'Once There Were Gods' by J C F Hölderlin

Once there were gods, on earth, with people, the heavenly muses
And Apollo, the youth, healing, inspiring, like you.
And you are like them to me, as though one of the blessed
Sent me out into life where I go my comrade's
Image goes with me wherever I suffer and build, with love
Unto death; for I learned this and have this from her.


Let us live, oh you who are with me in sorrow, with me in faith
And heart and loyalty struggling for better times!
For such we are! And if ever in the coming years they knew
Of us two when the spirit matters again
They would say: lovers in those days, alone, they created
Their secret world that only the gods knew. For who
Cares only for things that will die the earth will have them, but
Nearer the light, into the clarities come
Those keeping faith with the heart's love and holy spirit who were
Hopeful, patient, still, and got the better of fate.

Le Mépris (Contempt) by Jean-Luc Godard (1963)

Le mépris translates to the english word contempt which means means disregarding something or looking at it with disdain.

The film is directed by French-Swiss director Jean-Luc Godard who is often connected 'Le Nouvelle Vague' or New Wave cinema.

Much of the film is filmed at Villa (or  Casa) Malaparte, designed by Adalberto Libera for Curzio Malaparte although supposedly his designs were rejected by Malaparte and he built the house himself.

Left, case malaparte, right, malaparte

Self portrait

We were assigned to create a self portrait for the next session that would reveal something about ourselves, or something that means a lot to us. Something that isn't obvious or traditional method of showing ourselves which is to actually show our face or whole body. After doing some research and being inspired by the way Tracey Emin portrayed herself by showing her bed and what surrounds it I decided I would use pen and watercolour to paint my own bed.

On completion of this painting, I didn't feel it was enough for a weeks worth and so I painted the same picture on canvas with acrylics. I prefer the inky painting though as i feel it reflects me more in that it's loose, fast and spontaneous.

Intro