Travels, Arts and Cultures in 7 cities of Europe
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After living in Japan and in the U.S for 6 years, I've traveled in Europe for 3 months, to rediscover my own country (France) with a new point of view, and to discover new countries. See what I've learned in this article.
In this following article is a short introduction to the Art trends in the cultural and historical context of 7 cities across 4 countries in the West, East and South of Europe (France, Germany, Croatia and Greece).
I wish you can have a more accurate image of the diversity of Europe.
We are all Artists
Observing different behaviors, spending time to discuss with old and new friends (without whom this trip would have been possible) about their tastes, and researches about history, made me understand more about the influence of the environment on each country's art scene.
I was lucky to cross the path of inspiring, international people who contribute to the dynamism of their city, such as the founder of the Brazilian cultural center in Paris, new boutique creators in Bordeaux, entrepreneurs in Frankfurt, an Italian interior designer in Berlin, a "European"-Jamaican artist from London, a Croatian-Slovenian doctor in Zagreb, hosts and artisans in Dubrovnik, an illustrator and a neuroscientist in Athens...
It opens the mind on new perspectives and helps finding new opportunities to connect the artists to the people without limiting itself to only a few types of audiences.
Hence, to not limit myself to only one place and type of people opened me to new perspectives, to connect the artists to more diverse audiences.
Bordeaux, France
Step 1: My hometown, where my university proudly bears the names of French Enlightenment philosophers Montaigne (anti-dogmatic) and Montesquieu (who influenced the American Founders). This traditional, beautiful city of delicious gastronomy has become one of the highly ranked destination for tourism as well as for living, with its medieval squares along the river. It's also becoming more and more dynamic with social entrepreneurship, creative concept boutiques, graffiti on the walls of the new community Darwin Camp...
Famous for its particular wine, let's not forget that Bordeaux firstly get enriched on the transatlantic slave trade, the reason why the city have built its beautiful neoclassical architecture during the 18th century, today on the list of UNESCO world heritage.
Paris, France
Everything around the Quartier Latin is beautiful to me. There is the former European, medieval Cluny convent, the Neoclassic Pantheon, the Gothic Cathedral Notre-Dame, and, of course, the brasseries' terraces.
I've noticed that I had never visited a city with so much cultural offer (Tokyo is its best competitor), daily seen on posters everywhere. Did you know that France is the second exporter of movies after the U.S. and the 9th country of readers in the worldwide ranking? Among the busy vibes, it's relaxing to see people reading in parks and in the train.
I have visited the Espace Kracjberg in Montparnasse for Pascal Rochette and other artists involved in the protection of the environment. Its current assistant Juliane has recently created the first Brazilian cultural center of Paris.
Berlin, Germany
The city of the extremes: famous for his historical crowd manipulation, Berlin is now an international destination for clubbers, with a look that seems frozen in the 1980s art scene - graffiti, post-punk, electro house music, drugs...
Somehow I loved the ugliness of Berlin, with an art of suffering on the Wall that reflects history and triggers hope, and a non-judgmental population full of tattoos and piercings.
Many people told me that Berlin is a bubble in Germany, like no other cities...
My God, Help Me to Survive This Deadly Love
Did you know the truth about this graffiti?
Although we see many versions of this politician kiss on walls and T-shirts, we forget the original one.
This real scene was photographed by French photographer Regis Bossu and painted on the Berlin Wall (at Checkpoint Charlie) by Russian artist Dimitri Vrubel in 1990.
Brejnev, the leader of Communist Russia, and Honecker, the leader of the German Democratic Republic, have had kissed in East Berlin in 1979.
This kiss was a Russian tradition. This one celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of East Germany as a Communist nation, during the Cold War. That explains the artwork's title.
Frankfurt, Germany
Franckfurt is a surprising hub of European headquarters and entrepreneurs with traditional and modern German architecture.
The city hosts the famous Staedel Museum that shows the richness of the European art with masterpieces of German Expressionism and French Impressionism. I discovered a fabulous exhibition "Battle of sexes: Franz von Stuck to Frida Kahlo" about the building of the image of genders through the depiction of women in Western paintings of the 19th and 20th. Men expressed their fascination and fear of the woman's freedom of sexuality... as nowadays?
My entrepreneur friends introduced me to their favorite local place to the Goethe Square, where they bring their clients: Bunca Barista & Caterer, German and international cafe. The concept of the owner is that almost everything in the cafe is for sale: paintings, handmade furniture, ceramics...
Zagreb, Croatia
Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, a human-scale, lively city, with Byzantine, Ottoman, and European architecture that reflects the tormented history.
