Exhibition of Paul Gauguin’s Paintings in Panama

Snapshot of a street promotion poster announcing an art exhibition of Paul Gauguin’s paintings, “The Dream of Panama”, at Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá during December 7, 2012-March 10, 2013. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (1848–1903) was a leading French Post-Impressionist artist who was not well appreciated until after his death.  His work was influential to the French avant-garde and many modern artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Gauguin’s art became popular after his death and many of his paintings were in the possession of Russian collector Sergei Shchukin.

Paul Gauguin experienced many bouts of depression and at one time attempted suicide. He traveled to Martinique in search of an idyllic landscape and worked as a laborer on the Panama Canal construction; he was dismissed from his job after only two weeks.  He also stayed in Taboga Island on the Pacific side of Panama where he painted for a short time. In 1891, Gauguin sailed to French Polynesia to escape European civilization and “everything that is artificial and conventional”.

Paul Gauguin lived on Taboga Island twice when he was out of money working for the French attempt of the Panama Canal. When Gauguin moved on to French Martinique and then Tahiti, most feel that his work was a result of his time spent on Taboga.  Painter Charles Laval lived in Taboga (the island of flowers) as well.

Photograph of El Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá located inside the Old Shell of Panama City (Casco Antiguo, San Felipe). Photograph courtesy of http://www.viajes.net.

The Inter-Oceanic Panama Canal Museum is housed in a fine antique building that was once the Gran Hotel and later the French canal headquarters. This is the best museum in Panama City and a mandatory stop for every traveler. The museum is a study of the Panama isthmus—from pre-Columbian times, to the arrival of the Spanish, to the French and the American canal-building efforts, through the present day.

The museum gives you a good understanding of the Isthmus of Panama as the center of world trade.  It also provides (somewhat subjectively) an explanation of the effect of the isthmus and the canal on the Panamanian idiosyncrasy. Historical documents here include the Torrijos-Carter Treaty that turned over control of the international waterway to Panama, multimedia and interactive exhibits, mock-household exhibits of everyday life during the history of the canal, a register of the U.S. Senate votes approving the canal, and a floor of old coins and stamps, including the famous Nicaragua stamp with an erupting volcano that was sent to senators to sway them from choosing that country to build a canal. There are no earthquakes in this area of the country.

This is an impeccable museum, with interpretive information in both Spanish and English and on-site guides who provide excellent bilingual tours. The museum is wheelchair accessible. You can easily spend a full hour here.

• Visiting Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
• Location:     Avenida Central at Plaza Independencia, Casco Viejo, San Felipe
• Phone:  228-6231
• Web site:     http://www.sinfo.net/pcmuseum
• Admission Prices:  $2.00 (£1.00) for adults
• Closed:     Closed on national holidays

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Frank Gehry’s Museum: A Mosaic of Landscapes

“The ‘Biomuseo’ is a bridge towards a new architecture in Panama—dreamt and conceived for its people and their personal myths, for their epoch, their climate, their geography, and from its history.” — Erik Wolfschoon, Architect

Last week I visited Amador’s Causeway to capture pictures of a well-known kites festival.  Even though I combed the entire area, I couldn’t find a single kite floating in the air.  But no problem, out of pain and sorrow, I found joy.  I was able to see the progress of the Frank Gehry’s museum known as a biological museum.  It’s slowly but surely becoming the spectacular structure it was designed to be.

We are most fortunate in having a Frank Gehry’s building in Panama.  I’m sure it will be visited  and photographed by thousands of tourists from all over the world.  This is how the building looks like at this moment—March 25, 2012 noontime.  Here we go.

