Art..?

I enjoy almost all the art I manage to see. Whether I could live with a piece of art is a different matter. I think visual art, like music, has the potential to be very important because it can inspire profound thought & realisation.

I'm also a fan of Banksy, Gordon. I enjoy his social observation & humour. I consider myself very lucky to own two of his works.




Stop & Search




Nola


These are both signed limited edition prints from POW, sadly not original works.




This poster, from the recent Bristol show, made me smile.



This book is well worth seeking out. You can judge it by the cover. On the back - "There is no way you're going to get a quote from us to use on your book cover." - Metropolitan Police




Delphinium by Dan Bennett

This is my most recent art treat, & has just been hung.
A very different style of art compared to Banksy!


Criag

I have a kind of split personality about Banksy, I thnk my biggest criticism of his work would be that he isn't subtle; the imagery is brutually uncomplicated, but that is also the reason I like it?

A case in point would be this excellent image...



The imagery is oversimplified but boy does it work!

For those who are not familiar, this is Mickey Mouse & Ronald McDonald, the two greatest icons of American consumerism literally holding hands with Kim Phuc who was nepalmed in Vietnam during an US American air attack on 8 June 1972. The mixture of ignited gasoline and cattle blood had burned the clothes from her body.

For anyone interested there is wonderful program currently showing on Sky Arts/Sky Arts HD featuring my hero Tim Marlow entitled 'Tim Marlow Meets'.

The basic premise is Art historian Tim Marlow meets Paul Smith; Mike Leigh; Renée Fleming; Tony Bennett and Michael Palin. The stars then discuss the Art that has influenced their lives and careers.

The show works wonderfully because Marlow, who is unimaginably informed on the subject of Art, allows his guests to just talk. Rarely does he interupt and never does he correct. The enthusiasm is infectious.

Recommended by me.

Excellent post Criag (is that how you spell your name or just a typo?) and welcome to the funhouse!

quote:

This book is well worth seeking out. You can judge it by the cover.

I will let the obvious reply slide...

Congrats on acquiring the prints.

I don't share Bennett's interest in phosphenes to be honest, just not my cup of tea. I think he has a local (he lives in the Hove area) exhibition coming up early October in Brighton which I'm sure would be worth a visit.

Can't get on with Banksy I'm afraid.

There's a tedious ubiquity about his work, and he bludgeons meaning (some of his metaphors wouldn't look out of place on one of Roger Waters' 1980s solo albums, that's how clumsy it is).

I also find his art knowing to the point of smarminess, and thus redundant as social commentary.

And as a conceptualist and cultural commentator, he's not fit to lace Marcel Duchamp's boots.

Sorry! Still at least Banksy's better that Hirst, Turk and that tedious gobshite Emin.

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin-W:
...that tedious gobshite Emin.

On that we agree.

We saw this lady's work at Dyrham Park near Bath on Saturday and it just hit the spot....



Joanne Cope

Jono

Voltaire,

In one of the earlier entries on this thread you posted two pictures as "favourites" - could you please give some more details on them, particularly the second one which, in small screen resolution looks like a wintry scene in the graveyard of a ruined church.

Sorry if these are well known but it is the only way to learn!

HAve a good day

Ron

Ron they are by

quote:

Caspar David Friedrich (September 5, 1774 – May 7, 1840) was a 19th-century German Romantic landscape painter, generally considered the most important of the movement. He is best known for his mid-period allegorical landscapes which typically feature contemplative figures silhouetted against night skies, morning mists, barren trees or Gothic ruins. His primary interest as an artist was the contemplation of nature, and his often symbolic and anti-classical work seeks to convey a subjective, emotional response to the natural world. Friedrich's work characteristically sets the human element in diminished perspective amid expansive landscapes, reducing the figures to a scale that, according to the art historian Christopher John Murray, directs "the viewer's gaze towards their metaphysical dimension".

This first is 'The Abbey in the Oakwood' (1808–10). 110.4 × 171 cm. Alte Nationalgalerie, Berlin. This painting has been described as like "a scene from a horror movie, it [forebears] all the Gothic clichés of the late 18th and early 19th centuries".

The second is 'Cloister Cemetery in the Snow' 1817-19, oil on canvas, 121 x 170 cm which was tragically destroyed in 1945 in Berlin.

Gordon

PS-a search of his name on Google images will reveal some wonderful images.

I've always been a fan of Andy Warhol, and a couple of years ago had the opportunity to buy a signed and numbered silkscreen print (I got a bonus and figured as well as something beautiful to look at, it was a better investment than putting the money in the bank).

It's a print of Kimiko Powers, a famous art dealer and friend of Warhol.




A friend bought me this Nick Walker print which always amuses visitors!

Voltaire,

Thanks for the info on DFC. Not my usual cup of java but there was just something about "Cloister Cemetary In The Snow" that grabbed me.The Google images search was worthwhile too.