I recommend to cross the Balkans by bus when traveling from Germany to Greece. You know, all those countries which you never remember the place on the map, and that have their name associated to wars... Do you know why?
About Croatia and the frontiers in Europe since 1989
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, frontiers in Central and East Europe have been arbitrary decided, breaking the population into cultural minorities in their newly shaped country, and partly leading to wars in the 1990's.
"In each state existed recognizing minorities in neighboring states." (Gabriella Battani-Dragoni, Coordinator for the Intercultural Dialogue in the European Commission in 2010). Later in 1993, the first Council of Europe Summit in Vienna worked to ensure that "the process of opening up borders to the East does not become a process of territorial disintegration." (idem)
Today, Nikola Tesla statue in Zagreb is a symbol of this struggle for the frontiers and cultural identities. He was Serbian-Croatian, and both Serbians and Croatians claim his national affiliation.
My friend Mia witnessed the war when she was a child. She told me: "The weakness of the Balkans is their situation between the West and East Power Blocs. There's always a country of West Europe, the U.S., or Russia, who breaks our stability… always!"
About the life before and after Communism Gebora is a retired physiotherapist, today helping his son with his hotel business. Making lots of efforts to speak English, she seemed eager to share about the history of her country and the nuanced relations between the neighbor countries. It was a delight to listen to this wit, friendly, genuine woman. "Tito was a strong man - good and bad… People who criticized Tito, or just sung mocking songs, finished in jail. This time was good for the public officers who had a job, a lot of free time, and a free apartment. Now it is good for the private businesses".
She added:, as to leave a positive image of her country: "I have family abroad, but they all prefer Croatia for its social life. People have the time to meet in cafes, the neighbors chat together… people dance or sing every night!"
Another day, Mia said: "Now, capitalism is good for people who want to work… But you will meet people who will tell you that they preferred the life before, during "Socialism" (people here don't say "Communism"), like my mom who was a teenager. Firstly, everybody had a job, and they worked only from 9 am to 1 pm. They could ski and go to the beach once or twice a year, regularly dance and sing for free as hobbies. The thing is that if they wanted more, they couldn't. But for many people, it's enough to enjoy life. They just had to not talk bad about our politicians…"
Croatia is a U.E member since 2013.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is the most beautiful city I've visited in Europe, with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. This very old town in the Balkans and Dalmatia is known as "the pearl of the Adriatic".
Dubrovnik is a famous location for movies, but I think it should be also known for this motto "Non bene pro toto libertas venditur auro": "Liberty is not sold for all the gold". From its beginning in the 14th century, Dubrovnik's Republic of Ragusa never tried to conquer other states, focusing on its people's liberty, until it was conquered by Napoleon's French Empire and Italian Kingdom in 1808... The reason why the city has a French and Italian architecture and was a Mediterranean sea power from the 13th century.
Partly destroyed by earthquakes and the war, the UNESCO and donors made the restoration possible. Our host explained that the top of his house was destroyed and that the new red tiles have been sent by the city of Toulouse in France.
The languages spoken by the people were the Romance Dalmatian and common Croatian. The merchants later used Italian and Venetian.
Athens, Greece
I have ended by what we use to call "the source of the Western civilization".
Ancient Greece has always been idealized by Europe, Russia and the U.S., who spread the Classical style inspired by the Greek architecture and sculpture around the world.
Hence, the country has been helped by France, England, and Russia to win their Independence war against the Ottomans/Turkish in the 1820s.
At the same time, European painters like Delacroix expressed their compassion for the population (although they didn't look like Ancient Greeks anymore), while their Romantic art also contributed in shaping our Western image of the Orient (learn more in Orientalism by Edward Said).
On this photograph of an Ancient sculpture seen at an exhibition in the art gallery-bar, TAF_theartfoundation, we can read "Enoikiazetai": "On sale".
A French-speaking lawyer I have met in the bus confessed to me: "Since the financial crisis, Greek people don't like Europe, but they like its money..."
Today, Athens is an endless, polluted, and noisy city, with scooters passing in front of you on the sidewalks, and many beggars.
The Ancient ruins, Byzantine churches from the East Roman Empire, and Ottoman mosques are completely integrated in downtown. Hence, the neighborhoods around the Acropolis conserve a mix of Mediterranean and Eastern atmosphere, like the people.
There are more cafes than restaurants, opened all day, where all kind of people literally spend hours, discussing or people-watching, smoking a lot. The cliché is real!
I can't wait to discover so much more of Europe to connect with history, and to link people, arts and ideas.
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I discover talents across the world and find the perfect artwork that matches the desires of the private and the needs of the company. On the other hand, I help artists to find the right strategy to promote themselves. More on my services here.
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