Snapshot of a sign outside of the construction site of the famous Frank Gehry’s Museum located at the entrance of Amador's Causeway. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

These pictures were shot with my new DSLR camera---Canon Rebel EOS T2i. I used the automatic Landscape Picture Style of the device. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

This time I was able to see the bright colors of the walls of the buildings. Can't wait to see the building fully built and in full operation. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of a closer view of the Frank Gehry's biological museum located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. The bright orange walls as well as its overall structure is awesome. An authentic architectural jewel in this small country in the middle of the world. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Welcome, Madonna Lisa di Antonio María Gherardini

The Mona Lisa, a.k.a. Lisa Gherardini Giocondo, La Gioconda, or La Joconde, is one of the most famous painting in the history of art and continues to inspire reproductions, parody, scientific theory, and then some.  In 2003-2006, the world celebrated the 500th anniversary of the painting which now has its own room at the Louvre Museum in Paris.  The painting has achieved celebrity status and is continually appearing as subject of news articles around the globe.  Property of the French State,  it is on permanent display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris.

Tradition holds that the Mona Lisa is a painting of Lisa Gherardini, wife of wealthy Florentine merchant, Francesco del Giocondo and that Da Vinci started painting it in 1503.

“Her hair, shoulder length, is wrapped in a translucent veil.  She wears a sober dark dress.  Her left shoulder is adorned by a thickly pleated mantle.  Her neckline reveals the inception of her breasts.  She wears no jewels.  She smiles.”  (Donald Sassoon.  Becoming Mona Lisa, New York:  Harcourt, 2001, 1.)

This painting has baffled scholars and art experts for centuries.  Her smile is mysterious and dynamic.  Different people see different things when they contemplate the portrait of the Mona Lisa.  Some say she is happy, others say she is sad, other say she is not laughing at all.  Da Vinci wrote in one of his notebooks that he was trying to paint dynamic expressions because that is what he saw in the street.  The Mona Lisa has a dynamic smile, it changes all the time, depending on the angle of perspective.

According to Wikipedia Encyclopedia:

“The painting is a half-length portrait and depicts a seated woman, Lisa del Giocondo, whose facial expression has been frequently described as enigmatic.  The ambiguity of the subject’s expression, the monumentality of the composition, and the subtle modeling of forms and atmospheric illusionism were novel qualities that have contributed to the continuing fascination and study of the work.  The image is widely recognised, caricatured, and sought out by visitors to the Louvre, and it is considered the most famous painting in the world.“

Below are several pictures of the smiling woman shot with my P&S camera, the Canon PowerShot A720 IS.  I decided not to use the camera’s flash.  The powerful spotlights did the trick.  Here we go.

Snapshot of the painting of Mona Lisa displayed at a special exhibition at the Anthropological Museum Reina Torres de Araúz, in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

A close up picture of the Mona Lisa showing only her eyes which has a gaze fixed on the observer. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

The woman sits markedly upright with her arms folded, which is also a sign of her reserved posture. Only her gaze is fixed on the observer and seems to welcome him to this silent communication. Since the brightly lit face is practically framed with various much darker elements (hair, veil, shadows), the observer’s attraction to it is brought to even greater extent.

The woman appears alive to an unusual measure, which Leonardo achieved by his new method not to draw the outlines, “mainly in two features: the corners of the mouth, and the corners of the eyes” (Gombrich), as firmly as that had been the use, before (sfumato).

Snapshot of the enigmatic smile of the Monna Lisa which has captured the attention of scholars and scientists for centuries. All kinds of theories revolve around this mysterious smile. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the reposed hands of the Madonna. Da Vinci was an expert of the human body and made extensive research on this subject. Thus he knew exactly what was beneath the flesh that deck the hands of the smiling woman. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Detail of Lisa’s hands, her right hand resting on her left. Leonardo chose this gesture rather than a wedding ring to depict Lisa as a virtuous woman and faithful wife.  There are rumors circulating out there that the Monna Lisa was pregnant at the time the painting was made.  The type of clothes she was wearing, was typical of women who were expecting a baby.  The hands are resting peacefully upon her body as if caressing the child inside her womb.  Of course, these are only speculations surrounding this enigmatic woman from the city of Florence in the XVIth century.

Tomorrow I will post the final pictures of this exceptional exhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci displayed at the Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz, at Albrook in Panama City, Panama.  You are most welcomed to return for the final post about this magnificent subject.  Good Day.

