Last minute Terracotta Army-a life inspiration story

It becomes a habit: checking out an exhibition on it's closing day.(Remember Damien Hirst in London and Basqiat in Paris)

This one, again, we couldn't miss. From 18 November 2012 till 17 February 2013 (that's today!), the Brussels Bourse hosted the landmark Terracotta Army exhibition : a reconstitution of the terracotta army of the first Emperor of China  Qin Shi Huang.

Qin Shi Huang who became emperor at the age of 13 lost all track with reality and obsessed as he was by immortality, he ordered the built of a 'dead city' with an enormous army to join him when he died.

This TERRACOTTA ARMY was the last great archaeological discovery of the 20th century after that of the tomb of Tutankhamun. 

The first pieces were found by Chinese farmers in 1974 and this spectacular 8000 terracotta statue army was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Over an area of 800 m², reconstructed to the original scale, we could see more than 150 warrior statues, horses and chariots and a look into the pit in which they were found. 
Great to see is the expressions on the faces of this army: all different, full of emotions and detailed as they were real.

The enormous size of the archaeological site in which the mausoleum is buried, can never be as impressive as in real life but this exhibition tries to give an impression. And that's good.

The entire exhibit is interesting but the fact that all are replica's spoils a bit the fun.
The biggest merit of the expo is that you get fascinated by the story behind this fabulous archaeological site, and that you want to see it for yourself.
So, see it as a warming up, a good taste before the real dish. 

  

Food of the week-a life inspiration series

No, it has nothing to do with some late New Years good intentions, but I really want to eat healthier, more conscious and taste all different ingredients. Take time to enjoy preparing, time to enjoy taste. As we did before time was not short.
It still is, but hey, we'll make time.

So, this will be a small diary about what was on my different dishes last week, home made, restaurant food, diners at friends.
Not weekly but as this blog is always: when I feel like it.
Bon appetit.

Wrong start! Minor trendwatching exams. 14 students in one day. No time to eat but this croissant and a Cécemel. Bummer.

Better! Wok mushroom, spring onions and garlic. Yes!

Ready: lukewarm mushrooms on rucola salad, balsamico truffle and some parmesan flakes. 

Lovely scallops with Iberico ham at http://www.de-baronie.be/node/83
Lunch with my mum.

Green tea and a sweet heart for Valentines day at my hairdresser Cut, Paste and Paint.

A power breakfast to start a home office working day. 
Blue berries, greec yogurt, bio honey and pine nuts

Soft milk sandwiches with cheese. Lunch with team Studio Verne, make up artist Adelien and our models during photo shoot  underwear an 'pj' label Eskimo http://www.originaleskimo.com.

Lemon chicken by a recipe of our beloved Ghent super model Cesar Casier. His book Models Kitchen http://thecesarsalad.blogspot.be/2012/06/cesars-modelkitchen.html is one of my latest favorite books, and we tried all ready a few with loads of success.
The lemon chicken was great.

Check out: http://thesquidstories.blogspot.be/2012/10/what-we-all-ready-know-about-models.html

Today we visited the exhibition The Chinese Terracotta Army in Brussels(more in next blogpost), and we went for a quick vietnamese lunch in the museum's neighborhood. A small friendly resto called Yaki, with good, fresh and cheap food. On the picture: a yellow curry with prawns. And a Singha beer.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g188644-d1036573-Reviews-Yaki-Brussels.html

Eat with hands and heart-a life inspiration day

Toukoul is a remarkable restaurant in Brussels, in an amazing warm interior serving unknown Ethiopian food. 

Deco-wise they found a nice blend between a contemporary, cosmpolitan style and some bold authentic features like the entire wooden wall, constructed out of rough basic beams or some original used nature elements like the stone-turned-washbowl.

The staff looks beautiful (yes, that's the word), and they are absolutely one of the most friendly I've ever met in resto business. The cocktails mixed by the guy who worked at the legendary bar l'Archiduc'and the regular music bands that play, add to the vibrant atmosphere.

The food? Ah!Something special, indeed... 

First you get a mini hot towel to wash your hands and you choose one dish (or some of the typical Ethiopian suggestions). 

The dishes arrive in bowls, a silver large plate is set on the table with inside an XL but light pancake. The different dishes are put on the plate on the pancake. No silverware, you use your hands or a small, rolled pancake that's on the side and serves as tool-to-eate. 

A great ritual in Ethiopia, is the fact that when you eat together, you put the first bite of the dish in the mouth of your partner. A welcoming gesture that strangely enough is not that weird at all. It brings back a delicate intimacy, that sets the tone for the evening.

Desert? Off course. Grilled pineapple, with roasted herbs (not sweet at all), in combination with some ice cream and a berry 'coulis'. WITH SILVERWARE.

Bijschrift toevoegen

http://www.toukoul.be
Reservation by phone 0032 2 223 73 77
Rue de Laeken, 34/Rue Marronnier
1000 Brussel

The social hair cut-a life inspiration day

Walking in Brussels, and waiting for my friend Bernard, my eye caught this quite extra ordinary hair salon, on Place St Cathérine. Evening wise, the salon was nearly closed, no customers, still some freshly cut hair left on the floor, and a blue-ish light in the 99% white space.
Placing the clients around each other increases the social contact between them, people who wait and the different hairdressers.
The concept is by Danny Venlet, not the guy on the picture underneath... He's not the hairdresser either, but as the picture was in the window, and I liked it, here it is.

savaganbrussels
place sainte-catherine 45
1000 brussels
t +32(0)2 502 60 00
savagan@me.com

La maison under attack follow up- a life inspiration day

"Les graffeurs en guerre contre les marques?" 

Today I passed the unfortunate MMM store in Brussels myself, and I must say; the sight is on one hand very aggressive (even more chocking in real life), on the other hand very powerful, a strong statement of a monopoly, self conscious artist.
In the air: many speculations on who was the artist/guerilla behind this one. The name that circulated the most was Kidult. And it seems it has been confirmed! Log in to his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kidult/201845136526414.

Street art magazines asked themselves: "After Yves Saint Laurent, Colette, Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, agnès b., Louis Vuitton or Hermès, who will be the next victim?"

Today we know! "Graffiti cannot be commercialized" is what Kidult has to say.

Video about his work: 

KIDULT Illegalize Graffiti par le-pere-de-colombe

Tx Bernard* for your hot tip.

*Bernard Pollet is the owner of the small but very interesting Gallery Gaggarin in Brussels. http://www.gaggarin.com)