Pop Art revival or nothing new?

Photo: loganfitzpatrick.com

Written by Kieron Lee

A couple of weeks ago, in one of many random encounters with the cloak and dagger pop-up art gallery scene, I stumbled upon an exhibition run by Belly Kids that was dedicated to the actor Bill Murray, with accompanying colouring book (yes colouring book) and t-shirts to boot. Lets face it, Bill Murray is an alternative icon, the Paul Newman of the fixie Mafia. A God among men. But what is it that resonates with generations of hipsters (ugh) and the A-List alike. It would be easy put it all down to worldwide fame via Ghostbusters through Groundhog Day and a revival sparked by quirky character factory Wes Anderson. Yet something all together different is at play when your watching Bill Murray, as if he understands it all, he has a self awareness not only of himself in his setting but also the general ridiculousness of life itself.

Love In L.A.

Alex on Pig 2005 ©BrytenGoss.com

Written by Jackee D. Koerner-Hintz

When I was 19, I lived in Los Angeles, California, the city of angles and dreams and in my case, of unrequited love… we will get to the topic of art, I promise. I moved there to study film, but spent most of my time wasting it. Coincidentally, at this same point in my life, I not only believed that I would become a famous movie star, but that I would simultaneously meet and fall in love with actor, Jason Lee. For the record, this was well before Alvin and the Chipmunks.

Destroy Rock City, some dessert for your table

Lee Misenheimer,  better known as Destroy Rock City, has been not noticed in the internet space, but recently he flashed up in the global network, as if showing that he hadn't put down his hand, armed with a pencil. After just a couple of sketches in Flickr rang out in various corners, he was loved by the world‘s Internet users, including us.

Photo diary: Song Kol, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan is one of those places that people don't know much about and, because of that, tend to think that it's a scary and mysterious part of the world. In fact, it's one of the most interesting places to be at the moment because it still has places which are not Westernised at all. Song Kol lake is one of them -  there is no electricity, no Internet or phone service, no shower or even toilets.  Basic life conditions in nomadic yurts,  cold nights, starry skies and beautiful nature - that's basically all one would find there.

Otaku Shoreditch Culture

Written by Nathan Gotlib

LONDON, September 2012 - Nothing beats a nice walk around East London and visiting your favourite gallery spaces. One of them is the ICN Gallery right off Great Eastern Street, and they have a pretty interesting show going on there at the moment. Besides enjoying amazing rice tea and eating rice-bun burgers and chicken teriyaki wraps, the space usually boasts an interesting display of upcoming Japanese artwork.

Their current gallery is divided in a few sub-sections. They have a permanent display of the 20>20 J-pop illustration prints, a collection of work by upcoming young Japanese artists. All of the prints displayed there are also for sale.

Rasul Mono. The Wizard of Ambient from Tatarstan

Written by Grėtė Kaulinytė

In the beginning you might find yourself surrounded by winds and fog. Then transferred to the forests, whitened by the moonlight, dusty factories or empty roads. You immerse into his music like into dark cold water. At first skin tingles and itches, but then this water becomes so pleasant, so familiar that you don‘t want to get back to the land. Never again. Meet Rasul Mono. The ambient wizard from Tatarstan.

The Artist in Control

Valerie’s Snack Bar, Jeremy Deller 2009 at Joy in People 2012. Image: Eddie Mulholland

Written by Rosemary Marchant

There has been a recent trend for participatory or socially engaging works that allow the spectator to take a more active role. They appear to have played a large part in encouraging more people to enjoy art. The artists creating these works are often celebrated for giving up some of their artistic control and letting the spectator dictate the outcome of the work. Marina Abramovic could not choose who she would sit across from in The Artist is Present nor could she predict what people would do. Yoko Ono cannot control what people write to place on her wish trees outside her current show at the Serpentine and Jeremy Deller relied on volunteers to run his cafe at his recent show Joy in People at Hayward Gallery London.

Gregory Crewdson. Postcards from another world

This photographer is unlikely to be seen with a camera in his hands during a photo session, although there is an art director, lots of all kinds of assistants, decorators, constructors, lightning experts and technicians popping in and out around him. Every Gregory Crewdson‘s photo is like a shot from Hollywood film. Regardless where the picture is being shot, this photographer places every element scrupulously and enlightens it in a way, which seems most appropriate to him. No unplanned detail will hide from him; furthermore, the working on several subject photos takes longer than six weeks.

Pincycling the memories

Wayne Martin Berger, ‘Third Eye’ Pinhole Camera (photo: boyofblue.com)

Written by Lorna Barnshaw

Don’t have the heart to throw out that pile of ‘memories’, that ‘junk’ building up in the corner...?

