Tag: Art
Film Appreciation
Melancholia
Movie Review
Enter the Void
Album Review
Zombie EP
FYI
Taken From My Blackberry Device
Photo Essay
NEXT Art Fair
Artist Interview
Justin Gilman
Book Review
If You Could Collaborate
Artist Interview
Sam Trapkin of TUI
Personal Venture
35mm Photography
Artist Interview
Adam Okrasinski
Book Review
Studio Culture
Album Review
Monsters
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01.09.12
Portrait of Kirsten Dunst for Melancholia, by Christian Geisnaes
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I love a great piece of film. But I’m no film expert. I don’t have any real credentials to back up a formal review of anything I see in the theater, so I have no intentions of criticizing or applauding what I know little about.
I do however feel secure in saying Melancholia, the most recent work from Danish filmmaker, Lars von Trier, was my most eagerly-anticipated film of 2011, and I won’t be surprised if it is the best thing I’ll see in all of 2012.
I didn’t know anything about Lars von Trier until I read about his 2009 film Antichrist, and found it to be a wildly emotional and unnerving portrayal of grief, mourning, and in turn, deep depression. With Antichrist, all it took was two characters in a very isolated setting to hook my attention. After watching it I wanted more from the director, and couldn’t have been more excited about Melancholia. Which is sort of weird, since its another film that explores depression.
But when a gray subject matter is supported by such thoughtful and ambitious ideas, its hard not to appreciate it as a thing of wonder. The opening sequence is a series of vignettes presented in surreal slow motion, which illustrate the key chapters of the film in such artful hyperbole, leaving little question to what ultimately will happen in the film. Lars von Trier refers to this as the film’s overture. And just as the overture of Antichrist had my immediate attention, so did this beautiful sequence, preceding acts one and two of Melancholia. It really set the stage for a film that features what lacks so much in mainstream cinema: thoughtful idea development, through carefully considered symbolism and visual representation, that allows the audience to interpret what is being portrayed, what greater perspective the director is trying to express, and what we can take away as tangible insight on a very real avenue of human life.
I value this sort of filmmaking so much. When I go to the movies, I want to see something I can truly appreciate as a thoughtful piece of work that doesn’t feel tainted or influenced too heavily by the needs of a greater audience. An idea that is well considered by an artist, and in turn, a perfectly curated film that only exists because they wanted to explore an intimate detail of their life. Lars von Trier has dealt with depression in his life, as he deems himself to be a melancholiac. This just makes me admire Melancholia even more, knowing that its creation stems directly from an artist who can empathize so directly with the characters he’s created.
Like I said, this was not meant to be a formal review of Melancholia, but just an outlet for me to appreciate a great film. I really felt something when I watched Melancholia, if nothing more than a great feeling of privilege to experience a real work of art.
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I would encourage anyone who has seen the film to read an interview with Lars von Trier, called Longing for the End of It All, by Nils Thorsen. Here, the director talks openly about the characters in the film, and how he came to write and direct Melancholia, as well as his thoughts on existence, wether we are truly alone on Earth, and what that means to him. It’s not exactly a film spoiler, but I would encourage reading the interview only after seeing the film to get the most out of it.
http://www.melancholiathemovie.com/#_interview
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The official Melancholia trailer below.
02.24.11
Come out to The COOP tomorrow night to celebrate Andy Luce’s solo exhibit Slowly, the next in The Coop’s Artist series. The work on display celebrates craft and the creative process, placing an emphasis on every detail. All new works by the artist guarantee an evening of fine artwork and lively calligraphy!
Show info:
Friday, February 25 from 7—10pm
The COOP—845 W. Fulton St., #201
BE THERE.
02.08.11
The last couple trips to my local Borders each brought me to opening up artist Wayne White’s book, Maybe Now I’ll Get The Respect I So Richly Deserve with wide eyes and appreciation. What a pleasant surprise to come across an artist who is so classically skilled as a painter and yet so fascinated with dimensional typography.
