Does love have no end? I guess not, as long as there are people on earth. There are, however, manifestations of love that have, at some point, an end.
I am referring here to a great exhibition dedicated to love that was organized in Bucharest, Romania.
Art Safari-Love Edition
An exhibition consisting of dozens of exhibits all dedicated to how love has been reflected in painting, sculpture, or photography. Dozens of personalities of the world, are presented in paintings and photographs at the National Portrait Gallery in London and brought to Romania for Art Safari.
I tried to post as much as possible from this special exhibition thinking that it might interest someone but also to remain a testimony that I was there, a dear memory for me.
Initially, I didn't think there would be so many posts, but as I did them I saw that I couldn't exhaust the subject. This time I'm sure this will be the last reference to Art Safari - Love Edition, the part about love. As there were other exhibitions, I will write about them soon. But it won't be about love anymore... so I can consider that love has an end with this post. If by some absurdity that I can't estimate right now there is someone interested in seeing this whole exhibition dedicated to love, they will find at the end of this post links to all the previous posts.
The last remnant of love yet to be seen here... some of the photos brought back from the London Gallery. That explains why it's only English personalities. Like John Lennon!
John Lennon
I have to start by saying that John Lennon is my favorite musician, of all the four members of the Beatles I admired him the most and considered him the leader of the band. I think the Beatles were the most important band in rock music and had the greatest influence on the music of the twentieth century!
Like any Beatles fan, I too did not look kindly at John's relationship with Yoko Ono, because this relationship and Yoko's behavior led to the demise of the band.
And yet, John loved Yoko immensely and what right do I have to judge his choice?
However, most of the fans and colleagues were against this love story, believing that it would affect the Beatles' music and existence. Which it did.
Upset by people's reaction, the two lovers turned their backs on everyone!
This photo was used as the back cover of the album, "Unfinished Music No. 1: Two Virgins" Obviously the title refers to their relationship, which Lennon recounted how it began: "Yoko came to visit... instead of making love, we went upstairs and made tapes... And then, as the sun came up, we made love."
Photo by Tom Blau
John Lennon(1940-1980) and Yoko Ono(born 1933) met in 1966 and were together until John was murdered in 1980 outside their New York home. After the Beatles disbanded, John and Yoko formed the Plastic Ono Band and released several records and many memorable songs.
Lennon's statement, "There are only two artists I've ever worked with, having more than one night's adventure, so to speak. Those are Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono. I think it's a damn good choice."
This is his opinion, the most informed, and we must take this into account.
LOVE. (Ultimate Mix, 2020) - John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band
Love should not be judged by others!
Linda McCartney and Paul McCartney
The other Beatles great, Paul McCartney, of course, had his own love story. A sad story to the end.
Photo by Humphrey Ocean
Paul met Linda Eastman, an American rock photographer in 1967 and married her in 1969, around the same time John met Yoko. Linda, however, was less intrusive in Beatles music and activity than Yoko. Although Paul's other bandmates thought she had no musical talent, he included her in his band, Wings. Linda died in 1998 of breast cancer.
Paul McCartney & Wings - My Love
Love stories, great love stories. Love can be beneficial or destructive in people's lives.
Listening to these two songs, by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, we can't help but agree that love has been an important source of inspiration.
Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall
Fame, wealth, beauty, youth... What more could anyone want? Many want it, but few get it in their lifetime. And always at a price that not everyone can pay!
Mick Jagger! Lead singer of Rolling Stone, the band that emerged to be a contrast to the Beatles.
Beatles, the good and beautiful, Rolling Stones, the bad, wild, excessive. Without evil there is no good, without ugly there is no beautiful, without noise there is no peace... this world is a world of contrasts!
Photo by Norman Parkinson
Mick Jagger(born 1943) and Jerry Hall(born 1956) met and fell in love in 1977. Their story lasted 23 years, remarkably long in a world full of temptations, the world of rock music and fashion. Because Jerry became a very successful model.
This iconic photo of this extravagant couple, who took everything from life, with all its excesses, was taken by a friend of Jagger's, fashion photographer Norman Parkinson, who also took this nude photo, which was intended to be private. But Jagger thought she was too beautiful not to be seen by everyone!
It was the 70s of rock with all its stars and their lives lived to the extreme, not for nothing declared in a song as "sex, drugs and rock&roll"!
I need a Rolling Stones song too. Hard to choose, so I let myself be guided by what I've been listening to lately, an old song about friendship, because beyond love there was also friendship. From Mick Jagger's troubled youth. A bit of the vanished world of the last century.
The Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend
Well, the music wasn't in the exhibition. It was my selection and I'm glad I was able to mix the two arts, photography and music. They work very well together.
I noticed now, when I relooked at the photos, that I missed a few, I passed without noticing them. Like this one, with a story trending now, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
I don't regret it. It would have been too much. I've got to finish this exhibit, I've got to get on my way out...
"Love's a malady without cure"
John Dryden once said. Now I have to admit I didn't know who John Dryde was. I looked him up and found that he was a great poet who died in the 1600s. He is considered the greatest English poet of the seventeenth century.
Art Safari, Bucharest, Romania
Previous posts:
Art Safari
Art Safari-Love Edition
Art Safari-Love Edition, or, Love's A Malady Without Cure
Art Safari - Love Edition - Finally Came The Kiss
Art Safari, New Page, Another Room
Even More Love
I usually end with the location of this exhibition. Unfortunately, the exhibition closed on 10 September. If anyone wants to get an idea of what it was like, they can see in my posts, the links above.
Art Safari is a repeat exhibition, in the coming months a new one will be started. Anyone passing through Bucharest should look either on the internet or in the Old City itself. Maybe you will be surprised by a new and even more exciting exhibition!
This edition of the great exhibition, Art Safari - Love Edition, was hosted by the Dacia-Romania Palace in Bucharest.
Dacia-Romania Palace is located in the Old Town, on Lipscani Street, opposite the imposing headquarters of the Romanian National Bank.
This is the most famous tourist area of Bucharest, the capital of Romania. Those who visit this city can also visit another exceptional exhibition soon.
Visiting hours:
Thursday - Sunday - 12:00 - 21:00
Night Tours - every Friday and Saturday - 22:00 - 01:00
Ticket price for one day: $20
