Art for Arts Sake
Original Paintings, Drawings and Posters from around the world
“Art for Arts sake - l'art pour l'art
Quote Source - Late 19th century France
What is Art?
Art is in our opinion what ever you want it to be - if it makes you happy, and you enjoy it then why not? It takes on many forms and mediums, not just paintings and drawings, but gold smithing, ceramics, fabrics and bead works. We have some “serious” artwork by known artists and typical touristware art, made for the tourist, but we feel it shouldn’t just be dismissed for that reason, and they often produce beautiful pieces. All our art is travel themed, either depicting expeditions and events, or purchased on our travels. Some of you may remember the 1980’s 10cc hit Art for Arts sake, but it actually comes from the French saying l'art pour l'art which was movement which sort to free art from political, moral and any instructional qualities of art. Some of our personal favourite art works we have are precisely because they can be viewed on a multitude of levels, as just art - something to enjoy, but many and perhaps all art can be viewed as just snapshots in time and place. Old Masters depicting out of date fashions and hair styles, the wealthy elite . and what is Banksy’s art if not a series of political statements wrapped in nicely packaged jacket of symbolism? The Hatfield House portrait of Elizebeth the first, the Ermine painting is jam packed with political symbolism and messages. Art is, has been and probably will always will be used for for purposes other than just pure enjoyment, but does that detract from the fun and enjoyment of the viewer or the skill and narrative of the artist? The ships charts and drawings we commissioned represent a snap shot in time, social anthropology, environmental and flora and fauna of a world that is disappearing fast. Does that detract or add to the artistic value? We love the fact that on our North West Passage adventure the artist has captured it exactly, and there is a lovely scenario of a group of Dorset culture inuits all in their seal skin and polar bear traditional outfits, and one of them is wearing trainers with green laces!
This pre columbian Mayan blue Jade pendant would have been worn by a high status priest or lord. Art - Symbolism or both, or non of the above! - you decide!
Original Julia Silk - Tree of Life Medium Acrylic on Silk 115cm x 94cm. This large artwork features Julia's painted frame, a technique which features on many of her artworks. (Slovenia)
Original Drawing - representing the 1987 expedition to Rio Mazan - Artist María Inés - features some of the regional species, Flora and Forna. We love Marias whimsical take on life and her colourful illustrations. (Ecuador)
Representation of Dorset Culture - Canadian High Arctic - Collage of Arctic Scenes - featuring Man on sled, bear with seal, Children tobogganing and man drying fish. Signed by the artists. (Canada)
Original Artwork (extract) North West Passage Medium Pastels and Crayon on Sea Chart - 140cm x 94cm - Artist María Inés is Argentinian Canadian High Arctic - Polar Bear, Hooded Seal, Terror and Erebus Graves, Traditional Kayak. (North West Passage)
Indo Gabbah prayer mat, Medium Wool 60cm x 90cm. Sheeps wool knotted rug (India)
Extract from. Rio Mazan Poster - Artist María Inés
Northern Trail Breakers - Jacket Patch - Print on Cloth 1984 Artist Unknown. Presented to us as honorary members. (Lapland Sweden)
Original Painting - The King Asleep - Medium Acrylic on Board - Artist Julia Silk (Slovenia)
Original Painting - One of a pair - The Queen Asleep - Medium Acrylic on Board - Artist Julia Silk (Slovenia)
Extract from East Green Land - Medium Crayon on Ships Chart - Artist María Inés Musk Oxen, Arctic Tern and Blue Whale. (East Greenland)
Exquisite bead and shell work - modern interpretation of Inca work (Peru)
Fired Pottery miniature houses - Isle of Iona (inner Hebrides) Scotland UK. Simple can be beautiful on the less is more principle.
Water colour on papaya - Egyptian Geese - Touristware but well painted (Egypt)
Paint on Silk - Elephant, Horse and Camel - These common tourist pieces are non the less beautifully drawn and painted. (Rajasthan Northern India).
Cigarette Box - Margit Teven 1901 - 1978 - Communist Period Artist and Goldsmith. Influences of Bauhaus, her work features Jewish and Christian culture, as well as more Soviet inspired "workers" Budapest (Hungary)
Polo - Medium camel bone - reproduction of historic polo scene (Iran)
Typical Touristware - Anubis - On natural papyrus paper. (Egypt)
Rio Mazan Poster - El Bosque es Vida (Ecuador / Norwich)
Series of scenes depicting Inuit life down the North East Passage. (Canadian High Arctic)
Finely Craved "Pearl Diver and the Octopus" Some ascribe this as erotic art, but it comes from a Japanese folk tale (Japan)
Edo Period - Inro (herb or medicine) case - showing in exploded form. Normally all closed up it features reeds, a boat and water in gold leaf and lacquer. Nicely carved Netsuke and jade bead. (Japan)
orginal photo from a wall in Tromso - high arctic (Norway)
Medical Art
We couldn’t leave this section without telling you about a presentation we went on with the father of a lady we met in Finland in 2006. Her father was a doctor and whilst he was travelling and went to various art galleries he started to notice that many of the “sitters” including Michael Angelos 16th c “David” had medical problems including an extended Jugular vein indicating significant heart disease. He noticed that other artists had in fact so diligently reproduced their subjects they had in fact reproduced their medical problems as well. It was a fascinating and interesting lecture and the green lace shoes in our picture bought the story back to us.
Below is one of our quirky items of medical art - a map of Tropical Diseases c 1944 - we love the names which of course have changed since this was produced, as has the availability of suitable prophylactics such as vaccines which help keep us travel safe.
