The Kunstmuseum Basel is currently showing works by the master painter Vincent van Gogh. Seventy paintings, both better- and lesser-known, are featured in this first large-scale showing of exclusively landscape works by the artist. The van Gogh paintings will be accompanied by a biographical video on the artist as well as forty landscape pieces by his contemporaries. The intended result gives patrons a look at van Gogh’s contribution to the evolution of technique and concept in landscape work. The show closes on September 27.
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Gilbert & George’s ‘Great Expectations,’ via MoMA
On view through October 5, 2009 at the Museum of Modern Art in New York is ‘In & Out of Amsterdam: Travels in Conceptual Art, 1960-1976,’ an exhibition that examines the beginnings of conceptualism and the role that international travel – in this case, particularly between Amsterdam and Los Angeles – played in shaping the movement. The exhibition includes ten American and European artists, from heavy-hitters such as Sol LeWitt and Lawrence Weiner, to the mythologized, like Bas Jan Ader and Stanley Brouwn, to lesser-known and peripheral figures such as Charlotte Posenenske. The focal point is the now-defunct but highly influential Amsterdam gallery Art & Project. Founders Geert van Beijeren and Adriaan van Ravesteijn gifted the museum 230 works in 2007, which make up the majority of the 75 works that appear in the exhibition.
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Sol LeWitt’s ‘Area of Amsterdam Between Leidseple Jan Dibbets’s House and Kunstijsbaan Jaapeden,’ via MoMA
“Ruth Smoking #2” (2006) by Julian Opie. Via Art4Presents
The new work of Julian Opie is currently showing at A and D Gallery in London, UK. Dabbed as “Hoxton’s answer to Warhol,” Opie achieved his early success in 1983 when Lisson Gallery featured his first solo exhibit, thus paving the way for the fellow British contemporary artists such as Damien Hirst to take the art scene by storm. His quirky and highly stylized portraits are created to reflect the high speed lifestyles of its subjects. The show is a continuation of Opie’s study and will be showing until September 14th, 2009.
Detail view Critical Mass II, Antony Gormley’s work exhibited currently at Kunsthaus Bregenz
Four major installations by a British contemporary artist Antony Gormley, made over the last fifteen years, are presented at Kunsthaus Bregenz. Body and Fruit, Allotment, Critical Mass and Clearing are works currently showing in the Austrian exhibition space. The latter four series by Antony Gormley all explore the artist’s favored themes: body, memory and self-knowledge. The dialogue aroused when these themes involve the viewer becomes an essential part of Gormley’s art. “Every experience in some way is given depth by previous experience” A.Gormley. The show runs through October 4, 2009.
Kate Levant compromised an exhibit at Zach Feuer Gallery in New York. Having opened July 16 2009, the exhibition closed September 4. Last two days of the duration of the show turned Zach Feuer Gallery into a space where Blood Drive was conducted. A Yale MFA student, Kate Levant assembled works by six artists: Noel Anderson, BOBO, Brian Faucette, Michael E. Smith, Elaine Stocki and Jacques Vidal. The show received amount of press coverage unusual for an artist still in school.
Though the Jeff Koons in Versailles show last year was generally concluded to be both a successful and well attended exhibition, with almost 1 million visitors attending, it did garner significant controversy. Prince Charles-Emmanuel de Bourbon-Parme, a French aristocrat in the line of succession to the French throne and a descendant of the palace’s original creator, Louis XIV, mounted a high profile legal challenge to the installation, which ultimately failed. Prince Charles-Emmanuel cited the Koons exhibition as “pornographic.” As Takashi Murakami is also known to produce relatively illicit subject matter in his art this exhibit may as well stir up some ire with French traditionalists.
Takashi Murakami is soon to have simultaneous solo exhibitions this month in both Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea on September 17th, New York and at Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin in Paris on September 15th.
On September 3, 2009 Deitch Projects hosted openings for two shows that will run concurrently till mid October and end of September. In the gallery’s space at 18 Wooster Street an exhibition of Tauba Auerbach’s works will run through October 17, 2009. Titled “HERE AND NOW/AND NOWHERE” the show is comprised of paintings, sculptures and photographs by the artist. At the center of the gallery is a musical instrument,”Auerglass”, an organ for two. It is conceived by the artist and her friend Cameron Mesirow- a musician from the Glasser band. The organ requires two people to play. Each of the two players gets every other note. An opening Glasser performance will be held on September 11th at Deitch Projects and will be consequently held at 5p.m. for the duration of the show.
Two openings at Deitch took place September 3, 2009. In the smaller space on Grand Street in New York were presented works by Kehinde Wiley, an African-American artist known for paintings of contemporary hip-hop trend setters. His painting style is sophisticated and reminiscent of traditional portraitists works. However, in Kehinde Wiley’s current exhibit titled “Black Light”, one encounters a new path that the artist has taken in exploration of photographic medium. Still using historically rooted references, he creates portraits of often religious connotations apparent in the positioning of the subject depicted and in the very scale of the work. Kehinde Wiley, thus, transforms the subcultural stereotypes of urban African-American icons to a fantastical realm. “Art is illusion” he comments. The exhibit runs through September 27, 2009.