Regards

Ron

quote:

JohanR- I am not familiar with that artist but that example is striking...any further info on the artist?
Gordon

Vilhelm Jakob "Mosse" Stoopendaal, born 12 febr 1901 in Södertälje, dead 16 januari 1948.
He is considered the second Swedish painter of wildlife after Bruno Liljefors.

The reason I have paintings of him is that my father knew Mosse, I think he once said that he got the paintings as presents from the artist. My brother has a couple more.

Some more by Mosse:

http://www.artnet.com/artist/6...sse-stoopendaal.html

JohanR

quote:

Excellent post Criag (is that how you spell your name or just a typo?) and welcome to the funhouse!

Very kind of you Gordon, thanks. That was a trypoo.

I was fortunate to get the Banksy prints. I say that, but perhaps 'deeply sad' is more truthful, as I spent 14 hours a day for two weeks reloading the POW website for S&S. Nola was relatively painless six hours, & all in a single day.

I spend a lot of time outside & in the garden, so Dan Bennett's subject matter is close to my heart.
With hindsight I realise the jpeg I posted is completely unrepresentitive of the piece. The picture is 100cm x 150cm, & has multiple layers with complex textures.
He is based in Hove, so if you've not seem his work I recommend a peek.



Trolleys is my favourite Banksy. Although I spent a similar amount of time trying for it as I did for for S&S, I missed out. POW now operate a lottery for Banksy prints. Anyone interested can register for free, & get an equal chance. POW charge around of 10% of the market value when they (very occasionally) release his work.

quote:

Can't get on with Banksy

I take your points Kevin. My interest in Banksy started with his outdoor works. I suspect I would perceive him quite differently if this hadn't of been my introduction. For me it's by far the most significant part of his work.





That’s a deeply gorgeous Warhol, Michael. No doubt a very shrew investment too!

I have enjoyed see some of Emin’s work, but couldn't possibly live with any of them.

Regards - Craig

Gordon / Craig,

I've been watching this thread a while, and while I hate to be negative about anything, I've got to say I loathe Banksy these days - just smug, contrived, infantile, witless... I could go on, but instead I'll hand over to Charlie Brooker, who hates him with a passion: http://www.guardian.co.uk/comm...p/22/arts.visualarts

As Charlie's said previously, it's funny how so many of Banksy's early works appeared around Hoxton, no doubt for the benefit of all the Nathan Barley types, who somehow find his works 'provocative' or 'subversive', and somehow 'now'.

quote:

Originally posted by Jono 13:
We saw this lady's work at Dyrham Park near Bath on Saturday and it just hit the spot....



Joanne Cope

Jono

Jono - similar to these pictures from Andy Shattock. We have one from this series hanging in the house.


http://www.artwrx.net/Animals.htm

quote:

I've been watching this thread a while ...

Hi Chief

I think all opinions are equally valid. For me hearing these views is another part of enjoying art.
I think art only fails when it doesn't provoke a response from the viewer.
What art do you enjoy?

Regards - Craig

P.S. IMO Charlie Brooker is by far the most talentless presenter currently on TV!
To be fair his writing skills are better.

Pleased to see many people into Banksy, my favourites are his rats. As well as his wit he is a great draughtsman.
(I do like Charley Brooker a lot, even if he does not like Banksy).

In general I am a bit more into graphic design than fine art, so a couple of years ago I bought a print from the original artworks by Tomato that went into the making of the album cover for Underworld 'Second Toughest in the Infants'. It is 13 x 4 foot, pretty large. Not to most people's tastes, but it is exactly what I like.

I'll point a camera at it sometime, and post an image.

I also have a couple of other Tomato Underworld posters mounted, a Peter Greenaway film poster. I would really love one of Greenaway's paintings. I could only find the book cover to represent his work, which has detail from a psinting behind the text.


From 'classical' painting, I like Leonardo Da Vinci's anatomical drawings, and many of his paintings.

From more modern art, I love Kasimir Malevich, especially his bleak almost blank canvasses:


I am also a fan Joseph Beuys, but don't think anything of his would go on a wall. I love his lard sculptures, quietly becoming a stain on their display cases in various art galleries. Lard and felt were very important to him as he was a Luftwaffe pilot in the war, and was badly burned when shot down, he was nursed by Tartar tribes people, wrapped in felt, and smeared with lard to ease his burns.

I like his conceptual piece of art for Documenta 7 (1982) "He delivered a large pile of basalt stones. From above one could see that the pile of stones was a large arrow pointing to a single oak tree that he had planted. He announced that the stones should not be moved unless an oak tree was planted in the new location of the stone. 7,000 oak trees were then planted in Kassel, Germany." (Wikipedia)

I think he also said that every city should plant 30 trees, as it would make them more pleasant. I think he is quite right.

I like Russel Mills assemblages, and would happily hang one of those (might be worth a search on the web). If David Carson (designer) ever sells any prints I would like one. Richard Long's stones arrangements, which he photographs. Probably lots of other artists.

