A Contemporary take on Modern Art

While "Enjoying" modern art on the Internet, (and may I add much less stressful than in the classroom) I stumbled across the website of the The Grounds For Sculpture which is an outdoor sculpture museum located in Hamilton, NJ. In any case they have some sculptures that are a different take on some of the art we are currently studying. Here is a sculpture based on Manet's The Luncheon on the Grass. The artist, Seward Johnson, named his sculpture Dejeuner Deja Vu.

Another interesting sculpture is Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party.

Here is a picture of the original painting and then a picture of the sculpture titled Were you invited? by the same artist as above (Seward Johnson).

Georges Braque

Cubism was a 20th century avant-garde art movement, pioneered by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque, that revolutionized European painting and sculpture, and inspired related movements in music and literature. The first branch of cubism, known as 'Analytic Cubism,' was both radical and influential as a short but highly significant art movement between 1907 and 1911 in France. In its second phase, Synthetic Cubism, (using synthetic materials in the art) the movement spread and remained vital until around 1919, when the Surrealist movement gained popularity.

I like this one. 'Women with a guitar' 1913

This is a neat example of pointalism: An Incoming Storm, 1907-08, a painting by Henri Edmond Cross.

Portrait of Susanna Lunden By: Peter Paul Rubens

The Giclee printing process delivers a fine stream of ink resulting in vivid , pure color and eceptional detail that is suitable for museum or gallery display. This art print is produced on a heavy 310 gsm, acid-free and watercolor textured paper.

"A Girl" by Ron Mueck (2006)

Mueck moved on to establish his own company in London, making photo-realistic props and animatronics for the advertising industry. Although highly detailed, these props were usually designed to be photographed from one specific angle hiding the mess of construction seen from the other side. Mueck increasingly wanted to produce realistic sculptures which looked perfect from all angles.

In 1996 Mueck transitioned to fine art, collaborating with his mother-in-law, Paula Rego, to produce small figures as part of a tableau she was showing at the Hayward Gallery. Rego introduced him to Charles Saatchi who was immediately impressed and started to collect and commission work. This led to the piece which made Mueck's name, Dead Dad, being included in the Sensation show at the Royal Academy the following year. Dead Dad is a rather haunting silicone and mixed media sculpture of the corpse of Mueck's father reduced to about two thirds of its natural scale. It is the only work of Mueck's that uses his own hair for the finished product.

Mueck's sculptures faithfully reproduce the minute detail of the human body, but play with scale to produce disconcertingly jarring visual images. His five metre high sculpture Boy 1999 was a feature in the Millennium Dome and later exhibited in the Venice Biennale.

Since we are learning of Van Gogh, I wanted to show some of the paintings for which he is famous for, with Starry Night on the bottom being one of his most popular. I chose these specifically because I like how the stars are so different but still stand out in each painting.

The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum ...
Vincent Van Gogh

Starry Night over the Rhone, c. 1888
Vincent Van Gogh

Starry Night, c. 1889
Vincent Van Gogh

“There are two ways of thinking about painting, how not to do it and how to do it: how to do it - with much drawing and little colour; how not to do it - with much colour and little drawing."

-Van Gogh

A lot of people ask questions what truly is art. Is it anything at all or just some idea of art. Then other raise a question what is tasteful art or fine art. Then others say its commercial art or fashion and use the term art loosely. Which brings me to a real question if it is in a gallery or museum is it really art or did some just pay to have it there by there expressions or views. I thought of this question when i seen this image of three canvas in museum in Europe. This is why people believe art can be anything or is it just a joke to what someone believes to be art. I'd like to think art is something that is enjoyable or good entertainment or expression of the artist not three blank canvas that simple anyone with money or the know how could paint for example. How can this be art.

When i visited Dia Beacon this is what I enjoyed the most!

Richard Serra: Torqued Spirals, Toruses and Spheres

David Mac Innes

A contemporary artist whose work that I recently found enjoying is David Mac Innes, he's based out of CA. at Palos Verdes Art Center, Rancho Palos Verdes. Here's a link to his slideshow http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/m/macinnes/ two of his prints that I kike the best are "The Psycho-Analyst" & "The Pears are Mad at You". In his other work I like his use of color.

Murakami

A contemporary artist whose work that I recently started enjoying is Takashi Murakami. He is considered by many to be the Japanese equivalent of Andy Warhol. I took this picture (right) at a recent display of his work at the Brooklyn Museum. Murakami is highly criticized for the massive commercialization of his work. He has turned his artwork into anything that can make money. Stuffed Animals, Key Chains, Mouse Pads, Sculptures, T-Shirts and maybe some of his most well known work is his designs which inspired a line of Louis Vuitton handbags. Murakami was also commissioned by Kanye West to do the cover artwork for his album Graduation (pictured below). Murakami also produced the music video for "Good Morning" from the same album.
You can check out the video on YouTube









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