Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wall, 'Seizure' by Roger Hiorns
Artangel are reopening Roger Hiorns 'Seizure' in Newington. It was originally open before Christmas so at least now as you queue for three hours to see it the weather will be warm and you can try for heatstroke instead of frostbite.
I must say I wasn't that impressed when I went to see it, not least because Hiorns copper sulphate solution budget ran out after doing what was probably the bedroom and the bathroom leaving the large main room and kitchen untouched, also that the rooms had been emptied of furniture before all this so visitors were looking at crystals growing on bare walls. Sure it's pretty and you have to admire the process but it was somewhat underwhelming and I doubt time has added much to the charm.
I must say I wasn't that impressed when I went to see it, not least because Hiorns copper sulphate solution budget ran out after doing what was probably the bedroom and the bathroom leaving the large main room and kitchen untouched, also that the rooms had been emptied of furniture before all this so visitors were looking at crystals growing on bare walls. Sure it's pretty and you have to admire the process but it was somewhat underwhelming and I doubt time has added much to the charm.
Labels: art, artists, Flickr, London
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, September 28, 2008
This made me angry. "I'm a man trying on make-up, oh noes, I hope this doesn't make me lose my balls AND become an gay!"
This made me happy. Many of yesterday's lots were withdrawn after failing to reach their reserve. Collectors who recently paid six-figure sums for Banksy's subversive and cheeky stencilled works will also be nervously looking over their shoulders after experts claimed his poor showing yesterday meant the bottom had fallen out of his market... Other dealers were less forgiving. "He's just destroyed his own market," one said. "These works are cast iron Banksy. There is no doubt about it. Banksy's people object to Vermin and refuse to authenticate them themselves. Maybe he wanted to do it on purpose. But they are bad business people and very difficult and awkward to deal with."
I'm sure Banksy will be weeping at the prospect of it all being over.
This made me happy. Many of yesterday's lots were withdrawn after failing to reach their reserve. Collectors who recently paid six-figure sums for Banksy's subversive and cheeky stencilled works will also be nervously looking over their shoulders after experts claimed his poor showing yesterday meant the bottom had fallen out of his market... Other dealers were less forgiving. "He's just destroyed his own market," one said. "These works are cast iron Banksy. There is no doubt about it. Banksy's people object to Vermin and refuse to authenticate them themselves. Maybe he wanted to do it on purpose. But they are bad business people and very difficult and awkward to deal with."
I'm sure Banksy will be weeping at the prospect of it all being over.
Labels: art, artists, Banksy, masculinism, newspapers
Monday, June 23, 2008
Banksy is So Mainstream
I was in the Tate Modern Shop the other day, buying a Scanner CD. At the till I noticed that someone has produced a walking guide, for those people who like to troll around Brighton and Shoreditch, looking for Banksy graffiti in it's natural habitat. As I was buying two elderly ladies came up behind me, they also noticed the Banksy guide. "Oh Banksy, I do like his work. I think he's wonderful, don't you?" said one O.A.P. to the other.
Labels: art, artists, humour, Tate Modern/Britain
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Kulchur
More to come, including part two of 'why comics are shit', but my family is coming up to London with the mistaken belief that I was aware they were going to do so, so I have to leave in half an hour to go meet them at one of the few stations which are open to both train and tube this weekend.
For now, just a quick note on Derek, the film by Isaac Julien about Derek Jarman. It's very good, I could have happily sat through something that was twice the length so it didn't feel quite so rushed. I could have done without the shots of Tilda Swinton walking through modern-day London talking about how boring it all is these days, as though you couldn't move in eighties London for laudanum and bumming. Tilda, you want to talk about boring films? You did Vanilla Sky and Constantine, so please be quiet.
You can see Derek and Blue at the Serpentine Gallery exhibition, though be prepared to go for a walk around the Park if you miss the times they are showing the film. Annoyingly they don't have this up on the website and while the dozen or so pieces of Jarman's art are good, I doubt they can hold your attention for the hour or more you may have to wait.
