Friday, September 29, 2006

For the Gardener

Need something strange to think about over the weekend? Is it possible to integrate technology and biology to the extent of actually growing a working construction without continued human interference during the process?

The answer is coming right up.

In two hundred years or so.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

American Photography VI


Just one more, before I move on to something else... now, this is really stepping things up a notch. William Eddleston, expecially in his later work, is amazing. The colour, the details, the composition... pretty much everything is near perfect. And he is so good at finding that little thing at the core of people, that little thing that make them what they are.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

American Photography V


Sometimes American photography can seem to dependent on the New Deal photographers of the early 20th Century. This especially true for the modern realists, such as Chris Verene. He is, by all means, an extremely gifted photographer, but sometimes the idea of realism takes from reality itself.

Then something happens. Like here in Don Cantrell’s Big Christmas Party. I am perfectly mesmerized by this photo! The cold and windy street outside, and the warm food on the red table cloth inside the restaurant. The food is lighted and coloured in a way that reminds me of old oil painted still lifes. It’s not for eating, it’s a metaphor for consolation.

Monday, September 25, 2006

Everything is everything


What is it? It is what it is. Minimalism at its most extreme is the theme for Ann Edholm and Håkan Rehnberg, currently on display at Eskilstuna konstmuseum.

But the problem with a strict minimalist agenda is that it is almost impossible for the artist to stick to. The titling of the pieces give away meaning, shapes and figures can be made out even from the most abstract forms.

The featured picture is named The Confession Hot and White, and even if the purpose of the title isn’t to render direct meaning to the picture, it certainly reminds the viewer of how, say for instance, Frank Stella, used titling to divert attention from interpretation. It becomes a comment on art history, at least.

But I don’t mind the purism as long as it looks this good.

I will survive...

It seems like a long time since my last post, but now I'm back from the election campaigning. For those readers not familiar with Swedish politics: I work as a press officer for the Left Party, and the election was a disaster (well, not really, but we lost our shared governing power to the right wing coalition by a very small margin so it feels that way right now).

But, I will survive, and now I will start blogging again. First art related post coming up this afternoon. I'm aiming for daily updates on weekdays, but as the faithful reader will remember, I sometimes hard time living up to such standards.