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The Holistic Development of the Human Being

Most of the time, I listen to managers and political leaders talk exclusively about economic growth.  Their single concern is economic development, and how that benefits the population of a country.  Economic rate of growth and the relationship between  public debt and the GDP (Gross Domestic Product),  is at the core of their discourses.

There’s nothing wrong with that.  I too believe in those assessments, but I feel they are not enough.  The human being needs  other types of stimuli besides money.  Take for example Norway.  It’s a rich country with a high degree of economic development, yet a confused citizen one day decides to go out and murder several young students in an island.  Why is that?  Well, I think he was confused and did not understood the reality around him.  His spirit was in a state of chaos.

What I’m trying to say, is that there must be a balance between economic and spiritual growth.  That’s what makes a healthy human being—the balance between the body and spirit.  I’m seeing that the the latter is being considered by our authorities.  Many museums are in the process of being renovated across the nation.  The purpose is to have special venues where Panamanian citizens can study their history, culture, and traditions, and understand who they really are as a nation.  It’s truly realizing their intimate self identity.  Museums play a critical role in making those cultural aspects come alive to the growing younger generation of citizens.

I recently assisted to a amazing exhibition at  the Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz (Reina de Araúz Antropological Museum) in the former Canal Zone, depicting the jaw-dropping accomplishments of Leonardo Da Vinci.  What I saw there is difficult to describe in printable words.  This citizen of the world was a genius, a painter, and inventor of the Italian Renaissance.  He’s mainly known for painting the Mona Lisa—the woman of the mysterious smile.

During the next few days, I’ll post several snapshots I took while strolling through the halls of this wonderful venue donated to the Republic of Panama by the people of Taiwan during the administration of Mireya Moscoso.   While I savored the exhibition, I thought I was at the Louvre in Paris or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.  It was that good, and I felt proud it was being held in my hometown.

Below are several pictures of the venue,  so you will get a general idea of where this cultural event took place.  Here we go.

Snapshot of the sign at the entrance of the Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz located in Albrook, in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

General view of the parking lot of the museum at approximately two o'clock in the afternoon. It was a suffocating hot humid afternoon with dark clouds in the sky preamble of a tropical cloudburst. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

In this picture you can see more cars as visitors were coming in for the exhibition organized by the National Institute of Culture (INAC). The name in Spanish is Instituto Nacional de Cultura under the Ministry of Government and Justice. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

 The main objective of the INAC is to coordinate and promote the cultural and folkloric activities in the country.  The INAC currently manages 23 venues dedicated to the teachings of a wide variety of artistic expressions.  It supervises 13 regional centers, manages the Anita Villalaz Theater, the National Theater, the Balboa Theater; coordinates the activities of the Symphonic Orchestra, and the Panama National Ballet.

In addition, it is responsible of managing 18 museums, amongst them, the Museum of Religious Art, the Anthropological Museum Reina Torres de Araúz, and the Afro-Caribbean Museum.

In this picture of the museum, you can see the postcard announcing the Leonardo Da Vinci's exhibition on the wall. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the entrance of the museum with a large poster of the Mona Lisa to catch the eyes of the visitors. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Snapshot of the museum with its attractive tower. It is a very modern structure with a pleasing architecture style. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

You are cordially invited to return tomorrow and appreciate more pictures of the singular exhibition of Leonardo Da Vinci in the Republic of Panama.  You will not regret it.  Good Day.

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The Afro-Caribbean Museum of Panama

The history of Panama is closely related to the immigration of African descendants from the Caribbean islands of Jamaica, Barbados, Martinique and others.  This physically strong ethnic group was largely responsible for the construction of the Panama Railroad in 1855 and the construction of the Panama Canal in 1914.

