Malá Morská Víla

Watching "Malá Morská Víla", the Czechoslovakian film adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" is like being drowned in an intoxicating blend of sub aquatic loneliness and surreal bittersweet enchantment. The film has a dark eerie, dreamlike quality which is enhanced by the wonderful mixture of set design by Ester Krumbachová [who was responsible for much of the visual inventiveness of films such as "Daises" and "Valerie & Her Week Of Wonders"] and a beguiling orchestral/electronic score by composer Zdeněk Liška.  Much of the film is set underwater and there is an overwhelming undercurrent of sadness throughout, especially during the underwater scenes which  are often filmed with a limited colour palette and a haunting use of slow motion cinematography. Director, Karel Kachyňa achieved international recognition for his poetic films of the mid to late sixties but this film is an unsung masterpiece, a veritable treat for both the ears and the eyes.  The film score for "Malá Morská Víla" will be released by Finders Keepers some time in Winter 2010.

Daughters Of Air

Museum Of Witchcraft, Boscastle

The Museum Of Witchcraft in Boscastle houses the world's largest collection of artifacts devoted to witchcraft in all its forms. It's a fascinating collection and I could have spent many more hours reading and looking at the vast range of material available.  The museum has a very open curatorial approach, mixing both the sacred and the profane, the highbrow with the lowbrow.  I was particularly intrigued by the poppets on display as I'd recently read both "The Uncanny" by Sigmund Freud and the catalogue of Mike Kelley's show of the same name.  I'm currently enjoying "A History of the Pendle Witches and Their Magic: Wicked Enchantments" by Joyce Froome and the wonderful collection of "Songs Of Witchcraft And Magic From The British Folk Tradition" which I came across in the museum's shop.

Tintagel

The holiday has lasted longer then expected, so apologies for not posting recently. The family took an extra 'wee' vacation to Cornwall. It's a wonderful place and we'll definitely go back.  Cornwall is a place I've always wanted to visit.  It's a place which is steeped in traditions of old.  Tintagel was one of the first places we visited.  I'm not that great at photography but hopefully I've captured a little of the atmosphere of  Merlin's cave below Tintagel castle.  Our children had a great time throwing pebbles and listening to the echoes.  Merlin is said to have lived in this cave which can be found below the fortress of Tintagel. 

The Anguish Of The White Page

As Radiophonic month starts to come to a close, it's time to blog a few things which caught my attention this month.  This artwork is from a wonderfully curated travelling exhibition called Magic Show.  The show is a wonderful mixture of supernatural phenomenon and conceptual art.  “L’Angoisse de la page blanche” (The Anguish of the White Page) by Ariel Schlesinger is a kinetic sculpture which consists of two A4 sheets paper which slowly revolve around each other.  For more otherworldly treats, have a peek here and here.