I had the chance to visit G.L.A.M.S exhibition twice while I was in Paris.
G.L.A.M.S is the new solo project of BLACK LINE's vocalist, Mikaru. He describes it as a "synthetic art project".
Visit http://g-l-a-m-s.com/ for further information.
I will try below to make you live the experience through my own eyes.
- Saturday 15 February: Awakening of the Vampire
I arrived at Mister LO Gallery at about 3:00 PM. Standing in the street, facing the red frontage and its large windows, I could see a few people standing near a bar and in the back of the gallery. I came in, with a big smile on my face, and I was welcomed by the staff.
I paid the entrance fee (10 €) at the bar, on which a board with goodies and their prices were displayed. I already wanted to buy everything!
I am not really used to visiting art galleries, so I did not know whether I should start the visit by myself or wait for some go ahead sign. Fortunately, Mikaru quickly came to me. He drew a small heart on my hand, as a proof I paid the entrance fee. He warmly welcomed me, thanked me for coming and talked to me in English - I must say his English is getting better every day, it is very impressive. He asked me how I knew him.
I introduced myself, mentioning I was an admin for BLACK LINE Facebook fanpage. I told him I saw him twice before, with BLACK LINE, in Nancy and Paris.
He explained how he painted BRAIN in his bathroom, how he had a hard time cleaning it afterwards, and how he did not forget to put newspapers everywhere when he painted GLITTER in the bathroom too. It was very funny to hear about that part of the painting process.
Mikaru told me he had brought only 9 of his paintings in the gallery because it is quite small. 8 of the paintings were in the main room and the last one was in a smaller room downstairs. He invited me to have a look at the paintings and to tell him which one was my favorite.
I walked in the gallery anticlockwise and I first saw THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON, on which there is a glowing moon and a red rose. Next to this painting, GLITTER, a rainbow panther pattern on a black background for which Mikaru used a stencil that he removed very carefully. On the left of this painting, WHITE MOTH, which represents, as the name suggests, a white moth on a half red and half blue background. Then next to it, BRAIN looks more abstract and reminded me of Jackson Pollock, with paint drops thrown on the canvas.
In the back of the main room, on the opposite wall, 3 other paintings. MY FACE, an abstract painting made of small touches of blue, red and yellow from which you can guess a part of a face, on a grey, white and goldish background. Next to it, SUNSET GLOW, a beautiful sunset on what seems to be the roof of a Japanese castle. The colors are so intense that it looks like the sky is burning. The last painting on this wall is called NOH FORCE and represents a traditional Noh actor on a deep purple background, surrounded by what - to me - seems to be waterfalls of cherry blossoms and overlooked by a full moon.
I went down the stairs and discovered a small room, scarcely lit, in which I was struck by the powerful meaning of REAL, a very dark painting showing a ghost-like character, glowing in the dark, with a mask in his hand. I must say this is my favorite painting, even though I also really liked THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOON.
I went back in the main room to have a closer look at the last painting, OIRAN, hung up above the bar. I understood it is Mikaru's favorite painting. It represents a beautiful Geisha and a phoenix. Its colors are vivid, I would say a little "Pop". It is quite a shock to move from the very dark REAL to the very bright OIRAN!
When I finished admiring the last painting, Mikaru came to me, we talked a little more and I told him which paintings I preferred and why.
I bought a photo and cheki with Mikaru, so a girl from the staff took the cheki camera and my mobile to take photos of Mikaru and I. As you can see, I was pretty happy!
I also bought chekis of days 1 and 2, as well as a photoset. Mikaru signed all of the chekis.
I stayed for a little while at the gallery, chatting with some of the visitors - mostly girls, fans of Dio and BLACK LINE but with an interest in art too. Then I had to leave because I was supposed to meet a friend and go to a big Martial Arts Festival in the south of Paris. So I was a little disappointed because I could not stay to hear Mikaru's new song - in the evenings there were mini showcases - but I was already glad I could come to the exhibition.
I finally left the gallery, a huge smile lighting up my face, even bigger than the smile I had when I came in.
- Thursday 20 February: Final Day
Coming soon!