You have heard of upcycling no doubt, transforming the old into the new and innovative. Well how about ‘pincycling’ (I thought it deserved a name)? Transform these unused items and memories into a memory capturing machine, the camera, the pinhole camera. Simple.

Creativity Kiosk: Interview with Laura Guokė

Hi, it’s great to get to know better. We noticed that you mostly work with the graphics’ technique. How did you discover this technique? Why is it the one you chose? Did you try or are you trying out other techniques?

I would link my choice of graphics’ technique with the fact that I studied in Vilnius’ Art Academy and in Šiauliai University because I finished this discipline recently. It’s hard to say what inspired me to choose graphics seven years ago. It might have been the pieces that I saw and that I perceived in my own way and professors, who organized the introduction courses… Even though I never was and never wanted to be an example graphics’ student, technique will always be only technique. Technique that was available and mastered at that time and which helps to create and creates a space for artistic (self-) expression.

At the moment, all objects that I create are always changing. Maybe there is less graphics left and more photography, sculptural objects, sound/image experiments appear (by using various materials). The most important object of expression in my art is the human body. However, I don’t want to forget graphics or drawing completely.

METAMORPHOSIS: CONTEMPORARY CONVERSATIONS AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY

Written by Nathan Gotlib

London, 24th July - So I had read about this exhibition in the newspapers and I happened to be in town to go and see the BP Portrait Awards 2012 (the show I try and go to every year, exquisite display of skill and draughtsmanship with an ever-increasing lack of content and concept). As the National Gallery is literally just around the corner, I thought I might as well have a look.

The exhibition features work by three contemporary artists: Mark Wallinger, Chris Ofili and Conrad Shawcross. All the work has been inspired by three paintings by Titian. The pinnacle of the work was the ballet performance at the Royal Opera House, a project all the artists worked on together with the Royal Ballet in response to Titan’s work.

HENRIK VIBSKOV - MAKING ART FASHIONABLE

Photo from the book "Henrik Vibskov"

Written by Barbara Mal

I’ve been doing music only probably for 14 years or something and I was like: “Hey, I need to do something. I need some more” – Henrik Vibskov unveiled with a petite smirk in his interview. Henrik Vibskov grew up in the middle of the countryside of Jutland, Denmark. He graduated from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, and now engages in visual art, music and fashion from his base in Copenhagen. He is not just a fashion designer and crowning him with no more than a single coronet would probably be a vast underestimation. Multi-talented individual that is the avant-gardist of the new generation actually fashions the art itself.

Making Bad Art and Getting Away With it - Damien Hirst

Photo: Oli Scarff Getty Images

Written by Hatty Nestor

The discussion and criticism Damien Hirst has generated, whether you like his work or not, cannot be ignored. His ironic statements and dismal pieces have attracted collectors and dealers for years. Some may argue he is even morally vacuous within the auctioning house. His current retrospective at the Tate doesn’t disappoint in the variety of reviews from critics across the broad. Many of these critics have looked unfavourably upon it, or upon Hirst and the agenda he promotes to the public. The philosophical eccentricities of his pieces cannot be denied, but the extravagance of his work and the money behind it is a factor I always find incomprehensible. I’m always seeking new ways of finding integrity within his work, but so far I’ve had no luck.

Picture Tells... web app made by Art Pit

'Picture Tells...' is an experimental web app which in near future will help you discover new exciting things through art. At this point we have some interesting stories to tell about each image you choose and some insights for you to share with your friends. What we ask of you is just to look at your friends and interests and associate them with the image you subconsciously felt related to.

Working in arts and especially visual arts we started to believe that pictures not only tell a thousand words, but reveal connections amongst human beings on deeper emotional level. At ArtPit (www.artpit.org) we learned that certain people drawn to the same visual information have a lot in common. No surprises here you think, but what will happen if we try this on a bigger scale. Thats why we built this app. It will expand and we will notify you as soon as we reach second stage. We are public organisation and we promise that we will not misuse information you share with us. Thank you!

P.S. Special thanks goes to Deimante Tamutyte and Kristina Alijosiute for helping with visual stories.

ICA's ART DRIVE BMW Car Collection

Photographer: Kieron Lee

Take a luxury car. Add world famous artist. What do you get? The ICA BMW Art Drive Exhibition starring 17 conceptually designed cars all under one roof, well 6 roofs, but who's counting?

Poster as a Piece of Art, Eric Nyffeler

Handmade press and silkscreen print enthusiasts and lovers should get closer to their screens now because Eric Nyffeler does that very well. And by that I mean posters… Already without a doubt we can say that we live in a time of indie culture. And I’m going to present to you one of its member and icon, who lives by his dreams.

