Art Travel Inspiration
When art inspires your travel plans to where do you roam? Here are just a few of the places that my art interest has taken me.
London | The Tate Gallery
My favourites of London's many galleries are the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Modern which I visited in 2003,when Olafur Eliasonn’s dazzling sun was on display in the Turbine Hall.
The installation was known as ‘The Weather Project’. When I entered the large open space or the Turbine Hall, people were lying on the floor as if lying in the sunshine in a park. I did the same. At once, I experienced connection with the strangers around me, it felt like being a part of the artwork.
Amsterdam | Riijks Museum
On a flight to Amsterdam in 2013, a passenger informed me of the re-opening of the Riijks Museum which had been clsoed fora long time due to renovations.
For most people Rembrandts ‘The Night Watch’ (1642) was the high point. For me it was his painting ‘The Jewish Bride’ (1667), with its couple so sweetly combined. I was particularly in awe of the real-life sensation of the clothing, as if real threads of red and gold had been woven throughout the paint. It was stunning to behold.
Rome | The Sistine Chapel
Seeing Michael Angelo's work in real life meant he could no longer exist in my head as a mythical figure. I marvelled at his work in the Sistine Chapel created during the years 1508 – 1512, a demonstration of the Italian Renaissance style. Our tour guide explained a lot about that era and the artwork, which depicts scenes from the Old Testament of the Catholic Bible.
"In life we are often challenged by elements of our society. Art also presents these challenges, calling us to expand our view of the world we live in and to make our own determinations."
Caroline Cunningham, Artist
Vienna | Belvedere Palace
The Belvedere Palace, home of the largest collection of Gustav Klimt’s paintings including his famous work ‘The Kiss, and also the place to visit the works of other well known Austrian artists. Here I discovered Egon Schiele (1890 – 1918), who's works were both startling and fascinating to my younger self.
I sensed sadness in his works. Many portrayed raw, contorted and sexual expressions of the human figure. His short life was not without controversy however. In life we are often challenged by elements of our society. Art also presents these challenges and calling us to expand our view of the world we live in and to make our own determinations.
Keep Your Dreams Alive
Art and travel have helped to keep my dreams alive. Overall it's a process of staying alive in this mad and chaotic world. There's beauty and intelligence all around us but we miss if we are not attentive. We need art to keep us sane in the here and now and to help on our way to a better place.
Explore my artwork in the interest of feeding your own dreams. You'll find vibrant colours of landscapes, trees, scenes from lands such as India and Portugal. Choose from original paintings in a variety of sizes or a range of prints including some limited editions. For art inspiration and exclusive invites straight to your in-box sign up here.
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