Art

Jack Levine, America’s Social Realist

Makis

President Dwight D. Eisenhower once described a painting by Jack Levine as “more of a lampoon than a work of art as far as I'm concerned.” That was not a controversial statement.

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Nor was it a reaction Jack would have been surprised by from a person of power in 20th century America. Because that was Jack – a man whose artwork satirized and mocked the crooked politicians, plutocrats, and those he felt were inflated by hypocrisy. Jack Levine most famous paintings Gangster Funeral Created in 1952-53, this piece is regarded as a seminal moment in the career of Levine and is regarded by many as his best work. The commentary on mob life in America was a narrative referred to by Levine as a “comedy”. The Patriarch of Moscow on a Visit to Jerusalem Completed in 1975, this painting was the culmination of a series of paintings that were inspired by a trip Levine took to Jerusalem

earlier in the decade. The Syndicate Painted in 1939, this work depicts the relationship between those in power and the mob – a theme that Levine would continually revisit throughout his career. Welcome Home The painting famously dismissed by President Eisenhower was completed in 1946 on Levine’s return from military service. Depicting a feasting general, Levine described the painting as not “so much of an attack on the Army as an expression of great joy at getting out of the Army.” Born in the South End of Boston on 3 January 1915, Jack Levine was the youngest of eight siblings. Talented from an early age, Jack was encouraged to pursue his art from an early age by his parents, Mary and Jack Levine – an…

Art

2012 is the Golden Year for Gustav Klimt

Makis

Klimt was born in 1862 to a gold engraver father; into a family whose children -- seven in total -- all displayed artistic talents early on. Gustav was not unique among his siblings at first. And in fact, he and brother Ernst began their careers working together to paint murals commissioned by local municipalities. When Ernst decided to follow his father's footsteps as an engraver, Gustav struck out on his own as a painter.

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The Influential Gustav Klimt The year was 1892. Artists in Austria were growing weary with the societal norms they felt were restricting their creative ambitions to traditionalism and historicism. Many were ready to resign from the Association of Austrian Artists and strike out on their own. Resign they did, under the leadership of none other than Gustav Klimt. Then just thirty years old, Gustav Klimt was a new breed of the artist; a painter who delved into deep symbolism and subjects previously thought too taboo for public displays of art. He was the founder of the Vienna Secession movement and the first president of the Union of Austrian Artists. But Klimt was far more than just his politics; he was an outstanding artist in his

own rite. Klimt's style was very traditional in his early years. It wasn't until after the deaths of his father and brother that he embraced a new lifestyle and the artistic interpretation for which he is now famous. About the time Klimt began experimenting with less traditional art, psychiatrist Sigmund Freud was turning Austria upside down with his new theories regarding psychoanalysis and human sexuality. Klimt was an avid follower of Freud, being heavily influenced by him in his own art. The favourite subject of Klimt's painting was the female body. Combining that subject with his admiration for Freud led Klimt to produce a lot of work with an underlying theme of eroticism. Some of his work, like his Frau bei der Selbstbefriedigung (Masturbation) sketch,…

Art

Bike Art is in the Air exhibition at Eleftherios Venizelos Athens International Airport

Makis

Athens International Airport museum hosts a permanent exhibition dedicated to Eleftherios Venizelos while frequently hosts many other cultural events such as this painting exhibition from Bike Art.

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Bike Art is in the Air is the latest exhibition at the Museum of Athens International Airport "Eleftherios Venizelos" Hall “Art & Environment” & Departures Level. Bike Art is in the Air project will take place from 1st September to 31 December 2012 at AIA and will include three art-actions: An art exhibition presented at Hall “Art & Environment” & Departures Level of 12 original artworks made by 6 Greek and 6 foreign renowned artists. Artworks can be seen below: 4 Greek artists KEZ, POSTER, PUPET & SAME84 will paint a mural live in front of the public in Hall “Art & Environment” In the departure level, there will be presented 22 special bikes and 10 kid bikes by artists APSET, A. VASMOULAKIS, KEZ, KROKO, LIVE2, NADE, NASTWO, NERS, POSTER, PUPET, SAME84 & TAXIS. Project creators comment about their Bike Art is in the Air exhibitions: "The aim is to try to give a unique visual experience for passengers and airport visitors and above all an opportunity to envision and realize each through its personal space, a healthy, happy and sustainable life. The bike offers this feature as a work of art and as a tool of transportation."

Art

Naoshima Art Island in Japan

Makis

Naoshima Art Island located in the Seto Inland Sea is the home an impressive contemporary art collection that every art lover should visit once in his/her lifetime.

This small island used to be a calm fishing community until 1985 where Benesse Art Site and Chikatsugu Miyake(then mayor of Naoshima) came to a mutual agreement to develop Naoshima into a huge art space. Naoshima Art Island is divided into 4+1 art spaces: Chichu Art Museum Chichu Art Museum was developed in 2004 as a way to reveal a different approach in the relationship between nature and people. The building was designed by architect Tadao Ando and hosts artworks by Claude Monet, James Turrell, and Walter De Maria which are presented permanently. [information]The majority of the building is located…

Art

Haruhiko Kawaguchi interview about Flesh Love

Makis

We previously covered Flesh Love Project by Haruhiko Kawaguchi and we thought his artwork was interesting enough to request him an interview, so we did just that.

Haruhiko Kawaguchi Flesh Love

Haruhiko aka Photographer Hal was kind enough to accept our request so without further ado below you can find the whole interview and Haruhiko's replies. Q: How long are you working for this project? A: Two years over. Q: The main idea of your project seems very romantic, you say: "This is is an attempt to capture this moment of love and passion between couples forever and keep it sterilized from any future acts that will separate the couple." Do you believe you capture "love" when you shoot? A: Yes, Flesh Love series is the moment of having loved each

other most strongly. The inside of a bag is only two person's world pure 100% even without any air except a couple. Q: How did you come up with this project? - Why did you choose plastic bags for your project? A: I think that the fun of couple photography is in a couple's degree of loyalty. If a picture of a couple is taken outside, they will be shy, but if they love each other passionately, they will be embraced strongly. The degree of loyalty expresses the depth of their love. It was interesting when putting in the couple…

Art

Bodoni Girl Silkscreen Print by Andreas Xenoulis + tind

Makis

Bodoni girl poster was born out of Bodoni font series that were first designed by Giambattista Bodoni.

bodoni screen

Interesting part of this project is that apart from its historical meaning it has been printed using an old technique called Silkscreen Print. Silkscreen print was first practised in China(during 960 and 1279 AD) and later other Asian countries such as Japan took this form of screen printing and advanced it in paints and block printing. In the 1700s screen printing crossed the Asian continent borders and was adopted from Western Europe countries while in our days is mostly used as a way of expressing art. Andreas Xenoulis designed the print and it was screen printed by tind, Andreas quotes…