Francis Bacon exhibition at Tate Britain, 26 September 2008 - 4 January 2009
Francis Bacon is internationally acknowledged as among the most powerful painters of the twentieth century. His vision of the world was unflinching and entirely individual, encompassing images of sensuality and brutality, both immediate and timeless. When he first emerged to public recognition, in the aftermath of the Second World War, his paintings were greeted with horror. Shock has since been joined by a wide appreciation of Bacon’s ability to expose humanity’s frailties and drives.
This major retrospective gathers many of his most remarkable paintings and is arranged broadly chronologically. Bacon’s vision of the world has had a profound impact. It is born of a direct engagement that his paintings demand of each of us, so that, as he famously claimed, the ‘paint comes across directly onto the nervous system’.
Francis Bacon exhibition at Tate Britain, 26 September 2008 - 4 January 2009
Categories: Events
Cold War Modern - Victoria and Albert Museum until 11 Jan 2009
The period after the Second World War was one of anxiety and tension but also one of great optimism and unprecedented technological development. This exhibition examines how design was shaped by the cold war period against the backdrop of the battle between communism and capitalism, the advances of the space race, and the international competition to be modern.
Concentrating on the years from 1945 to 1970, the exhibition displays objects from around the world including the USA, the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Italy, France, East and West Germany, Cuba and the UK.
Home - Cold War Modern - Victoria and Albert Museum
Categories: Events
Tate Modern: Cildo Meireles exhibition, until 11 Jan 2009
Rather than spending GBP 12,5 on the Rotho exhibition, spend a mere GBP 8 on Meireles. This Brazil born installation artist surprises by the interactivity of his work. Many of his installations and setups are meant to be walked in, out, over; which makes a nice change from the “Please do not touch” signs you find at art exhibitions world wide.
Meireles’ father being an Indian, you’ll notice how he gets inspired by the colonisation era of his home country, as well as contemporary politics.
Meireles feels that good art should move you instantaneously. I’m not saying I experienced this with his every work, but some of them certainly captured my attention (or my toes!) immediately.
Should you still be in London before Jan 11th, then visit.
Tate Modern| Current Exhibitions | Cildo Meireles
Categories: Events
Mark Rothko exhibition at Tate Modern, 26 September 2008 - 1 February 2009
Last weekend, I visited the Rothko exhibit at the Tate Modern in London. Well, although Rothko is off course a very respected artist and although he remains very important in the development of abstract art, the exhibition merely confirms this; nothing more, nothing less.
I have seen Rothko’s work as I know it from numerous photos, art publications, documentaries, etc… It’s always nice to see his paintings in life size, but quite frankly: that is not worth paying GBP 12,5.
Maybe you are a very big Rothko fan and are dying to see yet another of his exhibits (OK, the exhitib revolves around the Seagram murals, so that might be something new for you), then, go, otherwise spend your money on the Meireles exhibition.
Mark Rothko exhibition at Tate Modern, 26 September 2008 - 1 February 2009
Categories: Events
New painting: Untitled 18102008
Categories: General
Natural textures
Those of you that are a bit more familiar with my portfolio know that I have a love/hate relationship with texture. Many of my paintings can be considered as a form of research into the interaction between strokes of oil paint, colour and texture.
These photo’s, which I took last Sunday with my new macro lens (Tamron 90mm f2.8 1:1 on a NikonD300), nicely illustrate that principle.
Categories: General
New painting: Untitled 2209
New exhibition: Fass’ mich an
Starting from tomorrow August 20th until mid October I will be showing 10 paintings and 1 mixed media sculpture at restaurant “De Golfbreker”, Strandlaan 302, 8670 Koksijde.
For the first time, the series about touch is displayed in its entirety. The 5 white works, characterised by the presence of a wide line and a cirlce, are confronted with the red, black and white containing larger works that deal with the same topic: they question the origin, the directional movement and the immediate result of a touch.
A catalogue can be purchased online and delivered right to your doorstep:
The restaurant closes on Tuesdays.
Categories: General
Masterpieces of the Barbier-Mueller collection
Amazon Link: African Masks: From the Barbier-Mueller Collection (Art Flexi Series)
The Musée Jacquemart André is currently showing the masterpieces of the Barbier-Mueller collection of African and Oceanic art. That collection is considered to be the most beautiful showcase of primitive art in the whole world.
The exhibition continues until August 24th. (more…)
S.M.A.K. Electrified
S.M.A.K., Vooruit and 5VOOR12 npo are challenging the summer with the first edition of Electrified. It will be a pioneering cooperation, and will resound in musical and artistic circles.
For years, the three partners have been in each other’s proximity, but they will only meet each other for the first time this year in Electrified. The meeting place is the border territory between the visual arts, the art of sound and electronics. The result of the encounter: an innovative project including an exhibition and a live programme, linked to the night happening by 10 Days Off in Vooruit during the Festival of Ghent.