On view now at Gagosian Gallery’s Davies Street location in London is an exhibition of the work of Richard Wright, one of four artists shortlisted for this year’s Turner Prize. The highlight of the show is a site-specific painting on the ceiling made with silver leaf. Many of Wright’s works are created in situ, responding to the architectural layout, often working with overlooked places, with the overall design of the work evolving until its completion. The exhibition also includes a number of works on paper.
“Camp Forestia” (1996) by Peter Doig. Via NY Times.
On view now until early 2010, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has opened the Judith Rothschild Foundation Contemporary Drawings Collection, which was originally acquired in 2005. The exhibit features over 2,500 contemporary works and surveys “various methods and materials within the styles of gestural and geometric abstraction, representation and figuration, and systems-based conceptual drawings.” Artists showcased in the exhibition include Lee Bontecou, Joseph Beuys, Donald Judd, Hanne Darboven, Elizabeth Peyton, John Currin, Amelie von Wulffen, Mona Hatoum, Lucy McKenzie, Paulina Olowska, Nate Lowman, and more.
A visitor looks through two holes in a wooden door to Étant donnés, the Marcel Duchamp masterpiece behind it and the subject of a new show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Image via the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Through November 29, 2009, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is showing works by the late master Marcel Duchamp. Almost 100 works of art related to the artist’s Étant donnés are featured in this celebration of the 40th anniversary of the piece’s unveiling at the Museum, which has hosted it since 1969. Drawn mostly from the museum’s holdings, the show also includes works on loan from public and private holdings in Germany, Israel, France, Sweden, and the United States.
The U.S. Pavilion at Venice Biennale bearing a neon piece by Bruce Nauman via Contemporary Art Daily
Currently representing the US at Venice Biennale are works by Bruce Nauman. Titled “Topological Gardens” the show breaks the physical boundaries of US Pavilion extending its presence to the outside of the exhibition space and occupying additional two sites in Venice. The official US entry at the 53d Venice Biennale is organized by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and is comprised of Bruce Nauman’s works created over the course of past forty years. The three exhibition sites include: the United States Pavilion, Universita IUAV and the Universita Ca’ Foscari. The Venice Biennale will be conclude November 22, 2009.
An exploration of memory, spirituality and hope through the miraculous survival of a pig is being conducted at London’s White Cube by Chinese performance and visual artist Zhang Huan. The show is based around one of the greatest natural disasters to hit China in recent memory. In May 2008, an earthquake reaching magnitude of 8 on the Richter Scale killed 60,000 people. Amongst the chaos, for 49 days, a pig persevered. Carried by Buddhist belief that the soul remains on earth between death and transmigration for exactly this amount of time, this pig is now a symbol of life and hope, renamed Cast-Iron Pig (or Zhu Gangqiang in Chinese, hence the theme of the show).
Oskar Kokoschka, “Rudolf Blümner” (1910), part of a new show of the artist’s works at Neue Galerie New York.
Neue Galerie New York is currently showing six oil paintings and 40 drawings by the late Oskar Kokoschka. All works are drawn from the museum’s holdings, and will be on display through October 5. “Focus” runs concurrently with the Neue Galerie’s “Selections from the Permanent Collection,” which shows works that comment on the political and social changes in post-WWI Germany.
Grobere Baume bei Warter (2008) by David Hockney, via Kunsthalle Wuerth
Currently on view at the Kunsthalle Wurth Museum in Schwabisch Hall, Germany, is “Just Nature” featuring David Hockney’s most recent work. Contrary to previous assertions, the exhibition highlights his rediscovery of the beautiful landscapes of his hometown of Yorkshire. Best known for his work as an experimental painter, these works emphasize his newly found enthusiasm for natural scenes. Even while masterfully mixing realistic yet simple renditions of the natural world, these works still continue to question the potential of painting. There seem to remain hints of his earlier paintings renowned for their ability to capture the conceptual and the everyday so well.
Installation view of Joseph Beuys’ works at the De La Warr Pavilion via De La Warr Pavilion
In honor of his inclusion in the Artists Rooms collection (of the Galleries of Scotland and the Tate), one of the most influential German artists, Joseph Beuys, is featured in a new exhibit in East Sussex. The show is comprised of his drawings and paintings, which, when paired with his sculptures, serve to give more dimension to his body of work. Joseph Beuys’ classic pieces, constructed of found objects and his notable natural material choices of metal, felt and fat, are on view at De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill. The show will be over September 27, 2009.