Photograph of the large sign in English and Spanish of the Afro-Caribbean Museum in the neighborhood of Calidonia in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

A wide view of the wooden building of the Afro-Caribbean Museum of Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

This picturesque building is located on the corner of Calle 34 West and Avenida Justo Arosemena, three blocks away from the Anthropology Museum in Panama City, Panama.  Their phone number is (507) 262-5318 for your ready reference.

The tropical trees in front of the building also captured my attention. The rising morning sun gave the scene a special glow. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

This structure originally housed an old Christian mission church.  Over the years, it collected photographs, artistic and miscellaneous domestic objects which are attractively displayed for benefit of the visitors.

Notice the twisted tree which adds the charm to the venue. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

The museum offers a rare insight into the lives of the West Indian immigrants who came to the Isthmus of Panama to work on the Panama Railroad in and the Panama Canal by both the French and American authorities.

Photograph of the entrance to the Afro-Caribbean Museum located in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Between 1904 and 1914, about 20,000 Antillean immigrants arrived in Panama from the islands of Barbados alone; most as deck passengers aboard the USS Ancon, to build the Panama Canal.

Panama’s black population is approximately 14 percent which represents 460,977 Afro-descendants living mainly in Panama City, Colon City and Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro.  They have preserved their ancients customs and traditions which adds to the mojo of Panama which has become a melting pot of different ethnic groups from around the world.

Photograph of the wooden museum which houses traditional photographs, artistic works and other miscellaneous objects from the early immigrants of several Caribbean islands. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Visitors are invited to this year’s Afro-Caribbean Fair, at the grounds of the Afro-Caribbean Museum to be celebrated on  February 25 and 26 of 2011.  The fair, which is a traditional part of the pre-Lenten Carnival activities, is a tribute to the culture brought by the thousands of immigrants who came to Panama during the 19th and early 20th centuries to build the Panama Railroad and the Panama Canal at the turn of the 20th century.  They came mainly from the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, and Martinique.

In front of the building is a small balcony which is a favorite spot for picture-taking by the frequent visitors. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

Admission to the museum is $1.00 for adults and $0.25 for children under 12, retirees and students with their IDs.  If you are in Panama City during the month of February, you are cordially invited to the Afro-Caribbean Fair, at the grounds of the Afro-Caribbean Museum on February 25 and 26.  You won’t regret it.  Oh, and one more thing, please bring your camera with you.  Good Day.

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Architecture of the Afro-Caribbean Museum in Panama City

Photograph of the tower of a small Afro-Caribbean Museum of Panama. It is an old wooden building located in the middle of downtown Calidonia. A mandatory visit to enjoy Panama's rich ethnic mix. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.

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A Museum in Panama

Panama is not well known for having first class museums.  These information silos have not been on the main agenda of our presidents since the birth of the nation.  We only have one excellent museum open to the public that is worthwhile visiting.  I’m referring to the Museo del Canal Interoceánico located at Casco Viejo in front of Parque Catedral.  This is a must see museum if you want to dig deep into the history of the Panama Canal.

Another museum that has good intentions in becoming a great tourist attraction is Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz (MARTA). Unfortunately it’s currently closed to the public.  I’m trying to find out why.  So far authorities are tight-lipped on the subject.

Initially this museum was located in what was the old railroad station of Panama at Plaza 5 de mayo. Its construction began in 1912 following the American Federal architectural style and remained in service until the fifties when it reverted to Panama and was destined to many uses until it opened as a museum in 1976.  It’s presently used as an art training school.

The Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz conveys the rich cultural heritage of Panama with a collection of pre-Colombian artifacts and exhibits.  This was Panama’s best anthropology museum, with more than 15,000 pre-Columbian pieces, including artifacts from the Barriles tribe, the earliest residents of Panama until 700 B.C. There was also an interesting collection of golden huacas, the tiny ceremonial figures that were buried with indigenous VIPs, as well as more modern pollera dresses and antique household items and farm tools.

Even as we speak, the new museum is in the process of opening at its new home at the Museo Tucán, which is a far prettier location on the edge of the Natural Metropolitan Park.  The museum was built with funds received from the government of Taiwan when Mireya Elisa Moscoso was president from 1999 to 2004.

