Art appreciation at the World Esperanto Congress

Art appreciation lecture, Lille

The program for the World Esperanto Congress in Lille has been published but, unfortunately, the “Congress Theme” sessions lack details. So, I want to announce that “Congress Theme 2” (Monday, 11:15–13:45) will include two lectures by Franz-Georg Rössler – about architecture (towers) and music – and a lecture by me. Mine will be “Art-appreciation for … Read more

Retrospective exhibition of artist, Robin Norling

I recently opened a wonderful exhibition of a great Australian artist and teacher, Robin Norling. It’s on at Gosford Regional Gallery, until 17 May 2015. I also wrote the short catalogue essay, The art of Robin Norling: delight… and shadow. Esperanto: Mi ĵus malfermis mirindan ekspozicion de grava aŭstralia artisto kaj instruisto, Robin Norling. Ĝi … Read more

Three short talks for “Art on screen”

Over the next few months I will be introducing three art-related films at Avoca Beach Picture Theatre with three different 20-minute talks on art appreciation: Monday, 2 March, 11.30am: A girl with a pearl earring and other treasures from the Mauritshuis Museum Netherlands My talk will focus on the paintings of Vermeer and other artists … Read more

The ink-painter: a story

Narrator: Once upon a time in China there was a skilful painter in ink, especially famous for his depictions of flowers, which were sold for very high prices. He had a friend. One day the artist and his friend were talking. Painter: You’ve been a great friend to me for many years. I‘m going to … Read more

Space: a virtual exhibition

I just remembered an exhibition I created on the My Gallery section of the Christchurch Art Gallery website a few years back: Space Here’s the introduction: Artists use various techniques to describe, or give the illusion of, three-dimensional space. Artists also sometimes deliberately try to deny the illusion of space. This set of artworks gives … Read more

The importance of “emptiness” in art (and music)

I just listened to Lang Lang playing Robert Schumann, Kinderszenen (Scenes from Childhood), Op. 15: No. 7, Träumerei (Daydream) (listen to an excerpt, below) and I was amazed of the expressive power of the pauses in the score, extended beautifully and sensitively by Lang Lang. It made me think of the art of Vermeer. Why … Read more

Dankon Esperanto!

Here’s a cute little video about Esperanto and art. (Thank you, Alessandro Soranzo.) Esperanto: Jen beleta malgranda filmo pri Esperanto kaj arto. (Dankon, Alessandro Soranzo.)