I am also fortunate to have quite a paintings by my mother, some of which are rather good, but sadly my father burned all her posters and calligraphy which are what I would have really wanted. I also have a few of my college assemblages around the flat, not in the league of those mentioned, but interesting to keep, especially the one of a rusty axe head and my college ponytail, that gets a few comments.

Those I would not have, any Impressionist painting, most classical realist work (Thomas Gainsborough, John Constable, etc), any super realist airbrush ****. The portraits and landscapes you see in country houses, lots of skill in the brush work, but just so dull.

I would like to make a bonfire consisting of Athena posters from the 1980', at least make a performance piece from them.

Dali I find boring, a friend called him 'The Roger Dean of the 80's', referring to his poster sales. I do like Roger Dean's work, but better in a book, or on a record sleeve, fashionable to dislike at art school, good to like to annoy fashion victims, and rather lovely in their innocence.

Tracy Emin's work I do not like. I thought The KLF / K foundation burning £1,000,000 was pathetic and quite revolting, how many lives could that have saved?

quote:

Originally posted by Chief Chirpa:
...just smug, contrived, infantile, witless... I could go on,

If you are refering to the myth of Banksy the artist then I agree. If you are refering to Banksy's Art then I'm not sure, you maybe right. Is it possible to seperate the Art from the artists? I adore Caravaggio's Art, but by all accounts he was a nutcase who enjoyed orgies, sodomy, murder and possibly beastality*.

When the whole Banksy bandwagon first started in the art community I avoided it, but I now find myself being drawn to some of his pieces. As I have already stated, he is far from subtle or clever or uniquely talented, but I find myself enjoying the primitive chavness of his imagery. Ten years ago I would have been to unwilling to declare an interest in anything so openly naff, but I'm thankfully a little older and wiser now so I'm happy to state that I find some of his work interesting. I also think that a rare few of his pieces are now, and will be in the future, seen as a zeitgiest...rightly or wrongly.

Gordon


* At the risk of sounding like a complete t**t I recommend a fantastic work of fiction by Christopher Peachment...

quote:

Peachment's imagined Caravaggio, while still a child, overhears his parents discussing one of his sketches, and realises he has a talent which sets him apart from the world. He leaves family and home forever to map out a solitary traveller's life. Caravaggio became a revolutionary of his time, a rebellious and dangerous man to know, a man governed by his genius, his indiscriminate sexual appetite and his murderous rage. His name was sought far and wide in the late-Renaissance world for his art. And there was a price on his head for at least one murder. This is Caravaggio's confession, told in humorous, blasphemous, often brutal prose, which cleverly beguiles the reader into understanding the art that was so celebrated and the life that caused so much outrage. Peachment's imagined CARAVAGGIO is a gripping story of one man's determination to grapple with the truth as he journeys through Rome, Naples, Malta and Sicily, encounters lovers and enemies, endures madness, exile and imprisonment, and faces a final showdown with the Vatican Secret Service. His account is poignant and spirited. It is an adventurous and thoroughly enthralling insight into the mind and underbelly of a creative genius and the violent world which inspired his paintings.

My understanding of the artist is not based on this novel...merely embellished!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Dale:
I've always been a fan of Andy Warhol, and a couple of years ago had the opportunity to buy a signed and numbered silkscreen print (I got a bonus and figured as well as something beautiful to look at, it was a better investment than putting the money in the bank).

It's a print of Kimiko Powers, a famous art dealer and friend of Warhol.

Art investment is a funny old game. Art tends to be unaffected by financial or economic trends but severely affected by anticipated value. I don't know how much you paid and I have no desire to know because that's your business. I have a rough idea of todays value and I would say congrats and hold on to it.

quote:

Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
From more modern art, I love Kasimir Malevich, especially his bleak almost blank canvasses:

What a truly fascinating character! Born into an artless world he went on to create his own influences of Art.

quote:

(Malevich)...was a painter and art theoretician, pioneer of geometric abstract art and the originator of the Avant-garde Suprematist movement.

You picked one of the best imho 'Black square'. I don't think that internet sites do the piece justice. I would love to see the orginal. I also like 'White on white'.

For those unaware of the artist I recomend Google and Wikipedia.

Gordon

I've just done a video/sound installation.

It has no video and no sound. Gee I must be a really great artist.

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
I've just done a video/sound installation.

It has no video and no sound. Gee I must be a really great artist.

Chuffing useless e

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
I've just done a video/sound installation.

It has no video and no sound. Gee I must be a really great artist.

Chuffing useless electrician though!

This thread reminds me of a wonderful quote...

quote:

You're confusing product with process. Most people, when they criticize, whether they like it or hate it, they're talking about product. That's not art, that's the result of art. Art, to whatever degree we can get a handle on (I'm not sure that we really can) is a process. It begins in the heart and the mind with the eyes and hands.
Jeff Melvoin, Northern Exposure, Fish Story, 1994

Kandinsky.