Jackson Pollock: Action Painting

no 5, 1948

Jackson Pollock belonged to the art movement 'abstract expressionism". One can almost see the poetic dance of the artist across the canvases, hence the term 'action painting' to this art form.

John Martin's The explusion

The explusion of Adam and Eve from Paradise

Bosch: The garden of Earthly pleasures

There was a print at the hotel room in Berlin. Didn't know it is one of Bosch's more famous painting.

John Martin at Tate

The Great Day of His Wrath 1851-3

Gunther Uecker flowing nails

I saw Gunther's work at the German Parliament and the image of reliefs made of nails was vividly captured. You could see the flow in the sea of nails creating interesting patterns depending on where you are positioned before the work.

Georges De la Tour: Realism not naturalism

Saint Sebastian Tended by St. Irene. c. 1634-1643
Saw a picture of Georges de la tour on the front of a book and brought back memories. The artist paint mainly religious themes. From his chiaroscuro techniques of sharp constrasts of light and shade, Georges de la tour is a follower of the great Carravagio. As a practicetioner of realism, de la tour used real life people and settings to paint but avoided naturalism with his colouring technqiues that did not mimick the exacting reality of nature as viewed from the eyes.

Rene Magritte painting papercuts

The Spirit of Comedy 1928
With many paper cuts, collage-like forms in his paintings, Max Ernst aptly described Magritte as 'a painter of collages'.

Max Ernst, the third founder of Surrealism

Forest and Dove 1927
Ernst, another founding member of the Surrealist movement, uses the forests as a symbol of 'enchantment and terror' in his world. The little dove is a projection of Ernst trapped amongst the trees. A technique "grattage" is used whereby paint is scraped off from the canvas

Dali's dreamscapes

Two Adolescents 1954
Is this going to be a sexual encounter? The sitted boy's pose is suggestive. Is he slightly aroused with his penis stiring or is he idolising the other's body? Perhaps he cannot imagine the face of an encounter in full detail as is often the case when we are thinking about somebody.

Giorgio de Chirico, The father of surrealism

The Uncertainty of the Poet 1913

Saw this at Tate Modern. De Chirico was a role model for Surrealism. His style of dream like landscapes adorned with perplexing objects was particulary influential as a model for Surrealism.

Rene Magritte's early cubist style painting

The Horsewoman (L'Écuyère) 1922

Magritte was inspired by Freud's theory of psychoanalysis where dreams and the unconscious formed the foundation of surrealism.
I immediately like this piece when i saw it although its not classic Magritte. Its visually pleasing on the eye.

Gaugin, 1879, Vaugirard Church by Night

Vaugirard Church by Night, Oil on canvas, 50x 34.5cm, 1879 Gaugin's impressionistic painting style at this period was heavily influence by Pissaro who was both a friend and mentor.

Barnett Newman 1963-4, Canto V

Francis Bacon, Circa 1944, Three Studies for Figures at the Base of Cruxifixion

This is a lesson on how to paint ugly, violence and discord beautifully. This is considered the first mature work by Bacon. The wonderful thing about art is that you have to see it with your own eyes and not through another medium for the colours can never be reproduced exactly, in fact oftentimes, as in this instance, not even close to the real thing. It is through my own eyes did i realise the first of the triptych has a more orange essence to it than the other two pieces.

John Constable (doubtfully attributed) 1776-1837, "Summer, Afternoon, after a shower"

"Summer, Afternoon-after a shower"

Cezanne, The Village Road, Auvers

Cezanne's paintings are always beautifully gloomy.

Gao Xinjian

Lonely atmospheric and melancholic beauty.

Carravagio, St JohnThe Baptist

Smooth, brooding, intense

Hokusai

Edward Hopper, 1943, Summertime

Bronzino, 1530-1572, An allegory with Venus and Cupid

Creativity and madness

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/10154775.stm

North Korean Art

Joyful, fertile, abundant, and loving.

Botero, Melancholy, 1989

Picasso, Nude, Green Leaves and Bust,1932,

Was sold at Christie for $105 million.

Persian Rug

http://www.economist.com/opinion/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15944327&sa_campaign=twitter/te/ar/hp

Andrea Del Castagno, The Young David, c1450 (Renaissance)

Andrea del Castagno, The Young David, c.1450. Leather on wood, 115.6 x 76.9 x 41 cm. Washington, National Callery of Art Widerner Collection.

This is a rare piece of work on a parade shield that survives the ravages of time. David is beautifully drawn.

Damien Hirst, For the love of God, 2007

Platinum, Diamonds, 1106.18 carat

"For the love of God" is a piece by Damien Hirst produced in 2007 that stirred up much controversy. It consists of over 8000 flawless diamonds encrusted in a platinum cast of a human skull. It was reportedly sold for 50 million pounds which if true, makes it the most expensive art piece by a living artist.

Many critiques call it vulgar and looks more like a piece comissioned by wealthy but uncultivated clients of Graff or Aspreys to exhibit their greatness. This is no piece befitting of an established artist.

There is also much speculation that the whole 'sale' of this work is an elaborate ruse to shore up the reputation and value Hirst's works prior to the Sotheby auction which he reaped millions. (Hirst is the first artist who decided to sell his works through auctions than galleries). Apparently the work was bought by a consortium that included Hirst in it. Whether "For the love of God" actually sold for 50 million pounds was doubted since some critiques observed that there is no tax records of the sale

For me i do consider this art albeit one of a low grade. This is art since you can derive disinterested pleasure out of it. However a jewel encrusted object is nothing original and highly uninspiring. I also feel that as an artist, Hirst contribution is too limited. Where is the passion when he merely owned the concept whilst artisans laboured on his behalf.

Lucio Fontana, Spatial Concept 'Waiting', 1960 (Spatialism)

Lucio Fontana, Spatial Concept 'Waiting', 1960, 930 x 730mm

Fontana is most reknowned for his slashed canvases. A seemingly minimal piece of work, just a slit, is able to convey gesture, force, spontaneity and movement. The work also immediately heightens our sensitivity towards space with the slash beckoning us to enter into the darken portal within the canvas.

Is it art?

Many a times we come across a piece of work and we ask ourselves what is this about? Audiences stand around with hands on their chin in an attempt to look sophisticated...


I define art as a piece of work that either inspires the mind or pleases the eye. On the former, something inspires when we experience a relevation from engaging with the art form or gets invigorated by it. On the latter, I follow St Thomas Aquinas formulation that "the beautiful is that which pleases merely on being perceived." A visual form that does not fulfil either of the criteria is simply not art. If cannot be a case whereby anything that asserts itself as art should be accrued the status of so. Usually visual forms with no substance rely on a poetic explanatory notes and conniving marketing efforts to lay claim to an artistic endeavour. This is dressed-up incapacity or, to quote the art critique John Russell, "rationalised impotence".