Cosimo Cavallaro's "My Sweet Lord"

Cosimo Cavallaro's "My Sweet Lord" is a 6 feet tall replica of Jesus Christ during his last moments on the cross. It was made out of pure chocolate. It's the dietitian's worst nightmare because of the 200 pounds of chocolate that was used to create the life size sculpture of Jesus Christ. It was created in 2007 during Easter to anger the Catholic community. It was exhibited at Roger Smith Lab Gallery but after a few days, it was removed. The Catholic community sent Cosimo Cavallero hate mails because they were offended by the work and it's timing. Cavallero, a Catholic said that there's nothing wrong with his work.

Is there actually something wrong with it? Yes, I think there is. I don't know why but it disturbs me to see the leader of Christianity replicated using 200 pounds of chocolate. The issue of nudity may not be offensive to some because there's Adam and Eve who wore no clothes at all and there's nothing wrong with them. But being the conservative Filipina that I am, the nudity still bothers me. It would be better if Cavallero clothed him. Cavallero said that he does not want to offend or anger anyone. He said that "They're not allowing themselves to open their hearts. ... If it makes them feel better, I'll ask for their forgiveness and do 10 Hail Marys, but they should just lighten p and be more accepting of people." I think he's being sarcastic. I am pretty sure that this creation was intended to anger the Catholic Church. It's obvious. I am not a fan of this work. I believe that we should respect all religions.

Ecstasy of Saint Theresa by Bernini

I first learned about this work of art when I read Angels and Demons and the Da Vinci Code. The Ecstasy of Saint Theresa by Bernini is a sculpture made out of marble that is displayed at the Santa Maria de la Vittoria Chapel in Rome. It was created by Giovanni Bernini during the Baroque period. An image of an angel and St. Theresa was sculpted. Above them are rays of light that are said to be the light of the holy ghost. The art is said to depict St. Theresa experiencing bliss or divine joy. This is because of transverberation or a point of contact between earth and heaven. This sculpture is said to be about a moment of time where God intruded St. Theresa's soul. I don't know what exactly that means. I'm guessing that St. Theresa felt God's presence in this moment or something like that.

However, critics think otherwise. They say that St. Theresa is experiencing lust-related happiness and fulfillment in this picture. I remember that I read the same opinion somewhere in the Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. Furthermore, in Dan Brown's novel, he said that St. Theresa and Jesus Christ had a relationship. Being a Roman Catholic, I don't know how to react. Even if Dan Brown's books are fictional, it did shake the faith of some Catholics that I know. I don't want to blindly believe Dan Brown and critics of Bernini's Ecstacy of St. Theresa. But the Church had it's propagandas before. They teach things like sicknesses are caused by sinfulness which science has debunked by providing scientific explanations regarding sicknesses. They introduced the concept of "indulhensya". They tell their followers that if they have relatives that are priests then they will be saved. I hate to say this but it's hard to believe the Church sometimes. I don't want to pass a judgment yet on this issue. I haven't formed my opinion on the issue yet.

Artist's Breath or Fiato d' Artista by Manzoni

This is another work of art by Manzoni. He called this work, Artist's Breath of Fiato d' Artista. He created it in 1960. It's a balloon with his breath inside it. He considered it as art. I find it unique. It makes me wonder why he creates such things like the Artist's Breath and the Artist's Shit.

Maybe it's because he wants to expand the concept of art. Because when we think of art, things that come to mind are paintings, sculptures and architecture. We don't regard things like shit and breath trapped inside balloons as art. Manzoni's works of art are unique because he uses his body to create it like the Artist's shit wherein he used his excrement and the Artist's breath wherein he used his breath. My view of art is very limited. It is confined to the traditional canvas, intricate strokes of paintbrushes, elaborate details of sculptures and commendable works of architecture. I'm guessing that's the reason why I wasn't able to appreciate Manzoni's work. I can't see it's beauty. I can't understand it. This goes to show that art is relative. If Manzoni considers his work art, that doesn't mean that I will consider it as art but his works art. His works intrigue me and continue to intrigue art historians. The underlying values in his works remains a mystery even the year 2009. It is up to you to interpret his works.

Artist's Shit or Merde d'artista by Manzoni

Can art get any crazier than this? An Italian artist named Piero Manzoni gathered 90 tin cans and put 30 grams of his excrement inside each can and sealed it. He labeled the cans with the worlds "Artist's Shit" in English, German, Italian and French. He considered it art. He planned to sell his Artist's Shit as expensive as gold. This means that one gram of his shit is equivalent to the price of one gram of gold.

