink in.

Images from Ludwig Museum, Tate

Budapest, city of siege

cafe we went to for breakfast because it looked amazing, unfortunately they did't really serve any food, so we had cheese stuffed croissants topped with cheese. Too much.

Budapest for a day, and I am actually loving it. Australia has no old architecture, but even so the novelty of the ancient quickly wears of after having visited a few European cities. Even so Budapest felt immediately special. This is my first foray into the 'Eastern block' as my friend always refers to it. It feels like the whole city is more eager and alive, fresh from it's numerous bombings during wars and revolutions. Old buildings are continuously being remade from the inside into heterogeneous artistic haunts. Our hostel 'Lavender circus' (I highly recommend) along with having the obligatory random objects attached to all of their walls, also projected old movies sans sound on top of everything else. It is already somewhat spooky to arrive at your hostel by opening a heavy wrought iron gate through which are many dim flights of stairs, leading to numerous apartments, the top floor of which is your destination, all border a tenebrous, snowy courtyard. Then upon arrival being greeted by the leering faces of stars of yesteryear grinning down from mottled darkened walls dimmed with centuries. To take the edge off the sinister, the hostel staff were lovely, and our room seemed like an apartment (with a loft bed!!).

photos by Dan