Ugo Rondinone Vocabulary of Solitude

We are so lucky. This amazing 45 clown sculptures came to Rotterdam, long way from Ugo Rondinone’s studio in NY! The other day I took my younger son Robert and we went to the museum of modern art Boijmans to see them up close . 

My son, wasn’t really sure how to behave….he was a bit scared but he was very intrigued…

” mom, are they real ? mom, are they dead ? can I touch them ? can I sit next to him ? “ 

I didn’t even want to say anything. I whispered, not knowing why. Their closed eyes asked for sort of magic silence. I love their amazing colourful costumes with glitter and contrasting socks , like they would like to get all our attention, even though I could feel their loneliness…

 If you plan to visit Rotterdam, the exhibition is open till 29 May. I highly recommend it. 

Monday inspiration : Kids' craft corner

Let’s start this week wit a good vibe and a splash of creativity and colour. 

Do you have crafty kids?

 I thought that all children like to  “get dirty” and create, each time there is a possibility, but it is really not always the case. My older son Frank which is now 9 was never really interested in crafting, except for drawing. He likes to draw very precise and with a lot of details. 

My five-years old Robert absolutely loves to get dirty hands! If he gets tubes of paint,  he will paint not only paper, table but his face and hands too…if allowed! He disappears into another world when he creates, and I call him our little artist. We created a small craft corner for him at our home, which might not look so professional as these ones, but 3 shelfs and a good organising helps to keep it all under control. What is important in my option ? For sure a place close to a day light , desk or a table and above or next to it,  few planks to put all the materials. 

Absolutely love this craft corner so well organised! 

Only the table is really to small in my opinion for all 3 kids which would like to make a use of this corner. Maybe long table next to the window would be more practical and just some little stools. 

This room looks like a dream place to me, and I’m sure to my boys too!

 I don’t dare to even show it to them….I wish we had a bigger house to do something similar. 

Big and little storage, cups, drawers and a place to expose the art work! I’m jealous.

This last example is the most modern and sophisticated one. 

It can be made in a corner of a living room. 

I took some of the pictures from an amazing site at The Artful Parent, 

which I advice to check, if you are looking for inspiration for crafting with your children. 

Thank you for inspiration, photo’s : 1 -2 / 3 / 4 - 5 - 6/7- 8 -9 / 10 -11

Jane Reiseger drawing for Royal Children’s Hospital

Visiting hospital with our child is one of the experience we wish to avoid. In my architect’s practice, few years ago I was having a chance to work on a transformation of an old children’s hospital into a friendly place for the little patients and their parents. We have had many meetings with the staff, listening their needs and requests. It was very moving experience for me. The final effect wasn’t so spectacular as the Royal Children’s Hospital I’m showing you, but it was simple and colourful too. 

I think it is very important to spread the good examples of how to create such a spaces. Jane Reiseger, an artist from Australia, was working on this project for an entire year! I really adore the world she has created in her drawings, with animals and floral patterns. Children like nature so much and sometimes during a long stay at the hospital, they miss the fresh air and playing outside the most. I wish investors/architects to put effort into creating such a beautiful and children friendly hospital interiors.