Big apologies about our absent lately! I’m hoping that a short brief through our photos from dOCUMENTA will cheer you up and give you a fresh air for the weekend.
We will be back on track sooner than you expect, so stay tuned!
/Ingunn & Írena
Filed under Art, Art festival, Art stroll, Curator, dOCUMENTA, Konsthopp, Photography, Political Art, Public space, Science, Sociopolitical art, Textile Art, Video Art
If you haven´t already met the Jealous Curator — it´s about a time.
There is one moment, in the first few seconds, when you look at a piece of art and know that you love it. It’s the moment when, if you’re an artist yourself, you look at it and feel a rush of uplifting inspiration… and total soul-crushing jealousy all at the same time. It’s when you walk away thinking, “Damn, I wish I thought of that.”
As a daily visitor to her inspirational blog — I asked the active blogger for a favor. To name her favorite emerging artists of today — as an artists monitor and a noted aesthete. Her choses were the following:
“Let´s pretend tomorrow night never happened” by Ben Skinner. White ink on black Alunpanel (2011). Image/Ben Skinner
“Parallel 25 yellow” by Anne Lindberg. Graphite and colored pencil on cotton mat board (2011). Image/Anne Lindberg
“Giovanni” by Maurizio Anzeri. Photographic print with embroidery (2009). Image/Maurizio Anzeri.
“Beauty Marks” (Bare) by Deidre But-Husaim. Oil on linen (2008). Image/Deidre But-Husaim
“Pillhead” by Anthony Zinonos. Collage.
The blogger explanation for the use of the “jealousy” term, which many people relate to a negative emotion, is:
I once heard someone say that when jealousy is kept inside it becomes toxic, but as soon as it’s said out loud, it transforms into admiration.
I couldn´t agree more with her. Official jealousy can namely be a successful tool when it comes to appreciation and a sense of humor.
Blog: The Jealous Curator
Artists: Ben Skinner (Canada), Anne Lindberg (USA), Maurizio Anzeri (Italy), Deidre But-Husaim (Australia) and Anthony Zinonos (UK)
Filed under Art, Collage/Clip Art, Curator, Curator Talk, Digital Art, Drawings, Fine Art, Multimedia, Net stroll, Photography, Print, Textile Art, Visual Art
We first stumbled on the joyful design of Bombo at Scandinavian Deko blog and became curious about the work and the designer behind it. Today we’ve learned that Bombo means bumblebee (in italian) and is designed by Sanna Pelliccioni, a Finnish illustrator a graphic designer. The latest collection “OMA PERHE – MY FAMILY” is a praise for magical childhood — and was born out of need to widen the idea of a family from the traditional one to all possible forms of families. As the designer herself puts it:
“Isolated Finland of my grandmother’s time is changing to a joyful and open-minded place where new ways of life are greeted with joy”
Read our latest artist talk with Sanna Pelliccioni here
Filed under Art, Artist Talk, Design, Finland, Illustrations
Filed under Art, Collage/Clip Art, Konsthopp, Net stroll, Uncategorized
The Norwegian artist Børre Sæthre is known for his art installations that remind the viewer of the settings of science-fiction films — bringing each visitor into a fantastic and dreamlike universe.
His spaces are usually sculptural and reconstructed environments that includes; light, soundscapes or moving images. Reflection from his Nordic homeland and childhood memories can easily been recognized in his work — along with some selection of art, film, design and architectural history.
The artist is a brilliance — when it comes to building a negotiation strategy between; chaos and control — beauty and ugliness.
Børre Sæthre was born in 1967 in Oslo, Norway. He lives and works in New York and Oslo. He has had several solo exhibitions including; “From Someone Who Nearly Died But Survived”, Bergen Kunsthall, Bergen, Norway, “I’ve Been Guilty of Hanging Around”, Participant Inc, New York, “Powered by Zero”, Galerie Loevenbruck, Paris and “Module for Mood”, Thread Waxing Space. His work has also been displayed in numerous of group shows.