I don’t know a lot about Wayne White, but its clear he has a great sense of humor—his paintings are witty, both in the phrasing of his titles, and the various ways he manages to incorporate letterforms of varying shape and size into the scene of a wooded forest, a lake front, or leaning against the outside of a barn. The next time I see his book, I think I’ll spring for a copy of my own, because I certainly hope he does get the respect he so richly deserves!
I find the body of work by Brooklyn painter, Vince Contarino absolutely stunning. Wether its through the deep layering of shape and texture, or the modern interpretation of symbolism through form, his abstract approach to the canvas has certainly struck a chord with me. I am unsure what any of the work means, but it is very beautiful and acts as a model of what the art in my house will someday look like.
09.22.10
Just discovered the work of a young Irish designer, Duane Dalton. Graduating from IADT, his overall body of work comes off very experimental, with lots of fascinating fragments of ideas strewn throughout. I especially enjoy his more recent work that plays with geometric patterning and masking, Glorified Objects.
Hope to see more from Duane in the coming years!
08.12.10
This is the best thing I’ve seen all day long. It’s called Smoke Rings and it was created by my one of my new favorite artist/designers, Mike Ward. Check out more of his awesome work as soon as you can!
Link via @nopattern.
06.23.10
I want to encourage everyone to go look at the photography of Stefan Giftthaler. This is the kind of photographer that covers the spectrum; he can shoot the client-driven fashion photography with the best of them, and he can turn a full 180 and explore new angles of photography to satisfy a more abstract, experimental side of things. I am impressed by the confidence that surrounds the imagery that Giftthaler manages to produce, as if a shaky hand or a dirty lens is all part of the performance.
This photography speaks volumes to me. It is exactly what I find charming about an art that I have yet to fully appreciate. Also, I would go so far as to suggest much of Giftthaler’s portraiture and fashion work comes with a remarkable resemblance to the timeless work of Richard Avedon. It’s a softspoken, modest approach to photography and story telling that is worth much applause.
06.10.10
On three occasions now, I’ve run into the artwork of Iain Macarthur, through various tubes on the internet. Each time, a new piece of his startles me with excitement, and upon immediate pursuit I realize he’s the skull guy! That’s just a name I’ve given him, because his skull drawings make me weak in the knees… not sure if anyone else calls Iain the skull guy.
Anyway, I decided to booooooom it, and continue this post with more of his skulls. LOOK AT THEM!!! (after the jump)
Read More…
Hand-painted letters found on a sign in Uncle Julio’s, an excellent mexican restaurant in Lincoln Park.
7/30/10
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The triangular patterns created in these ceiling lights are lovely! I could spend some time with this… a tasty bit of geometric design inspiration.
6/23/10
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The Bagel
6/11/10
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Exotica window display outside of Macy’s downtown.
June, 2010
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Eileen Fisher window display outside of Macy’s downtown.
June, 2010
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Love the neon letterforms, here. “OPEN” especially.
June, 2010
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One of the best vanity plates I’ve ever seen!
Sometime in early 2010
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Charming neon outside the House of Blues, Chicago.
June, 2010
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First time ever in an Old Navy, I come to find out the mannequins from the hilarious commercials are real! A pleasant surprise.
June, 2010
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They sell snacks in the laundry room—I buy them all.
June, 2010
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Home Depot sign in the paint department. The details escape this photo, but I enjoyed the overlapping color and subtle nuances in the large numbers.
June, 2010
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Believe it or not, these windows are a recent addition to a nearby McDonalds. I would normally walk right by, however I think there is something to be said for the arch-inspired stained glass pattern.
June, 2010
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My office view of the Chicago River, during the Winter. All the broken-up ice in the water is sort of gorgeous!
Winter, 2009
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06.03.10
I can’t imagine I have any readers from Berlin, but if you happen to be there during the second week in July—and you kind of like excellent artwork—do yourself a favor and go visit Emil Kozak and his new mini collection of handmade collage pieces. The exhibition is called Small Pencils Big Dreams, and I have a feeling you wouldn’t regret it!
If you aren’t familiar with Emil Kozak’s work, get familiar!