Centre Pompidou – Málaga’s newest artistic masterpiece

Posted on April 2, 2015 by Marianne under Malaga, Places

Málaga is leading the way with a new concept dubbed the “Pop-up Pompidou”, where the general public is offered a selection of around 90 masterpieces from the famous Centre Pompidou’s collection.

Becoming the first outside of France, the Centre Pompidou, Málaga will initially be a city feature for five years, but with an option to extend for a further five years.

The museum also features a programme of exhibitions and workshops aimed at families and younger audiences, making today’s art accessible to the widest possible audience.

We’ve become used to seeing the steel and glass cube (El Cubo) at one end of Muelle Uno (Quay 1), Málaga’s new port and shopping area. What was unclear until now, was that this cube was really a skylight, casting it’s sunlit magic into what has now become the cavernous museum below.

Sporting a new look, El Cubo has itself become a piece of art, adorned with coloured panels by artist Daniel Buren, entitled “Incubé”.

I was fortunate to be one of the first people to visit the new Centre Pompidou, Málaga during it’s opening weekend, at the end of March 2015.

After entering the Centre Pompidou, the stairs lead you down to the surprisingly large exhibition space inside, where you are taken on a journey through “The Collection”, featuring art of the 20th and 21st centuries.

The works on “human representation” are divided into five galleries, some larger and some smaller, exploring such themes as “Metamophoses”, “Self-Portraits”, “The Man without a Face”, “The Political Body” and “The Body in Pieces”.

The Artist's Kiss, Centre Pompidou, Malaga

Sleeping Muse at Centre Pompidou, Malaga

Within each gallery the art is represented in the form of sculptures, paintings, installations, films and videos.

Hat with Flowers by Pablo Picasso at Centre Pompidou, Malaga

The Moroccan by John Currin at Centre Pompidou, Malaga

El cabellero espanol at Centre Pompidou, Malaga

Displayed on the walls through the museum are works by Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Georg Baselitz, Joan Miró, Francis Bacon, Antoni Tàpies, Max Ernst, Marc Chagall, Constantin Brancusi and many others.

Without a doubt, my favourite piece was within the “The Body in Pieces” gallery, by Algerian artist, Kader Attia. “Ghost” is an installation of more than 140 hollow figures, kneeling in straight rows and all facing in the same direction. Each empty figure is made entirely of aluminum foil and alludes to be an anonymous Middle Eastern woman, covered from head to toe by her chador, bowed in prayer.

These fragile forms convey a powerful statement.

The installation could be described as vaguely sinister, yet I felt myself both respecting the figures’ privacy of worship, as well as being curiously drawn to inspect the hollow shells further.

I was able to seize the opportunity to become part of two of the interactive exhibits – the first, unknowingly, as I queued with the crowd outside the entrance to the museum, where the moving image is displayed on a wall inside, as a piece of art.

Later, in “The Man Without A Face” gallery I was encouraged to become an “anonymous witness” by hiding behind a white mask to observe how other visitors react to the artworks (and to me hiding behind the mask!)

Two or three temporary exhibitions are scheduled each year at the Centre Pompidou, Málaga. There is a cafe, auditorium and children’s inter-active play area.

Leaflets are available at the entrance (in several languages, including Spanish and English) suggesting various self-guided routes through the exhibits, depending on the amount of time you have available.

OPENING HOURS:

16th June to 15th September: 11.00am to 10.00pm
16th September to 15th June: 9.30am to 8.00pm

Closed on Tuesdays, January 1st and December 25th.

ENTRY FEES:

Permanent collection: €7, concessions €4
Temporary exhibition: €4, concessions €2.50
Permanent collection + temporary exhibition: €9, concessions €5.50

MY INSIDER TIP: FREE ENTRY after 4pm every Sunday

WEBSITE: centrepompidou-malaga.es

Malaga: Orange Blossom, Incense and Art

Posted on March 28, 2015 by Marianne under Axarquía, Fiestas and Festivals, Malaga, Places

It’s an exciting time to be in Málaga.

To add to the heavenly scent of the orange blossom (also known as “azahar”), this weekend sees the beginning of Holy Week – with incense wafting into the heady mix.

Semana Santa features seven days of religious passion and spectacle – not only in Málaga city, of course, but in every town and small village throughout Andalucía.

Plus, one of Málaga’s famous sons returns each year to take part –YES, ladies, Antonio Banderas is in town!