Filed under Art, Installation, Light installation, Oslo, Solo exhibit, Uncategorized
The opening of Kjerringen og Rúsí will open — just about now …
In the fall of 2011, Tidens Krav announced an open call for calls. Artists and curators were invited to submit a project proposal orally, through calling Tidens Krav’s automated tele-application service. The rules were simple: the caller could only use the spoken word to convey their project proposal. Any reference to visual material or documentation of their work or practice, was disregarded. This left Tidens Krav fumbling in the dark, with a sometimes clear, other times muffled, singing, drunken or stuttering voice as its only guidance. Proposals by the following artists and curators were accepted:
Birta Gudjonsdottir (IS)
Chris Succo (UK)
Jasper Griepink (NL)
James Hoff & Børre Sæthre (US/NO)
Mom & Jerry (DK/DK)
Rachid Laachir (BE)
Vemund Thoe (NO)
The following Icelandic artists will display their work tonight.
Helgi Thorsson & Steingrimur Eyfjörd
Helgi Thorsson
Helgi Thorsson exhibits new works made in his studio in Reykjavik and at Tidens Krav, specifically for this exhibition. His installations are composed of oil paintings on wood and found material and sculptures made from paper-maché, plaster, and found material from flee-markets. His color palette relates to the 1970s and many of his motives as well, with references to music and TV culture of the time. Many of his works relate to an excessive drinking- and party culture often related to the image of Iceland.
Steingrimur Eyfjörd
Steingrimur Eyfjörd exhibits new works made in his studio in Dale in Sunnfjord, Norway, where he has resided with his family the past two years. As an Icelandic resident in Norway, his identity as such has become a red thread through his most recent works, an ensemble of various works titled „Kellingin”(kjerringa/the old hag). Along with drawings, sculptures and instructional works, revealing his processing and somewhat criticism of Icelandic and Norwegian society and culture, he presents a 2.000 pages bookwork-diary spanning the time from when he moved to Norway until now, a part of his vast, ongoing collection of browse-through texts & images, based on his dreams and recollections, and interviews with elderly Icelanders.
Date: 31st of August – 16th of September 2012
Artists: Steingrimur Eyfjörd and Helgi Thorsson
Curator: Birta Gudjonsdottir
Place: Tidens Krav, Skippergata 18, Oslo
Filed under Art, Oslo, Uncategorized
Zinkovy Arts Festival, a brand new arts festival will be launched in Žinkovy, Czech Republic 1st of September. This will be the inaugural exhibition in a series of shows that will become a part of the diverse european cultural landscape, positioning Zinkovy Arts Festival as a part of the a narrative of contemporary art. The Pilzen area which includes the Zinkovy Arts Festival has been nominated to be the cultural centre for Europe in 2015.
The exhibition aims to collaborate and strengthen the already excising cultural infrastructures found in the Czech Republic, as well as creating a platform where international artists work can meet. Using art as a medium for development, articulation and exchange of ideas. By introducing artist to a wider context, with an emphasis on transcultural exchange, art becomes a medium for development, articulation and exchange of ideas. The participating artist have the opportunity to work on location from two or more weeks prior to the opening. This will create the opportunity for potential collaboration and discussion with a multitude of artists.
— Read more here
Date: 1st – 30th of September 2012
Creative Director: Hrafnhildur Gissurardottir (IS)
Artists: Aleksandra Vajd (CZ), Hynek Alt (CZ), Michela Pelusio (IT), Rini Antonissen (NL), Hans Christian Dethleffsen (DE), Julia Amelia Fischer (DE), Christopher Charles (AU), James Hensby (AU), Bogomir Doringer (RS), Daniel Von Keller (CH), Þórdís Erla Zoega (IS), Denisa Kollarova (SK), Sona Borodacova (SK), Mirko Lazovic (RS), Nina Frankova (CZ) , Jack Pam( AU), Kristinn Guðmundsson (IS), Peter Sattler (AT), Hrund Atladóttir (IS), Björk Viggósdóttir (IS), Elva Guðmundsdóttir (IS), Jude Crilly (CA), Floris Schönfeld (NL), Wietska van der Ploeg (NL), Ada Avetist (AT), Anne de Boer (NL) , Daniel Dressel (DE), Eloise Bonneviot (FR), Hrafnhildur Helgadóttir (IS), Sæmundur Þór Helgason (IS), Jason Hendrik Handsma (NL) and Jiri Makovec (CZ)
Place: Zinkovy Chateau. Western Bohemia, Czech Republic
Filed under Art, Art festival, Curator, Group exhibit, Konsthopp, Uncategorized
Linnea Strid, a Swedish painter and photographer will be displaying her stunning work next time at Galleri Diana (Uppsala) in September with the solo exhibition “Washed up and left behind.”
