Volume 4
Fountain by Marcel Duchamp — Pesto recipe — Vicky Cristina Barcelona by Woody Allen — Los Mochis, London — Beauty
Happy Sunday and welcome to the fourth edition of Giselle daydreams. This edition features a readymade by Marcel Duchamp.
For those of you who are not familiar with readymades or Marcel Duchamp’s works, Duchamp's readymades challenged conventional notions of artistic creation and questioned the very definition of art, emphasising the concept or idea behind the artwork rather than the craft or skill of the artist.
I’m also sharing my famous homemade pesto recipe, reviewing a film by Woody Allen and a delicious Japanese and Mexican fusion restaurant in London. Finally, I’ll tell you more about eyebrows. Enjoy!
Marcel Duchamp, Fountain, 1917, replica 1964
I decided to write about this controversial and iconic work by Marcel Duchamp because Fountain questions the conventional assumptions of what art should be. Created in 1917, Fountain is probably the most famous readymade produced by the artist, and this is an intellectually captivating example to explore.
Marcel Duchamp (1887-1968) was a pioneering French-American artist whose work had a profound impact on the development of modern and contemporary art. He is best known for his association with the Dada and Surrealist movements and for challenging traditional ideas about art and its production.
Duchamp's most famous works are arguably his readymades, ordinary objects he selected and sometimes modified, presenting them as art. The most notorious of these is Fountain, a urinal turned on its back and that he signed with the pseudonym R. Mutt. Fountain was submitted to the Society of Independent Artists' exhibition in New York, but it was rejected, leading to considerable debate and discussion about the nature of art and the role of the artist.
Duchamp's decision to present a mass-produced, everyday object as art challenged conventional notions of aesthetics and authorship. By selecting a urinal and recontextualising it within the realm of art, Duchamp questioned the traditional criteria for defining art and the artistic process. The title Fountain adds an additional layer of meaning, blurring the lines between the functional object and the conceptual artwork.
Duchamp's readymades are a series of artworks that he created between 1913 and 1921. These pieces are ordinary, everyday objects that Duchamp selected and sometimes modified, presenting them as art. The concept behind the readymades was to question traditional ideas about art, authorship, and the role of the artist. Duchamp's readymades challenged the notion that art had to be a unique, handmade object, emphasising the intellectual and conceptual aspects of art-making.
Duchamp was also a key figure in the Dada movement, an avant-garde art movement of the early 20th century that rejected traditional aesthetic and social values. Dada artists often created works that were nonsensical, provocative, and anti-establishment, reflecting the disillusionment and absurdity of the time, particularly in the wake of World War I.
Duchamp's ideas and innovations had a profound influence on subsequent generations of artists, shaping movements such as Conceptual art and challenging the very foundations of traditional art-making. His legacy continues to be felt in contemporary art, where the conceptual approach to art-making remains a vital and influential aspect of artistic practice.
Duchamp's readymades challenged the very definition of art and influenced the development of conceptual art in the 20th century. By selecting and presenting everyday objects as art, Duchamp opened up new possibilities for artists, encouraging them to focus on ideas and concepts rather than technical skill or craftsmanship. His readymades continue to be studied and discussed in the context of contemporary art theory and philosophy.
Fountain has become an iconic symbol of the Dada movement and a landmark in the history of conceptual art. It has been widely discussed and analysed by art historians and philosophers, making it one of the most influential artworks of the 20th century. Duchamp's provocative gesture with Fountain opened the door for future generations of artists to explore new ideas and challenge established norms in the art world.
A recipe
My homemade pesto
Although I may not have eaten my own made pesto in over a month - oh what a sacrilege for those who know how much I love pasta pesto, I could literally eat pasta pesto every day as much as I like this simple but scrumptious dish. Also this is a very simple recipe which takes literally a few minutes to make, it can last in the fridge for up to 14 days stored in a jar. Believe me, once you start making your own pesto, you’ll no longer buy store-bought pesto.
To make about 10ish portions depending on how much pesto you like to season your pasta:
100g fresh basil
50g walnuts
150ml extra virgin olive oil, use good quality as it will help with the overall flavour of the sauce
½ lemon squeezed
3 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp nutritional yeast or substitute with 50g pecorino or parmesan, I personally make it with nutritional yeast as I used to have strong intolerances to dairy but after giving birth it got better
Instructions:
Put all the ingredients together in a blender and blend until smooth.
Put in a jar for storage or serve immediately.
The good thing with pesto is that it doesn't need to be heated so it’s a very easy meal to put together if you’re short on time and crave some pasta or it goes nicely with Caprese salad and so much more!
Cinema
Vicky Cristina Barcelona by Woody Allen (2008)
Despite mixed reviews, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a film I enjoyed watching when it was released in 2008. It is a romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film is set in Barcelona, Spain, and explores themes of love, passion, and relationships through the experiences of its central characters. When I watched it for the first time and afterwards, this film epitomises what a daydreaming escape can look like and with Giselle daydreams intends to immerse its readers into something that takes you away from your mundane routine. The film features Penélope Cruz as Maria Elena, Javier Bardem as Juan Antonio, Rebecca Hall as Vicky, and Scarlett Johansson as Cristina.
The film follows the adventures of two American friends, Vicky and Cristina who spend a summer in Barcelona. Vicky is practical, engaged to be married to her longtime boyfriend, and pursuing a master's degree in Catalan culture. Cristina is more adventurous and free-spirited, with a penchant for seeking passionate and spontaneous experiences.