You're probably wondering how he came up with this idea of putting shit in tin cans and considering it as art. According to rumors, his father once told him that art is shit. I think he took it literally. Hahaha! In 2007 oned of the cans was auctioned off. The buyer spent a whopping 80,000 USD for that shit. Now who in the right mind would do that? Who would have ever thought that a can of shit will be sold for 80,000 USD. Another can of merde d'artista can be found in Tate Modern in London. Nobody knows what it contained because no one wanted to open the can. Doing this would destroy the value of the work. Its monetary value is increasing year after year.

I don't know how I'll gain an appreciation of Merde d'artista. It's just out of this world. According to an art historian, "It is a joke, a parody of the art market, and a critique of consumerism and the waste it generates."

The 3.6 million dollar valued Duchamp's Fountain

I am taking up the course HUMAART or human art this term. I am learning a lot of things. One of which is that art is undefined and that art is relative. What I regard as art may not be art for someone else. This is because there are many factors that mediate our gaze such as education, religion, social class and the like.

Let me share to you a work by Duchamp called, Fountain. He considered it art. I don't know if you'll consider it art too. In 1917, he turned a urinal upside down and signed on the bottom part it with the text, "R. Mutt". People are not really sure if that came from the German word, "Armut" meaning poverty. Duchamp submitted it for an art exhibition but it was rejected. It was only in 2004 that the Fountain was noticed and art historians and critics declared that it was the most influential sculpture of the 20th century. I don't really know how to interpret the toilet but it peaked my interest because it's unique and so I researched an art historian's interpretation. He said that the upside down urinal looks like a renaissance madonna wearing a veil, a seated buddha or a sclupture of an erotic form. Haha! How can that be a structure of an erotic form? I don't really know. What are your interpretations of the fountain by Duchamp?

Changing of the guard at the Buckingham Palace

Ever since I watched the replay of the coverage of Diana and Prince Charles' wedding, I had this dream of visiting the Buckingham palace one day and knowing what its like to witness it's grandeur before my eyes.

We all know that the Buckingham Palace at London is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth and the other Royal Family members. It's one of my favorite works of architecture. I think what makes it beautiful is its symmetry. Everything about it is symmetrical, from the windows, pillars and even the positioning of the guards. Another reason why I want to visit the palace is that, I want to see the traditional changing of the guards. I've heard all sorts of stories about it. You know about the guards at the palace right? They have this big black furry hat and red uniform. Their uniform is really fancy. At 11:30 am, the changing of the guard happens. Tourists from all over the world visit the Buckingham palace just to witness this ceremony. What happens is that the guards march in front of the palace and new guards take their place. It's like a parade. People say that it's really entertaining. I'm looking forward to see the Buckingham palace and watch the changing of the guard. <3>

Going around Venice, Italy in a gondola

2 years ago, I read this book called "The Secret". It's a book that teaches you about the law of attraction. Law of attraction is about attracting what you want by thinking about it and asking for it from the universe. If you believe that you can attract what you want, then the universe will conspire for you to get it. Part of attracting what you want is creating a vision board. A vision board can be an illustration board, poster, cardboard etc. where you paste cutouts, printouts or drawings of whatever you want to attract.

Last year, I attached a photo of a gondola on my vision board and said to myself that by 2009, I'll be able to ride one. Yipee! I haven't experienced riding a gondola yet but I've seen it from the movies and heard stories about it. A gondola is a traditional rowing boat that serves as the main form of transportation at Venice, Italy. It passes through a body of water that looks like a canal. The canal is sandwiched by beautiful structures in Venice like palaces and churches. What is alien to me is what I usually find beautiful. When I saw the unique architectures of the buildings, churches and houses at Venice through the media, I told myself that I have to see this place. A gondola ride is not cheap. According to a friend, it costs around 80 euros for 40 mins. That's more or less 5,000 php. Wow! Talk about a first world ride! If the gondola guy serenades you, there's an additional fee.

Here's the highlight of my post. Two weeks ago, Singapore Airlines had a seat sale and me and my family bought tickets to Macau. We booked our hotel early. We're going to stay at the Venetian hotel. I decided to browse Venetian's website(Macau branch) and learned that they had gondola rides there! Their gondola rides were of course patterned from that of Italy's. My dream of riding a gondola ride is about to come true! I'm so excited! :P