If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise. That’s if the woods are Mortimer Forest in Herefordshire, and the surprise hasn’t by now been deliberately spoiled by tree-hugging vigilante forest rangers. Last spring, RCA graduate Philippa Lawrence took it into her pretty little head to barcode the trunks of… Continue reading Misplaced trust: tripping along with the teddy bears’ picnic, Laura Gascoigne looks at the obvious mismatch of the National Trust and contemporary art
Author: the editor
Misappliance of Science: The marriage of art and science is one only of financial convenience, argues Laura Gascoigne
In economically choppy waters, artists without lifejackets can be forgiven for clinging to any passing spar. So when a life raft floats past flying a flag marked ‘EDUCATION’, it’s understandable that they should haul themselves aboard. But the flag is misleading. The raft isn’t headed for the familiar port of art school, where people used… Continue reading Misappliance of Science: The marriage of art and science is one only of financial convenience, argues Laura Gascoigne
Eh up Arup! Laura Gascoigne looks into the real brains behind the public sculptures we don’t need
Two beavers are standing looking at the Hoover Dam and one says to the other, “I didn’t build it, but it was my design”. Cue laughter. Now picture the same gag line under a cartoon of two artists looking at an enormous public sculpture. The gag still works, but the laughter’s forced. Because while a… Continue reading Eh up Arup! Laura Gascoigne looks into the real brains behind the public sculptures we don’t need
Who’s afraid of the Kulturkampf? Art will not die for lack of public subsidy, argues Laura Gascoigne
While currency speculators place their bets on which Eurozone economy will be next to fail, the clatter of falling dominoes has reached the contemporary art world. And it’s not just about investors being hit in their pockets. As austerity bites, discontent is spreading through society at large. Last September in Istanbul – our current European… Continue reading Who’s afraid of the Kulturkampf? Art will not die for lack of public subsidy, argues Laura Gascoigne
Lost in New York: painter and critic Alexander Adams discovers an unlikely empathy between Ingres and de Kooning
New York City, home to great collections of art, is never short of key works by important artists to measure against one another. Autumn 2011, three displays have coincided to allow people to compare the skills of a modern master with those of a predecessor who influenced him. Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) revered J.A.D. Ingres… Continue reading Lost in New York: painter and critic Alexander Adams discovers an unlikely empathy between Ingres and de Kooning
Magritte and Post-Impressionist art: Alexander Adams is enthused by two stimulating surveys
The effects of Liverpool’s time as City of Culture in 2008 are still becoming apparent as various building projects reach completion. Liverpool has many excellent museums, to which number the Museum of Liverpool is due to be added. My visit to Liverpool was before the museum’s opening on July 19th, so I made do with… Continue reading Magritte and Post-Impressionist art: Alexander Adams is enthused by two stimulating surveys
The Relics of St Joan: Alexander Adams goes in search of the curator’s Miro
How often have we seen – of late – exhibitions of Modern masters with didactic subtitles? These subtitles tell us why we should visit this exhibition when we have seen so many on this particular artist before. It is the subtitle that gives us the curatorial slant. What happens is not that famous artists get… Continue reading The Relics of St Joan: Alexander Adams goes in search of the curator’s Miro
The Sutherland bequest: Alexander Adams pursues his original inquiry into the future home of an important gift to the nation
An article about Graham Sutherland’s bequest of art to Wales (The Jackdaw, no. 90) raised a number of points which further research has – partially – answered. To recap: Sutherland donated work to a purpose-formed Graham Sutherland Trust (the “Trust”) in 1976, which displayed the art in a gallery housed in Picton Castle, Pembrokeshire. When… Continue reading The Sutherland bequest: Alexander Adams pursues his original inquiry into the future home of an important gift to the nation
Jenny saville and the theatre of self-importance: Alexander Adams examines the reputation of one of the original young British artists
Most YBAs achieved prominence by recasting genuine avant-garde art in a palatable commercial form, influenced by advertising and pop culture, and served up to a credulous public largely ignorant of the original sources of the art. (Something Julian Stallabrass discusses in his book High Art Lite.) Jenny Saville was seen as one exception by virtue… Continue reading Jenny saville and the theatre of self-importance: Alexander Adams examines the reputation of one of the original young British artists
Radical Classicist: Alexander Adams visits the museum dedicated to Surrealist painter Paul Delvaux (1887-1994)
If you have heard of Belgian painter Paul Delvaux (1897-1994) then it is likely to have been in connection with Surrealism. He gets a couple of illustrations in thematic surveys of Surrealism, rarely more. Unless you locate a specialist publication on the artist, it is hard to get an overview of his development. Delvaux is… Continue reading Radical Classicist: Alexander Adams visits the museum dedicated to Surrealist painter Paul Delvaux (1887-1994)