Bie GNARLY

The 17th Biennale of Sydney is themed around "The Beauty of Distance: Songs of Survival in a Precarious Age" at first I didn't understand what it meant but with a little bit of help (thanks Amanda) it became more obvious to what it is alluding to.

'all art is folk art.'.....'fine' art and 'folk' art are here turned on their heads in an exhibition in which the only discrimination is whether the art is any 'good'

This is an interesting idea, but made me think: is this contradictory to say the only discrimination is whether the art is any 'good' and yet display the art work in certain groups? i.e. the Asia focus perhaps I need to see the rest of the exhibition?

There was one particular work that stood out to me which was Harry Smith's 'Film Number 12' this was the one displayed closest to the super deluxe bar. I had seen Smith's work before on youtube:

These types of experimental animations were made as far back as the mid 40's and are usually painted or

cut outs manipulated all by hand. They have elements of Dada and the Surrealists and also instantly reminded me of

Terry Gilliam who created the Monty Python animations.

Harry Smith was also an all round radical and was the inspiration for the Biennale theme. Apart from being

an artist he also collected historic recordings of early american folk music.

What a guy!!

I can't wait to see the rest of the biennale!

17th Biennale of Sydney-Visit to 'Artspace'

Finally!!! !!! first look of Sydney Biennale!!

It was interesting to visit Artspace and Art Gallery of NSW. The Art Gallery of NSW were all about 'focus on Asia', the works that represented different parts of Asia was fantastic. The most spectacular work that I personally liked were by Raquib Shaw 'The mild-eyed melancholy of the lotus eaters 111 (2009-10)'. The small details and colours were so beautiful and to see such vibrant colours on his work were amazing.

The works in Artspace were mostly based on video installation. It felt strange as I was surrounded by screens. The video installation of Hiraki Sawa "Out of the blue"(2008), was very peaceful, the sound of land, wind, bird, felt like standing on top of the mountain. There was a few repeated images in the video. The other screen that was behind me had a long-shot of the land where it was covered by snow and people were walking around. That part was strange but interesting to think why Hiraki Sawa captured that moment? does it represents the Japanese culture? was there reason to choose particular season?and so on. More research of different artists need to be done after all......!
In the end, the first sight of 17th Biennale of Sydney was FUN/INTERESTING/GREAT! but can't wait to visit other places!!! especially MCA!

Harm Van Den Dorpel

We briefly spoke about artists who have made art pieces that are meant only exist online.

http://www.harmvandendorpel.com/

When Harm van den Dorpels website started in 2005 it was mostly obscure web animations that he had created. His work has grown from being only on the web to being physical. Apart from that I dont really know anything about him! all I know is he is excellent!

His new stuff is pretty whacky but you will like it more when you see his old stuff

http://www.harmvandendorpel.com/work/animal_series

http://www.harmvandendorpel.com/work/highway

EXHIBITION VIEWING TOMORROW

Hi Everyone,

I am looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow on the steps of the AGNSW. I have attached links so you can find your way there.

Please email me if you have any queries.

IT IS THE OPENING WEEK OF THE BIENNALE PEOPLE - GET EXCITED!!!

http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/getting_here

Barthélémy Toguo | 17th Biennale of Sydney

Barthélémy Toguo | 17th Biennale of Sydney

Art and Narrative: Cindy Sherman

Unititled Film Still #14, 1978Cindy Sherman© Metro Picture Gallery & Cindy Sherman

By turning the camera on herself, Cindy Sherman has built a name as one of the most respected photographers of the late twentieth century. Although the majority of her photographs are pictures of her, these photographs are most definitely not self-portraits. Rather Sherman uses herself as a vehicle for commentary on a variety of issues of the modern world: the role of the woman, the role of the artist and many more. She is known for her carefully composed photographic tableaux that draw on such familiar genres as porn centrefolds, fashion photos and film noir. Posing as subjects who inhabit these genres. Her photos deliberately mimic certain genre conventions but in a manner that shows them as being slightly skewed. At the age of 23 she created a set of 69 "Untitled Film Stills", in which she dressed up as a strangely familiar yet unnamed actress in shots reminiscent of foreign films, B-movies and film noir. The black and white shots, which Sherman completed in 1980, launched her career.

“Sherman has a history of a kind of withdrawal, a market retreat--a production of images that dare the rich to buy them. But while that may be part of the story, it ascribes too simple a motivation to an artist who watches the people who interest her so intently, identifies with them so fully, that she temporarily becomes them.”(1)

 I do believe that Sherman relates to our SPI genre as not only enacts the characters that she mimics, but she has a quite sculptural aesthetic to her photos. 



More info:

(1) Frankel, David. "Cindy Sherman: Metro Pictures." Artforum International 47.6 (2009): 186. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 3 May 2010.
http://find.galegroup.com.ezproxy2.library.usyd.edu.au/gtx/infomark.do?&contentSet=IAC-Documents&type=retrieve&tabID=T002&prodId=EAIM&docId=A201622555&source=gale&srcprod=EAIM&userGroupName=usyd&version=1.0