The new facilities of the Anthropological Museum Reina Torres de Araúz (MARTA), located in Llanos de Curundú, Panama City, was inaugurated by the first lady, Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos, on August 21, 2006,  For its inauguration, the Museo Soumaya of Mexico provided 32 sculptures created by Auguste Rodin.  This exhibition is considered one of the largest and most important of Rodin’s creations outside of France.

Future phases will include digital imaging museum collections, an archeology lab, a specialized library, a research center on pre-history and history of Panama and art classes.

The covered area of 2,500 square meters with spacious areas for exhibitions, an auditorium, amphitheater, over 3,500  square meters for outdoor activities, facilities for disabled people, adjoining six acres of tropical dry forest. The museum also plans to conduct archaeological samples and tours in the forest in the near future.

When I was there, I was able to shoot only three pictures.  A security guard told me no pictures were allowed.  I asked him why.  He didn’t answer, so I left.  This is the first time an authority tells me that photographs are not allowed outside a museum building.  The pictures were being taken from the parking lot.  Beats me.

These are the three pictures I was able to shoot while I was there before the security guard popped out.  Here we go.

A general view of the Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz at los Llanos de Curundú. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photograph of the anthropological museum in the process of being opened to the public in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

The museum is under the administration of the Panama National Institute of Culture (INAC). Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

I’m puzzled regarding the mystery of this public building donated by the people of Taiwan.  I promise to investigate what is going on and when it’s expected to be opened to the general public.  Until then, Good Day.

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La Casa Museo: Patrimony of The National Bank of Panama

La Casa Museo or the House Museum in English, is a magnificent museum owned by the Banco Nacional de Panamá to promote the research of Panama’s banking history and the history of the nation in general.  Special attention is given to the study and analysis of Panamanian coins, stamps and financial documents.

This venue was inaugurated on October 12, 1983 as part of a program to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of Banco Nacional de Panamá. The original idea was to preserve and exhibit exceptional Panamanian numismatic collections, as well as to display important historical aspects of banking in Panama, starting from the nineteenth century to this day.

La Casa Museo is located in the neighborhood of La Exposición, between Avenida Cuba and Calle 34. It was built in 1925 as the private residence of Dr. Juan Jose Diaz Boyd.

The structure consists of two stories and a gorgeous tower mixing different architectural styles.  It was purchased by the Banco Nacional de Panamá in 1978 and currently houses a museum whose core mission is to preserve the country’s history as well as the history of the first bank in the isthmus.

The museum has the following rooms:

• The Lobby and Reception Room located on the main floor.
• The Bank’s Board Room, which exhibits a gallery of the bank´s managers since its founding.  You can also enjoy the original furniture belonging to the First Board of Directors.
• The Stamps Room, which displays a wide variety of local and foreign stamps.  In additions, there is a comprehensive history of the Post Office in Panama and abroad, and a rare collection of stamps from the former Panama Canal Zone.
• The José Agustín Arango Library is a specialized consulting center covering subjects such as economics, finance, statistics, banking legislation, and numismatics.  It contains over 3,000 volumes and serves thousands of high school and university students.
• The Numismatics Hall shows a historic collection of rare gold, nickel, and silver coins of different denominations.  It also includes a comprehensive collection of bonds, shares and other financial documents of Panama and other countries.
• Photograph Library—an ample collection of old photographs which documents social and political events related to the history of Panama since 1903.

All administrations of Banco Nacional de Panamá have given the museum an important role as a true custodian of the history and culture of this great country bathed by two of the largest oceans of the globe.

Below you will find several photographs of this historic venue.  Here we go.

Photograph of the House Museum of Banco Nacional de Panamá located in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Take notice of the unique architectural style found in this structure. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

The glow of the early morning light gave the building a special coloration. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Photograph of the exquisite House Museum softly nesting on lush tropical vegetation. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

This is another must see tourist spot if you really want to know the country inside out.  Good Day.

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