WANDERLUST showcase by Jane Ward and Reginald S. Aloysius

Written by Barbara Mal

Fresh from the success of their work in Brave New World at London Art Fair 2012, artists Jane Ward and Reginald S. Aloysius have joined forces for the sake of creating a wonderful showcase (called Wanderlust) at Bearspace to a swarm of avid spectators.

Capturing, thought-provoking objects d’art of both Jane Ward and Reginald S. Aloysius made me realize the hidden meaning behind the exhibition’s title, which actually is a strong desire for voyage. Indeed, I felt like I was wandering, with a desire to find out more about artifacts stored in that confined space... Scattered bits and pieces, abstract lines and blurred images through which one could have possibly discovered silhouettes and patterns enchanted mind into the state of trance.

Leanie van der Vyver

http://vimeo.com/45024704

ART CRITICISM - FRIEND OR FOE?

A page from 'Ways of Seeing' by John Berger

Written by Hatty Nestor

“Interpretation is the revenge of the intellectual upon art. ” ― Susan Sontag

Whether obvious or not, we all form opinions from our experiences, these often change, grow, and often become critical. At exhibitions we are presented with obscure leaflets, projected videos, audio tapes or performances. It is inevitable that a subjective opinion will be subconsciously received, hindering and influencing our opinions and experiences. Unfortunately for the majority of us viewers, the information thrust upon us when entering a gallery space is often presented in such a formative manner we do not feel inclined or obliged to question this authority. We are all guilty of accepting and regarding art critics opinions as if it's set in stone.

Press-photographer without a camera, Jean Philippe Delhomme

„Vladimir Kagan“

Fed up with the flow of mass pop illustration I spend more and more time looking for something more mature, unique. Perhaps these words are too serious for this superficial and quite commercial branch of graphics, but without giving prominence to this, it is possible to enrich one‘s mind. Today‘s mood encouraged me to keep away from computer graphics, sweet colors of pop surrealism, also the softness and excellence of the Japanese kidult lines, whose infinite assortment is thrusted to us by the mirror of our times - the internet. I wanted something playful, natural and then the illustration above came to my mind, whose author already almost 30 years (if not more) with a pencil and a brush, with mild strokes tells about ironic lives of (usually famous) people.

Africa and expressive design

Most of the time when we talk about art, we think of the western world, with its glamour, luxurious museums and sophisticated people. What associations would someone think of after hearing the word Africa? First of all, we probably think about exotica, palms and vacations, and then about poverty, starving children and other bad things of the world. Just recently Milan was stormed by a week of design and Africa was introduced to the public from a totally different perspective – there were loads of bright colors and curlicued patterns, it was a chance to see and evaluate Africa’s artists from different fields. The artists from the western world introduced their creations besides them. Inspired by the African motives, high class textile and patterns they created innovative and modern furniture and installations. And we shall admire them this time.

Mel Kadel from a tree house

"What you see from a tree"

This week has been immensely successful to me, as I came across some really fine artists, among who there are some of my favourite kind - illustrators. Today I present works of a girl from Los Angeles for you to gaze upon, which have fascinated me straightaway. I hope you will like them,too.

ARCHITECT'S BROTHER: THE ONGOING JOURNEY OF ROBERT AND SHANA PARKEHARRISON

Procession

Written by Lorna Barnshaw

What is about to commence is a series of beautiful and fascinating works by the artist couple Robert and Shana Parkeharrison. They have been a huge inspiration to me, illustrating the wonders of film photography and creative development, so today I wish to share them with you.

THE CONCRETE JUNGLE REIMAGINED

Written by Clare Fisher

Bold Tendencies Sculpture Project 6, upper levels, Peckham Multi-storey car park

If the words ‘multi-storey car park’ make you wrinkle your nose at the thought of petrol and piss, then go down (or up, or sideways) to Peckham. Follow the red painted line past the butchers and hair extension shops, to the car park. Walk up the stairs – which do wreak, I have to admit – to… some pretty interesting sculptures.

YOKO ONO "TO THE LIGHT" AT SERPENTINE GALLERY

Wish Trees 2012, photograph by Rosemary Marchant

Written by Rosemary Marchant

Until recently I had always thought of Yoko Ono as John Lennon’s wife who happened to be an artist, rather than as an interesting and influential artist in her own right. Her relationship with Lennon undoubtedly fuels people’s interest in her work and walking into the Serpentine to hear Lennon’s Imagine being played in the background emphasises this. Of course the tragedy of Lennon’s death influenced Ono’s work. But hearing the song made me begin to wonder if Yoko Ono really has been able to escape Lennon’s shadow, and if she even wants to.