Julien Fronsacq (Palais de Tokyo, Paris), Olivier Sailliard (Musée de la Mode et du Textile, Paris),and Hans Ulrich Obrist (Serpentine Gallery, London) model for Yohji Yamamoto’s Y, via ArtJetSet
Currently showing at the Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery is an exhibit of Georg Baselitz’s works. The exhibit takes place in the Salzburg gallery and is comprised of 13 works on canvas, a sculpture and watercolors. Baselitz, although in his 70s, is still a prominent and active figure in the International art scene. One of the most important German artists, Baselitz has caused a stir throughout his career with the politically controversial work he creates. Returning to Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery this year Baselitz shows examples of his art that comment on the fall of political protagonists. The show titled: “Verdunkelung [Collusion] ” is over September 19, 2009.
Kazimir Malevich’s ‘Autobiography’ is a documentary exhibition that traces the work of one of the most important artists of the 20th century until his death and after. We should not see the artifacts at this exhibition as works of art. Rather they are souvenirs, selected specimens of our collective memory.
-Walter Benjamin
Currently on view at the Galerija Gregor Podnar in Berlin is a show on Malevich’s art titled ‘Autobiography.’ However, it should be noted, that despite the press that the show has received that doesn’t seem to acknowledge the true nature of the exhibit, the works presented are only reproductions of Malevich’s Suprematist art. They reveal the artist and his life and the way in which his art was perceived as a symbol of spiritual creativity as well as being material product for the art market. The exhibit is “several exhibits in one” as stated by a representative of the Berlin gallery. An artist, who does not wish to reveal his name, actually calls himself Malevich, and has traced Kazimir Malevich’s artistic path not only in reproducing his works, but also following his ideology.
‘Warriors. Four Films by Luke Fowler,’ installation view at X Initiative
Currently on view at the Dia Foundation’s former space in Chelsea is Phase Two of the X Initiative, featuring solo shows of three European artists: Keren Cytter, Luke Fowler, and Tris Vonna-Michell. This is the first major solo show in the US for each artist, all of whom participated in the New Museum’s triennial earlier this year, ‘The Generational: Younger Than Jesus.’ Phase Two also includes ‘Today and Everyday,’ a group show that presents artworks in the context of a still life photograph, an installation, and lastly, a memento. X Initiative is a not-for-profit association of artists, curators, dealers, and other professionals led by dealer Elizabeth Dee, using the Dia space for one year, starting in March, as an alternative arts space.
Posted in Go See | Comments Off on Go See – New York: Luke Fowler, Keren Cytter, and Tris Vonna-Michell “Phase Two” at X Initiave through October 25, 2009
Sperone Westwater, founded by an Italian art dealer Gian Enzo Sperone in 1975, represents both established and new cutting-edge artists. Currently showing at the gallery located in the West Village in New York is a group exhibit titled “Sculpture Show.” Works by Bertozzi & Casoni, Malcolm Morley, Mario Merz, Tom Sachs, Richard Long, Bruce Nauman and others are currently showing at the “Sculpture Show.” The exhibit runs through Friday September 4th.
Installation view at MOCA LA of “Collecting History: Highlighting Recent Acquisitions” exhibit via TRYHARDER
Currently on view at MOCA, Los Angeles is a show titled “Collecting History: Highlighting Recent Acquisitions” organized by Ann Goldstein- the Museum’s Senior Curator and Bennett Simpson- the Associate Curator of MOCA. The exhibit aims to showcase recent acquisitions to MOCA’s permanent collection – one that is renowned internationally for growing at a remarkable rate and presenting contemporary art from a variety of art movements. The exhibit “Collecting History: Highlighting Recent Acquisitions” focuses mainly on the works taken into the possession of MOCA LA within the last 5 years. The show closes October 19, 2009.
Posted in Go See | Comments Off on Go See – Los Angeles: “Collecting History: Highlighting Recent Acquisitions” at The Museum of Contemporary Art, through October 19, 2009
Pipilotti Rist’s ingenuity has materialized into her perfect living space at Hauser & Wirth. Inside you’ll find a collaboration of elements that marry the domestic to music, lights, still images and lightboxes. All are artfully finished with a sprinkling of video installations from her upcoming feature film Pepperminta.
The MASS MoCA has created a tribute to Sol LeWitt’s prolific body of wall drawings, selecting 105 of the more than 1200 to be recreated in its own building on site. The ambitious project, funded by Yale University Art Gallery and MASS MoCA, was formed from conversations between the director of the Gallery and LeWitt himself. Patrons of the Gallery are h0ping the installation will be a massive asset to art education. In accordance with this mission, podcasts are available for audio tours, and a book is being published in conjunction with the work entitled Sol LeWitt: 100 Views, which includes 100 new essays on his work from valued experts in the art world. New Yorkers will remember his exhibit which ended this summer at the MoMA, and his recent addition to the Subway. His art was part of a retrospective in 2000 by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, which traveled to the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
