Karin Bubaš

Recently I began compulsively watching episodes of The Hills and was struck by the show's mastery of the fabrication of melodrama from commonplace situations. The whole production is so shiny I could not look away. Apparently I am not alone. I found these pastels by Karin Bubas while browsing art blogs today.

Lauren Crying, chalk pastel drawing, 9.5" × 12.5", 2009

Heidi Pouting, chalk pastel drawing, 9.5" × 12.5", 2009

Audrina with Tears, chalk pastel drawing, 9.5" × 12.5", 2009

Spencer, chalk pastel drawing, 9.5" × 12.5", 2009

Source here

One night I was so moved by the same moment depicted above (Heidi Pouting) that I took a photo for later use.

Heartbreaking.

Valerie Belin

I first came across this series by Valerie Belin in Face: The New Photographic Portrait. I was struck by the perfection, beauty, and isolation of the images. She used new faces from Parisian modeling agencies. These works are a departure from a previous series in which she photographed extremely realistic mannequins. Info from the Michael Hoppen Contemporary website. I love how she makes you question whether or not the figures are real. When I saw these I knew they were only because I recognized the first model as Lucien Thomkins because he was becoming successful as a model.

Camilla Akrans for Sisely

It's interesting that this was merely another test shoot for the model but Ms. Belin was making art. Actually there is probably a similar (perhaps smaller) crew involved in her process and in the making of a fashion image.

^I really wish this could be part of my life.

I wonder if Lucien uses Belin's photograph in his portfolio. Would the clients respond to it as art at the castings? The multiple functions of an image is a fascinating and sometimes frustrating aspect of photography.

What Male?

So today I watched the music video for Shakira's new song "She Wolf" and I was struck by how unconcerned she seems with the "Male Gaze". First some theory background from Wikipedia (paraphrased).

In analysing visual culture, the concept of The Gaze describes how the viewer gazes upon (views) the people presented and represented. Feminist theory developed The Gaze in describing the social power relations between women and men — how men gaze at women; how women gaze at themselves; how women gaze at other women; and the effects of these ways of seeing.
In the essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”, Laura Mulvey introduced the concept of The Male Gaze as a feature of power asymmetry. Theoretically, the male gaze has much influenced feminist film theory and communications media studies. In film, the male gaze occurs when the audience is put into the perspective of a heterosexual man. A scene may linger on the curves of a woman's body, for instance. Feminists would argue that such instances are presented in the context closest relating to that of a male, hence its referral to being the Male Gaze.
The theory suggests that male gaze denies women human agency, relegating them to the status of objects, hence, the woman reader and the woman viewer must experience the text's narrative secondarily, by identifying with a man's perspective.

In these videos Shakira seems to objectify herself, contorting and gyrating seemingly for the pleasure if a man. Really Shakira? A cage? But watch closely; look in her eyes. It's like she's looking in a mirror. She put herself in that cage and she's having a blast. It's like performance art or an intense workout. She is so active in contrast to the classic passive role. I can't imagine a man approaching her.

A while ago I stumbled upon this art piece by Oliver Laric that appropriated Mariah Carey's Touch My Body music video and removed all the surroundings to isolate her movements and expressions.

She looks like an idiot and a soft core porn actress. I find this artwork successful because I had a strong reaction to content that I had previously accepted as normal. "Come on and give me what I deserve." Ugh.

Ryan Trecartin

In May I went to see The Genereational: Younger Than Jesus at the New Museum of Contemporary Art. From the New Musuem's website:

For “Younger Than Jesus,” the first edition of “The Generational,” the New Museum’s new signature triennial, fifty artists from twenty-five countries will be presented. The only exhibition of its kind in the United States, “The Generational: Younger Than Jesus” will offer a rich, intricate, multidisciplinary exploration of the work being produced by a new generation of artists born after 1976. Known to demographers, marketers, sociologists, and pundits variously as the Millennials, Generation Y, iGeneration, and Generation Me, this age group has yet to be described in any way beyond their habits of consumption. “Younger Than Jesus” will begin to examine the visual culture this generation has created to date.

More here

A video I took while I was there:

Untitled from Kayode Ojo on Vimeo.

^The girl sleeping is a work in which the artist paid women to take sleeping pills and sleep in the gallery. It may or may not be about feminism or women's role in art, impressionist painters habit of using prostitutes as models, etc. I was really into the redhead museum employee. She has such an interesting look.

The show was insane. I can't really describe it but there was alot of video art and instillation and when I left the world looked different. My favorite art there was definitely the work of Ryan Trecartin. I had never seen anything like it before. The videos were like everything I love/hate about reality TV deeply concerned with the Internet and modern life with wild characters who were entitled, irreverent, superficial and of indescript gender. Usuallly I video art in a gallery or museum doesn't hold my attention but I could not look away from these. Me and my friend had a full day planned so we made the effort to eventually move on. There was a small crowd around the two rooms filled with junk/furniture/sculpture that housed the viewing screens. The critic Jerry Saltz called Trecartin the star of the triennial and I agree. You can watch all of his videos online except for the newest works that were in the New Museum show. Here is I-BE AREA which is my favorite. It's an hour and 48 minutes long but if you just want a taste the first 6 minutes is really good.

I-BE AREA

I love the breakdown and repurposing of language. It's like a new language. Non-linear is a good description of his style. Apparently the crazy makeup is supposed to mesh with the speech to expand their expression. I'm completly fascinated. More of his work here. New York Times article here. Interview here.

Ben Alper

Images from Ben Alper's ongoing project The Family Dig.

Mom Wrapped In Afghan, 2008



Fran, 2008



Hannah, 2008



Hannah In The Kitchen, 2008

I really like these. This is not my family and yet I find the pictures interesting. Something about the perspective of these makes me feel like I'm just standing there watching them. Maybe it's that they're taken from normal personal space distance.

Ben Alper's website here. He is a co-founder of a photography collective called The Exposure Project. Blog here.

Princess

So I spent the weekend in Brentwood, Tennessee. I'd never been before and it was pretty much like being on The OC. Not really but kind of. Everyone I met was really great but I could see potential for the twisted upper class drama that places like that are known for. Being there made me think of art that addresses the issues or aesthetic of upper middle class princesses.

Charlie White








Girl Posed



A still from "American Minor"

This work shows a grotesque quality caused by the prepackaged lifestyle offered to young girls.

Angela Strassheim

When I look at these I think about how a desire for suburban perfection creates tension and a sense of dread. Strassheim's technical expertise results in perfect pictures of people who may need to be perfect. My mind adds the possibility of failure and things that must be concealed. My reactions could have something to do with the darker events that have taken place in my otherwise peachy-keen neighborhood.

Michael Schmelling

I really like these portraits by Michael Schmelling. They feel fresh and intelligent. The mix of quirky subject matter and a somewhat clinical approach is really interesting.

Bonaroo



Melonie Diaz


Beirut


The Felice Brothers


TV On The Radio

Website here