The Great Art Debate

[Harry Genshaw]

Designed by Le Corbusier no less

..and sold by Vance Miller

[TANGODANCER]

Been looking at some works by an artist from India. Terrific watercolour artist with a very unfortunate name. Fortunately, he hasn't painted Reading to the best of my knowlege, although Dan may be disappointed. His name (I kid you not) is Vikram D. Shitole..

[William the White]

Now, I happen to know that Bruce spent six hours in MOMA, and they had to throw him out 20 minutes after the official closing time, so enthusiastically was he enjoying the modern art in new York experience...

So far he has, predictably, posted 'modern art is a pile of shite' snippets.

So, what kept you in there until past closing time then? (is there a drumming fingers on desk smiley?)

It has a bar.

Does it have any Picasso?

[Bruce Rioja]

Now, I happen to know that Bruce spent six hours in MOMA, and they had to throw him out 20 minutes after the official closing time, so enthusiastically was he enjoying the modern art in new York experience...

So far he has, predictably, posted 'modern art is a pile of shite' snippets.

So, what kept you in there until past closing time then? (is there a drumming fingers on desk smiley?)

It has a bar.

Does it have any Picasso?

A truly magnificent 1910, among others.

[William the White]

I went to Manchester Art Gallery this afternoon to catch this exhibition:

http://www.manchestergalleriestimemachine.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It is stunning in its scale, ambition, exuberance.

Unmissable for art lovers in the region. A joy. I was walking round with a huge grin on my face all afternoon.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I went to the Martin Creed exhibition today. Smiled all the way round. When I talk about Tate Modern being a grim and unrewarding place to take kids, this was the polar opposite.

What are adults to make of it? I've not read a review that hits the spot - and the misplaced earnestness of the catalogue certainly doesn't.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Matisse Cut Outs at Tate Modern - brilliant, uplifting, life-affirming stuff. And all achieved when Matisse was older than Tango!

[TANGODANCER]

Matisse Cut Outs at Tate Modern - brilliant, uplifting, life-affirming stuff. And all achieved when Matisse was older than Tango!

He was 37?.... .

Actually thought about you yesterday. I watched and listened to a video
on Singer Sargent's watercolours. Lasted over an hour and was quite interesting except for the constant murdering of the words " wadder...and waddercolour by the two American females in the discussion.

You might find this interesting too: https://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/john-si ... atercolors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Matisse Cut Outs at Tate Modern - brilliant, uplifting, life-affirming stuff. And all achieved when Matisse was older than Tango!

He was 37?.... .

Actually thought about you yesterday. I watched and listened to a video
on Singer Sargent's watercolours. Lasted over an hour and was quite interesting except for the constant murdering of the words " wadder...and waddercolour by the two American females in the discussion.

You might find this interesting too: https://www.mfa.org/exhibitions/john-si ... atercolors" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

He did achieve some amazing things with a medium which is not usually my thing, as you know.

I do think it makes a big difference to work with the 'opaque' watercolours that JSS used, as opposed to the ordinary translucent watercolours on their own.

[William the White]

Matisse Cut Outs at Tate Modern - brilliant, uplifting, life-affirming stuff. And all achieved when Matisse was older than Tango!

It is on our list to catch over summer.

Thinking of one of first 2 weekends in June and would like to catch your curated exhibition then. Are you about?

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Matisse Cut Outs at Tate Modern - brilliant, uplifting, life-affirming stuff. And all achieved when Matisse was older than Tango!

It is on our list to catch over summer.

Thinking of one of first 2 weekends in June and would like to catch your curated exhibition then. Are you about?

No plans to be away at the moment!

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Three excellent finalists for the BP Portrait Award. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27065082" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Bruce Rioja]

Three excellent finalists for the BP Portrait Award. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27065082" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

L -R. 3 -2 -1.

[thebish]

Three excellent finalists for the BP Portrait Award. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27065082" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the David Jon Kassan...

the homeless guy - I get that he says he is depicting him like a saint/nobleman - I presume he means in the narrow panels of a church triptych or summat similar... but as it is it is like those photos that look bad because they are badly cropped - the subject is trapped/cramped by the frame... it looks awkward to my eye...

[TANGODANCER]

All have merit in different ways for me. Homeless guy well done but too clean, posed and cosy-looking, something you definitely wouldn't find in a homeless guy on the street. I can understand the equality concept, but the same could have applied more realistically.
The mother sentiment is nice in concept and sentiment, and skilled in execution. Probably the best by a stretch.
The other....nothing jumps out at me. Probably no better than many of the other entries.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Three excellent finalists for the BP Portrait Award. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-27065082" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I like the David Jon Kassan...

the homeless guy - I get that he says he is depicting him like a saint/nobleman - I presume he means in the narrow panels of a church triptych or summat similar... but as it is it is like those photos that look bad because they are badly cropped - the subject is trapped/cramped by the frame... it looks awkward to my eye...

Yes - for me the homeless guy is the weakest one too. Interesting (if not totally original) idea, but I'm not sure about the execution - insofar as it's sensible to pass comment on that given the tiny picture.

[TANGODANCER]

I'm having trouble with the whole homeless guy idea. I think the artist has created a bit of a bear trap. Is he just showing the man in a heavenly version of equality, ie a better quality blanket, new anorak and a hot coup of coffee, but still a homeless guy rather than a total equal to all others? Some equality there I think not.

In that light, I don't see the equality idea at all, or the concept even. Painting a homeless man as a subject, great, but surely inspired by what the artist saw initially, a homeless man in poverty. Why not paint that, maybe in half portrait showing the weariness and suffering of the man in his own environ? To be equal to others doesn't mean getting a better cardboard box, surely?

[thebish]

I'm having trouble with the whole homeless guy idea. I think the artist has created a bit of a bear trap. Is he just showing the man in a heavenly version of equality, ie a better quality blanket, new anorak and a hot coup of coffee, but still a homeless guy rather than a total equal to all others? Some equality there I think not.

In that light, I don't see the equality idea at all, or the concept even. Painting a homeless man as a subject, great, but surely inspired by what the artist saw initially, a homeless man in poverty. Why not paint that, maybe in half portrait showing the weariness and suffering of the man in his own environ? To be equal to others doesn't mean getting a better cardboard box, surely?

I don't think he's going for an idea of "equality" or a homeless guy being a total equal of anyone... I may be wrong, but I haven't seen the artist say that anywhere.

what he says he's done (in the short description that mummy links to) is say that he wants to portray the guy as deserving of respect and care... he doesn't say exactly how he has tried to portray that - but that's what he says he's trying to do...

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Agreed - I don't think it's about 'equality' - just a nudge to 'look again' at a person you might ordinarily ignore, because your eye has (or may have) been tricked into recognising the visual language of the Byzantine icon.

[TANGODANCER]

Mummy said:

Agreed - I don't think it's about 'equality' - just a nudge to 'look again' at a person you might ordinarily ignore, because your eye has (or may have) been tricked into recognising the visual language of the Byzantine icon.

Oh dear. Byzantine icons is it? Fair enough then.