Thursday, March 25th, 2010
Zbigniew Libera’s
LEGO Concentration Camp, 1996
Next week my new students will learn a little bit about Zbigniew Libera’s project
LEGO Concentration Camp (1996). Libera worked with the LEGO corporation to create a seven box set of different buildings within a concentration camp. Although much of the set contained LEGO materials, some of the faces of the guards and prisoners were manipulated with paint (to suggest expressions of sadness or glee). The last box of the set was full of personal objects and possessions, inspired by the loots that were taken from prisoners during the period.
Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of controversy around this project. You can read a little bit more about the controversy and background of the project in this article (start about 1/3 of the way down the page). Even LEGO launched legal complaints against the artist.
In some ways, it seems like “anything goes” in relation to contemporary art, especially when it comes to readymade/found objects. Today artists seem to scramble for any kind of readymade/found object that hasn’t been used (or hasn’t been used in a certain way). Libera’s work is an example of how nothing can be considered taboo in the contemporary art scene, not only in its readymade medium but also in subject matter.
What do you think of Libera’s work and idea? To be honest, I haven’t completely made up my own mind. I fluctuate between being offended and feeling that Libera is bringing attention to the Holocaust in a creative way. The thing I don’t like to envision, though, is the possibility of little children playing with a LEGO set like this one. And I think that reminder of childhood innocence is part of Libera’s point.
(e, I know that Libera’s sets were only available in a limited edition. Does the Holocaust Museum own any of the sets?)
Sunday, February 21st, 2010
Apparently I’m out-of-touch with the British contemporary art scene. Last night I was watching a clip from Simon Schama’s “Power of Art” series (don’t hate me, heidenkind!), and Schama mentioned that the artist Howard Hodgkin is of Van Gogh’s “progeny” (in terms of Expressionism).
I had to rewind the DVD – Howard who?
Howard Hodgkin. You know, one of the foremost British painters today. [Silence.]
So, in order to educate myself, I looked up some of Hodgkin’s work this evening. Part of me wonders if I have seen his stuff before, since he has painted scenery for the Mark Morris Dance Group. Anyhow, here are some of Hodgkin’s paintings that I particularly liked:
Howard Hodgkin,
Night and Day, 1997-99
This painting was exhibited in 2006 with an
exhibition of Hodgkin’s work at the Tate Modern
Howard Hodgkin, Memories, 1997-99
You can read more about this painting here. I think it’s particularly interesting that Hodgkin often paints his frames (in addition to the canvas). I think this can tie into interesting ideas about objecthood and subjecthood, particuarly since the frame is no longer “containing” or “highlighting” the painting – it is part of the painting itself.
Howard Hodgkin, Curtain, 2002-07
I like this painting because it makes me think, “What would happen if you combined a Rothko painting with Edward Munch’s The Scream?” And I also like the bits of blue that peek out from underneath the black swath of color.
Have you heard of Hodgkin before? Which of his works do you particularly like?
Monday, January 4th, 2010
If someone asked me to guess American Idol judge Simon Cowell’s taste in art, I probably would have named something sensible, marketable, and creative – maybe some work by an abstract expressionist painter like Morris Louis. But my guess would have been way off.
Cowell, who reportedly is a secret art collector, is known to be a fan of the Impressionist painter Degas and the graffiti artist
Banksy (yikes – what a combination!). I just read
here that for Christmas this year, Cowell received a commissioned work by Banksy – and the painting is a remake of Degas’
The Rehearsal of the Ballet Onstage (c. 1874, shown above).
Apparently, in this Bansky commission, Cowell has been painted in the scene as the ballet master.
Gulp. I like Degas, but I really question how this Banksy commission turned out. It sounds rather horrific.
So what kind of critique did Cowell give his Christmas present? According to sources, the judge looked at the painting and immediately called it “hilarious.” What a news flash – I guess Simon Cowell has a sense of humor! And in true Cowell fashion, this is an expensive sense of humor: this “hilarious” painting is estimated to cost $800,000. That’s a lot of money for a joke.
Thursday, December 24th, 2009
Christmas art = a smorgasbord. There is so much art associated with Christmas. I would bet there there are over a million different depictions that are associated with the biblical Christmas story. Here are a couple of pieces of Christmas art that I particularly like:
Jan van Eyck,
The Annunciation, c. 1435
My favorite thing about this painting: the awesome rainbow wings on the angel Gabriel. I also love the that Gothic and Renaissance references are combined in the same architectural setting, references the Old and New Testament.
Georges de la Tour,
Adoration of the Shepherds, c. 1644
I particularly love the hand on the right which covers up a candle. Sigh – tenebristic lighting is awesome. I also love the adoring expression of the man on the right.
Brian Kershisnik,
Nativity, 2006
You HAVE to click on the image above to see all of the details in this painting. I saw
Nativity a few years ago, soon after it was completed. This painting is HUGE (about 7′ x 17′), and the viewer can’t help but feel swept into the swarm of angels that swoop around the Holy Family. It’s quite moving.
Do you have a favorite piece of Christmas art?
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Friday, December 11th, 2009
Look closely at this photograph – can you see the man who blends into the background? That man is the artist Liu Bolin. He paints himself to “hide” within his photographs. I just watched this interesting newsclip about Bolin and his work. I think it’s pretty creative stuff. You can read more about the ideology that underlies Bolin’s art (and see more pictures of his work) in this article.
I like how these photographs emphasize the idea that a person is affected by his/her surroundings. I latch onto that idea more than any of the political ideas that influence Bolin, although I think that his artistic/political protest makes sense.
What do you think?
Zbigniew Libera’s LEGO Concentration Camp, 1996