During their stay in Barcelona, Vicky and Cristina meet a charismatic Spanish painter Juan Antonio who invites them to spend a weekend with him in the picturesque Spanish countryside. This proposition sets the stage for a complex and unpredictable love triangle. Vicky is initially hesitant but is drawn to Juan Antonio's magnetic personality, while Cristina is more than willing to embrace the adventure. Complicating matters further, Juan Antonio's fiery and unpredictable ex-wife, Maria Elena, reenters his life, adding another layer of passion and tension to the relationships.
The film explores various forms of love and passion, from the stable and predictable love who Vicky represents to the more spontaneous and tumultuous love experienced by Cristina and the characters around her. Vicky and Cristina represent two contrasting approaches to life and love. Vicky values stability and security, while Cristina seeks freedom and adventure. The film raises questions about the choices we make in pursuit of these ideals. Barcelona and its culture play a significant role in the film, and serves as a backdrop for the characters' experiences and self-discovery. The film delves into the complexities of human relationships, including the dynamics of love, attraction, jealousy, and desire. The interactions between the characters are rich and multifaceted. Juan Antonio's career as a painter and the artistic sensibilities of the characters add an artistic dimension to the story, with art serving as a reflection of their emotions and desires.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona encapsulates what a dreamy summer in Spain looks like with its beautiful cinematography and the exploration of love and desire through creativity and passion. Allen explores the dalliance of its characters and romanticises it. His storytelling and portrayal of complex characters navigating the complexities of love and passion make it a memorable and thought-provoking cinematic experience.
Eating in London
This is a relatively new restaurant in London, as if I remember correctly it opened about a year ago. When I’m not in the mood for a gluten feast, i.e. an Italian trattoria, my heart takes me to more exotic flavours, and Los Mochis fusions Japanese and Mexican cuisine into an explosion of savours.
The restaurant is located in Notting Hill, and I visited the establishment twice. The restaurant offers a gluten free menu, therefore it comes in handy to a handful of my readers who have a gluten intolerance, and their use of dairy is minimal. However, if I didn’t mention that, you wouldn’t have known, as the food served is of the highest standard.
I usually share the dishes with my eating companion as it enables me to taste more from the menu. I would recommend dipping some shells into the guacamole, and if you are starving, also order edamame and toastaditos (they have a plant based option, raw fish and a meat option) for starters. Then moving to the small plates, if you want something warm during the colder months, I would opt for a miso soup. Something particularly tasty were the spicy salmon and the truffle guacamole on crispy rice. However, if it’s two people sharing, I would pick one option as you still want room for tacos and potentially dessert. I unfortunately didn’t try their raw fish or sushi selection as I was pregnant when coming there, but I would certainely switch some choices to include some crudo options. The tacos were delicious. We ordered all the fish tacos, which surprised our waiter. The winner was miso cod, but I also enjoyed the the social fish, and somehow I least prefered the cabo fish. I also noticed that they offer a children menu, which means when Queen L is able to eat slightly more, we can all go together!
I cannot judge their take on seafood dishes or the Wagyu beef tataki, but I’ve been able to taste what I reviewed above, and I was impressed by the selection I made, which made me want to visit Los Mochis again.
Beauty
My eyebrows story
Brows have always been an essential face feature to me, and taking care of my brows has always been a priority despite a few mishaps in the past.
Let’s start with the beginning of my brow journey. I was born with an unglamorous unibrow, which gave rise to numerous mockery in my childhood and teenage years until I took action. At that time, I wasn’t with many hairy girls, and everyone made fun of my unibrow. It traumatised me, and my mum kept telling me how beautiful I was. I was unsure who to believe, as she was my mum, and someone who always minimise the truth. It was until one evening that I took action and over plucked my eyebrows. I hated it. I was lucky it regrew as soon as it happened! The following day after that episode, I was unfortunate that my school decided to take portrait picture for our school card, which we were supposed to keep for four years… One year later, I decided to mark my whole face with indelible black pencil. After that, I just made sure to have someone pluck my unibrow. Nothing more, nothing less.
While I was at university, I’m unsure why I became obsessed with heavily powdered brows and decided to paint my brows with a brow pencil. It was a disaster, and I’m not exagarating. I looked ridiculous, and I’m still surprised that I managed to find a boyfriend looking this way!
After a few years, I came back to my senses and decided to only draw blank areas for a more natural look. It looked good, and I kept this method for many years. To be fair, even with no makeup, my brows are still full, and I did that to enhance my brows and their shape, which was already arched and pleasing to the eye.
In the meantime, to avoid the hassle of doing my brows every single day I contemplated microblading but decided against it last minute. I didn’t regret that decision, at least for now. Nonetheless, I wanted to upgrade my brows ,and then I decided to try brow lamination, also called eyebrow lift. I was so pleased with the result of a fuller while natural looking brow. I found that this high maintenance treatment would make me low maintenance in my everyday beauty routine. I’m thrilled with this decision as someone who prefers skincare over makeup, but still want to look polished in a no makeup makeup look. At the moment, I’m mostly wearing sunscreen and blush thanks to being a new mum. Once Queen L gets older, I’ll probably be more inclined to wear more makeup.
If you want to elevate your eyebrows, consider an eyebrow lift. Make sure to go to a skilled technician, and you’ll have nice brows for about 4-6 weeks before having to do it again, if you like it of course.
I hope you enjoyed the fourth edition of Giselle daydreams.
Giselle xx
Interesting, especially the eyebrow history