For now, just a quick note on Derek, the film by Isaac Julien about Derek Jarman. It's very good, I could have happily sat through something that was twice the length so it didn't feel quite so rushed. I could have done without the shots of Tilda Swinton walking through modern-day London talking about how boring it all is these days, as though you couldn't move in eighties London for laudanum and bumming. Tilda, you want to talk about boring films? You did Vanilla Sky and Constantine, so please be quiet.
You can see Derek and Blue at the Serpentine Gallery exhibition, though be prepared to go for a walk around the Park if you miss the times they are showing the film. Annoyingly they don't have this up on the website and while the dozen or so pieces of Jarman's art are good, I doubt they can hold your attention for the hour or more you may have to wait.
Labels: art, artists, gay, London, queer, Serpentine Gallery
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
I went to the National Gallery to check out the mock-ups of the short-list of entrants for the next round of exhibitions for the Fourth Plinth. It is somewhat of a mixed bag.
Yinka Shonibare's 'Nelson's Ship in a Bottle' is probably my least favourite of the offerings, though I can't say exactly what it is I dislike about it, possibly it's kitschness. If it were made I'd be interested to see how they construct such a large ship in a bottle.
Tracey Emin's 'Something for the Future' has been getting some "OMG! Meerkats! Am Ded From Cyute!" reactions from people who have seen pictures but I find that while I like it I wouldn't want it as a Fourth Plinth, not least for it not addressing the space in any way, the rest of it being kept empty and the Meerkats themselves being quite small.
Jeremy Deller's 'The Spoils of War' bores me with it's crushing obviousness and is in with a chance if the judge's for the Fourth Plinth react to mentions of the Iraq War in the same way that Oscars judges do to an actor playing someone dying of a terminal disease.
I do like the idea of Antony Gormley's 'One And Another', where the exhibit is the people of London standing up there for an hour. I suspect H&S concerns will scupper this one though. It is quite high.
My favourite two though are 'Faîtes L’Art, pas La Guerre (Make Art, Not War)' by Bob and Roberta Smith, a solar/wind powered electric light display (though I must admit, it does feel, looking at the model, as though it should do something else, one side and the back are bare of activity),
and Anish Kapoor's 'Sky Plinth', with it's large reflective dishes.
There are cards at the National Gallery for people to express their opinions as to which are their favourite, or they can use the website. Regardless of which gets picked the Evening Standard will complain so the job is half-done.
Yinka Shonibare's 'Nelson's Ship in a Bottle' is probably my least favourite of the offerings, though I can't say exactly what it is I dislike about it, possibly it's kitschness. If it were made I'd be interested to see how they construct such a large ship in a bottle.Tracey Emin's 'Something for the Future' has been getting some "OMG! Meerkats! Am Ded From Cyute!" reactions from people who have seen pictures but I find that while I like it I wouldn't want it as a Fourth Plinth, not least for it not addressing the space in any way, the rest of it being kept empty and the Meerkats themselves being quite small.
Jeremy Deller's 'The Spoils of War' bores me with it's crushing obviousness and is in with a chance if the judge's for the Fourth Plinth react to mentions of the Iraq War in the same way that Oscars judges do to an actor playing someone dying of a terminal disease.I do like the idea of Antony Gormley's 'One And Another', where the exhibit is the people of London standing up there for an hour. I suspect H&S concerns will scupper this one though. It is quite high.
My favourite two though are 'Faîtes L’Art, pas La Guerre (Make Art, Not War)' by Bob and Roberta Smith, a solar/wind powered electric light display (though I must admit, it does feel, looking at the model, as though it should do something else, one side and the back are bare of activity),
and Anish Kapoor's 'Sky Plinth', with it's large reflective dishes.There are cards at the National Gallery for people to express their opinions as to which are their favourite, or they can use the website. Regardless of which gets picked the Evening Standard will complain so the job is half-done.
Labels: art, artists, Flickr, Fourth Plinth, London, Trafalgar Square
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
23rd February to 13th April: Derek Jarman curated by Isaac Julien at the Serpentine Gallery. Here's Isaac Julien on Wikipedia. Never really cared for anything the Serpentine Gallery have done before but there's always a first time.