Check out more of Linnea’s work on Flickr or follow her page on Facebook
Filed under Art, Net stroll, Paintings, Photography, Uncategorized
Natural disasters, weapon of mass destruction, reversal of Earth’s magnetic field or excessive alcohol drinking …
What’s wrong with the world? — What might end it? — And why?
These are classic questions which are often asked even though it´s given that nobody knows — for sure — the correct answer.
Here is a tiny glimpse of how our world might end …
Death, disaster and — to a lesser extent, notions of apocalypse have always been visible in the art history. Concerns about the end of the world were often found in films of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s and the topic seems to have made a remarkable comeback in further contemporary art forms last decades. The theme appeared most recently in “Heimsendir,” an ambitious group exhibition in Artima gallery.
The exhibition was particularly diverse, as you can expect when 23 artists are displaying their work together. The artists are former classmates that studied together at the Iceland Academy of Arts from 2006 to 2009. After their graduation the students headed to different directions — all bringing back new educations, experiences and outlooks.
Apparently — the classmates were cheerful to renew their friendship. After a great night out — waking up the day after with appropriated hangover — some of them probably thought:
Hey, this headache might end the world!
Date: 10th – 19th of August 2012
Artists: Amanda Tyahur, Anne Marte Overaa, Arna Óttarsdóttir, Auður Arna Oddgeirsdóttir, Bergdís Hörn Guðvarðardóttir and María Dalberg, Brynja Kjartansdóttir, Davíð Hólm Júlíusson, Emil Mangúsarson Borhammar, Erla Silfá Hordvik Þorgrímsdóttir, Haraldur Sigmundsson, Hlynur Heimisson, Jonatan Jannert, Kolbrún Ýr Einarsdóttir, Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir, Sara Ross, Sigurlaug Gísladóttir, Solveig Pálsdóttir, Sunna Schram, Þorvaldur Jónsson, Þórarinn Ingi Jónsson, Þórður Grímsson and Örn Alexander Ámundasson
Curator: Árný Fjóla Ásmundsdóttir
Place: Artíma Gallerí, Skúlagata 28, Reykjavik
P.s. In relation to the exhibition the artists published a book that can be bought at the gallery. If you are interested you can check out the graduation exhibition from the same group in 2009 here
Filed under Art, Group exhibit, Iceland, Konsthopp, Multimedia, Reykjavík
Although Guo Hongwei might be well-known in the contemporary visual art world — I first noticed him yesterday. And I absolutely fell in love with these beautiful, washy, everyday things by the Chinese artist.
Since the beginning of his career, Guo Hongwei has used oil painting and watercolor as a method to investigate the relationship between the objects he chooses to represent and the boundless possibilities of the chosen medium.
Only 30 years old, he has gained well-earned international repetition for his outstanding work.
Born in Chengdu, China in 1982 and now based in Beijing, Guo Hongwei has gained international recognition in the contemporary art world for his unconventional treatment of his chosen medium and the simplicity at which he renders his subject matter. He first established his career and name with a series of work that is highly personal in nature. They are based on his own childhood photographs and mostly monochromatic in colour. What stands out is his technique of building and blurring his images, achieved from applying and diluting each layer of paint; which is meant to mimic the way memories get eroded, replaced and deleted.
Konsthopp 