On our final leg of our backpacking trip, we decided to take a day to enjoy the Louvre Museum, one of the world’s largest museums. At this point, we had been to quite a few museums, dozens of monuments, and seen a lot of history. As I entered into the first leg of the museum, I decided to create my own Louvre experience, something I hope others can experience. As I walked into each section of the museum, I determined what I believed to be the best music pairing for that artform or era. It felt like going back to my barista days of pairing pastries with our regulars favorite drinks, but much more complex and no opportunities for tips. Below are a few of my favorite pairings from the museum experience.
Ancient Rome- Jay-Z
When I walked into the area regarding Ancient Rome, I knew exactly what should be playing. The Romans were known for their authority, knowledge, prosperity, and ability to be thousands of years ahead of their time, evident in artwork, architecture, and societal movement. Therefore it only seemed right to pay respect to Jay-Z, who has redefined hip-hop and created a masterpiece of a collection.
Ancient Egyptian- Helios
The ancient Egyptian pieces were primarily Sphinx, mummies, or other forms of condolence and memorandum for the dead. It was easy to see that the Egyptians took a lot of pride in their dead, spending countless weeks and sometimes years preparing the tombs of the lost, with hand-carved etchings, stories, and other ways to honor those who were lost. The embalming process was tedious, however Egyptians believed that this would preserve their bodies for the afterlife. It paired incredibly well with the reflective sounds of Helios, one of my favorite artists to sit back and enjoy while working or even laying on my back considered the deepest of thoughts.
Toussant “Book”- JUSTICE
This area of the Louvre was my favorite of them all, with a contemporary spin that I could relate too. The entire exhibition combined photo, video, installations, and even performance to “convey books without using writing*”. One of the most unique portions of the exhibition was a large white stall that was used as a reading booth for an experiment in which people would sit and read the same book, and a nearby screen showed documented brain movement.
When I saw the sign for this exhibition, I knew exactly what I needed to listen too. JUSTICE makes me think of pop art, lights flashing, and simple sounds combined into a complex arrangement. I walked into a dark hallway and watched as different language translations of “book” flashed in different colors all around me. It felt like a private rave. And it was wonderful.
French paintings: Sondre Lerche
When I came upon the French paintings, I wasn’t sure what I should be listening too. Nothing specific came to mind, but a quick iTunes search led me to Sondre Lerche. He is a Norwegian indie rock artist, which has little-to-no relevance to France, but still paired nicely.
Mobilizer Francais Periods del empire- One Republic
When it came to the French Empire, I listened to One Republic. The art of the Empire was very majestic, with nearly everything in a living room scene gold-plated, chandeliers hanging low and by the the dozen, and many precious jewels. The orchestra and strong key movement heard with One Republic made it one of my top selections. As I walked from room to room, the confidence and joy of the music allowed me to appreciate the legacy found in the French Empire.
Netherlands and Northern Europe Paintings- Bon Iver
The paintings of Northern Europe seemed to be very beautiful places, with large pastures of green grass, winding paths along gardens, and beautiful sunsets. The beauty seen in the rooms upon rooms of landscapes seemed to only be appropriate with Bon Iver, one of my most frequented artists.
Wim Delvoye- My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges
Wim is a Belgiant artist known for creating the Cloaca, a machine reproducing the digestive and excretive process. Not getting the point? He often takes traditional artistic styles and completely hijacks them in ironic ways. My favorite work was his twisted sculptures in silvered bronze. He humorously blends gothic culptures into the décor of luxurious décor, including Napoleon III’s apartment rooms. When I saw his stuffed rabbits turned into slippers, I was certain that My Morning Jacket’s “Evil Urges” would lead an eerie and exotic experience.
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