Entrance to the old Tobacco Factory, Malaga

Blossom outside the old Tobacco Factory, Malaga

Entrance to Russian State Art Museum, Malaga

Málaga already has a well established art scene with its Picasso museum, Contemporary Art Centre and Baroness Carmen Thyssen museum, but this week has seen the city’s credentials as an Art Hub extending further, with the opening of the Russian State Art Museum from St. Petersburg.

The Russian museum is housed in the beautifully restored Tobacco factory (Tabacalera) to the west of the city centre, near to the already popular Automobile Museum.

And today, Málaga extends it’s cultural connections still further, with the opening of the Málaga branch of the Pompidou Centre – the first outside of France.

Dubbed the Pop-Up Pompidou, the museum is housed underneath El Cubo, a huge glass cube in Muelle Uno – the city’s fabulous port area.

Which museum will YOU visit first?

Fifty Shades of Andalucía: It will take your breath away!

Posted on February 21, 2015 by Marianne under Axarquía, Malaga, Photographs I love, Places

Andalucían Space Shuttle: Ready for launch!

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Marianne under Axarquía, Malaga, Places

You might not have thought that Andalucía has it’s own Space Programme, but that’s what I always tell our visitors as we head along the motorway from Málaga airport towards our home in the Axarquia. It sounds so much much better than telling them that what they can see in the distance is the concrete factory at La Araña.

Until recently, I had never really thought of La Araña as being anything other than “the place where the monstrous concrete factory is” – apart from the Andalucían Space Shuttle, of course!

How wrong was I!

On the Mediterranean side of the road artery to-and-from Málaga and forming part of the GR-92 (Sendero Litoral Este de Málaga) coastal walkway, lies a beautiful stretch of coastline, popular with walkers and mountain bikers, which is well worth a visit.

If you park in the village of La Araña and head in the general direction of Málaga, you will first come across El Torre del las Palomas (Tower of the Pigeons), one of the many watchtowers dotting the Axarquían coastline, at one time used to help in defending the area from invaders.

From here, as you walk towards Málaga, you will see the iconic El Peñon del Cuervo (Raven’s Rock), with a tunnel nearby, which once formed part of the coastal railway, linking Torre del Mar with the city of Málaga.

The palm-tree lined walkway widens out to a lovely beach area, popular with locals during the summer months. There is a parking area and BBQs available for public use.

Next time you are on your way to Málaga, surprise yourself like I did, and spend an hour strolling along this scenic but hidden stretch of coastline.

Celebrating the Malaga Blues

Posted on January 24, 2015 by Marianne under Axarquía, Malaga, Places

Today, bringing a whole new meaning to the winter blues, on my East of Malaga Facebook page we are celebrating the “Málaga Blues”.

This is a series of photographs taken around Málaga province, showing skies, sea and doors in various shades of blue.

Part of the river walk of the Rio Chillar, Nerja

One of the best ways to cool down on a hot summer´s day is to take a walk along the Rio Chillar from Nerja. Unusually for Andalucía, this route is suitable for walking during June, July and August, as there is plenty of shade, plus the river to keep you cool.

Blue door and sky in El Acebuchal

Closer to Frigiliana in terms of distance, this mountain hamlet is a world away from the hoards of holiday-makers visiting the Costa del Sol. You can discover this delightful blue door in the Lost Village of El Acebuchal.

Entrance to Calle Marquis de Larios, Malaga

Held every year in August, the Málaga feria is one of the largest fairs in Spain with millions of people joining the fun throughout the week.

Zafarraya Pass

In 1979, a cave was discovered near to the Zafarraya Pass, with a subsequent archaeological dig unearthing the best preserved remains of Neanderthal man (radiometrically dating back 30000 years) ever found in Western Europe.

Could this be Frigiliana’s own “Stairway to Heaven”?

This house with it’s heavenly views can be found in the upper part of the white village of Frigiliana. There is no motor vehicle access up the steep streets to this part of the village, which remains largely how it must have looked hundreds of years ago, when the village was occupied by the Moors.

Weekend sailing festival in Torre del Mar

Last summer I had fun photographing the colourful sails of the catamarans at the sailing club in Torre del Mar.

View across Canillas de Aceituno towards Lake Viñuela

Lying in the shadow of the largest mountain in the Axarquía region, there has been a settlement on the site of Canillas de Aceituno since the Moorish occupation in the 8th century, when the main industry was the growing of mulberry trees for silk production.

Balcony blues in Cómpeta

My final image is from my home village of Cómpeta, showing a pretty balcony, filled with flowers, against the deep blue painted windows as their background.