Chance was thrown my way to soak up some sun  – a little top off of Vitamin D was much needed – and like my late 18th and 19th century forebears the Côte d’Azur and the blue, blue sky welcome one.  It was in those days that The Kingdom of Sardinia, once a part of Italy, was discovered and much used by English aristocrats for health reasons.   My excuse exactly!  

Since those days, we’ve moved on to a brief visit in Monte Carlo to see our wonderful Damien Hirst exhibiting some of his iconic classics at the Musee Oceanographique Aquarium next to the Palace.  The exhibition, entitled Cornucopia, was essential viewing.    A great venue since the comparative artistry of Hirst’s shark is shown side by side with the usual, and unusual, creatures of the sea contained in their clinical jars.   Although not the shark of my most favourite title, ‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living,’ in such a grand setting, each do eachother proud.   To digress, the brilliance of that title can only be truly understood by anyone having had the privilege of being with death as it transpires, or perhaps, more appropriately put, expires.   And. yes, we should speak of death and try to understand our reaction to the Physical Impossibility.   Well done Damien in helping us to see ourselves more clearly.

‘The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living’

And then on to Cannes!  Film Festival time, and there is only one place to sit and to be seen  . . . . . apparently!  The Carlton Terrace – it is perhaps harder not to be noticed here but I think I succeeded.    What a hustle and bustle with starlets being chased by the ‘paps’ and the ’show offs’ doing their ’showing off’.   But one is reminded of  Et Dieu …crea la femme ( And God Created Woman 1956with Brigitte Bardot);  all along the French Riviera the pleasures of creation can be enjoyed, the warmth, the sexuality, the pleasure of sun soaked bodies — it is no wonder that so many artists have chosen to live and work here. . . . . I name a few favourites . . . . Bonnard, Braque, Cezanne, Chagall, Derain, Dufy, Matisse, Monet, Picasso, Renoir etc.

Always sad to say au revoir  . . . . . .