Sketch in the Museum of Memory

The Museum of Memory was an experience that moved me tremendously.

It started with the open stair case. Wasn’t that an incredible way to start the viewers off? The stairs behind then though were what got me, because to me, they represented the people who couldn’t leave the country and had to watch their friends and family leave them.

I thought the layout of the museum as a whole was done very well too. In a lot of museums, there is a big chance that you miss information because the hallways to and from places are all similar. Here, it’s just on recangle with one piece of circulation on the side. It’s hard to miss displays, which is good for such an informative museum as this one.

The glass box that created a space for reflection was very special. Separated from the hallway by a sign lair square column, it made us look at the faces of those who were lost to history. An interesting thing that I noticed was that the crystal lights that illuminated the inside perimeter of the box flecked in the glas walls, making it look like the lights continue in space and touch the photo wall. Your own reflection was in the glass too, making it look like you were with the ones on the wall. I think that moment of reflection alludes to how if you don’t teach people about history, it is bound to repeat itself. The glass box makes you wonder, as it put you up on the wall, if history reap eats itself, will it be me this time who suffers?

All in all, I highly recommend this museum.

This is most likely a representation of a belt worn by a ball court player. You didn’t want to lose these games, trust me.

Having recently had the pleasure to study a history oft untouched by the general public, Mesoamerican and Andean art history, never did I suppose I would have the opportunity to apply that recently acquired knowledge in a tangible way.  Within the hustle and bustle about the day, I had forgotten the full itinerary.  It is safe to say that when I walked into the door of the Pre-Columbian Museum, backed by two friendly native perros, I was pleasantly surprised.  In fact, by the time I had reached the Chile Before Chile section, I was in “full geek out mode.”  But, I knew the fun was just beginning, and I made my way up to the second floor, past the absolutely stellar infographics of the Pre-Columbian cultures geographies and timelines.  This floor would hold objects that I was keenly familiar with, ones I had my former professor give me personal recommendations to search for about the complex.  I was like a kid in a candy store (this often happens with art museums) hunting for Nazca head pots, Taíno stone semis, and an incense burner from Teotihuacan.  Along the way too, I noticed how well the museum was laid out, shifting from one culture to the other without disrupting the flow of the space, and how natural light was successfully utilized throughout the building, even in the basement.  When the dust had settled, I had walked away with over 50 pictures of artifacts, and a memory of a field experience like no other!

Today, we went to the Museo Chileno De Arte Precolombino. When I firstly step into the museum, I was embraced by the sunshine, it’s surprised that the sunshine is shaped into the building by angled roof structure. Then different exhibitions located on three floors, the most interesting one I found is the underground floor exhibition about Chile before Chile. I felt really impressed by the cultural influences how these original resources could turn into human works of art. Because the original material is mud, people start to shape it then fire it to make it hard with utility. As this exhibition helped me to explore more about the clay art. And one interesting point is how they place all the pottery into glass cabinet that have reflection on four sides, it’s not as clear as you can see the reflection from the mirror, but the sense of vague pottery are arranged by plain glass is amazing. Also, the supporting glass structure providing three levels of laying out the objects are beautiful. The art works of various heights are arranged on different levels, usually the bowls with least height is on the lowest level. That enables me to try to have the visual experience from various height levels. Here’s one sketch from comparing one single object from the others.

Though we are technically not counting today, 12 March 2017, as day two, I am considering it as such. Arriving to Santiago after an arduous plane ride, we were thrown into a bus and shoved into the city. After being 9+ hours in a plane, the last thing I wanted to do was stay up and explore however, immediately, reserve energy coursed in through my veins and I ventured in. The snow-capped Andes invade the skyline and the funicular allowed us to feel it evermore present. Though, it was absolutely a scary to be that high, hanging on to a thin wire, the sight from the funicular was a site to be hold! The city was so large and majestic: it’s size multiplied the higher we went.
Then, we rushed on to the bus once more and made our way to Parque de Los Infantes.I wished I was a small child again! The slides, border inclosed play area, and the tree houses were unfortunately not made for 20-year-old-somethings who really, really wanted to run around. Even still, I went on the top most slide and went down. My tailbone is still very unhappy with me.
On the second day, we rode the Metro (which is incredibly clean and easy to navigate, take notes New York) to sight-see around. We visited old Spaniard buildings and learned some cool, hip places around Downtown Santiago. Next, we went to the Pre-Colombian Museum. The museum was everything I could have possibly asked for! Radj’s designs not only made the space wonderful but also respected the times within the building. Since these pieces are centuries old, direct sunlight could permanently damage these one of a kind works thus, the careful usage of light truly made the space art historian approved.
Next we toured Plaza de Armas. With the sun beating down on us harshly and the crowds multiplying as the hour passed, I cannot say enjoyed the experience very much. However, the space itself proved to be extremely interesting in layout. As well as with the occupying streets, the diverse architecture, usually fluctuating between contemporary and Neoclassical, presented itself to be an extremely interesting clash.
On our own, a group if us climbed to Santa Lucia and witnessed some exceptional architecture. The steps were absolutely horrible but the sight was something out of a fairy tale. Lastly, tonight we were Kennedy’ed some pizza and my stomach will hate me tomorrow; I ate as much as my body could hold.
I’ll report tomorrow after my pizza coma has passed.