Yayoi Kusama with Louis Vuitton

I've posted on Yayoi Kusama in the past--I suppose I am obsessed with the obsessed (Kusama with dots). This photo I just can't get enough of. It is a still from a meeting Kusama had with Marc Jacobs of Louis Vuitton in 2006. The iconic Japanese artist will have a collaboration between herself and the brand released later this year. I am obsessing over Kusama's eyes: a noticeable spark of life, creativity, exuberance, passion--all there, and surrounded by dots. See more pics from the meeting and collaboration HERE on Tokyo Dandy. 

Todd Selby films Artist, Christine Sun Kim

Todd Selby made a film featuring the artist Christine Sun Kim at work, "reclaiming sound" as her own. As she puts it, her art is her voice. Watch the film below. It is featured on NOWNESS along with more background on the project and Christine's art made with sound--the piece made in blue, via nail, paint, and sub-woofer, is brilliant.  You can also read a mini interview with Christine HERE



Todd Selby x Christine Sun Kim on Nowness.com.

Yolanda Dominguez and "Livings"

Yolanda Dominguez is a Spanish artist who orchestrates "livings" wherein she insights social commentary and participation with acts of art that find their place within everyday, lived, experience. The video below showcases Dominguez's work to bring to life the poses struck by models in magazines into the three-dimensional lived spaces of society--the outcome provokes some humor and underlines the true strangeness of haute couture fueled poses. See more of Yolanda Dominguez HERE on her site.
Source: See Like Me

A Tableaux Vivant from DC's

DC's "Galerie Dennis Cooper" presents various tableaux vivants from across the web. This is my favorite: the trio create a fantastic moment of contagious giggling while (re)creating a moment from art history--good fun: (re)create your own moment via tableaux vivant today. Read more about, and see more Tableaux Vivants HERE on DC's.

Pottery by Ai Wei Wei

It seems slightly feckless to say so--at a time when Wei Wei is still imprisoned in China for speaking his mind--but I love these pieces by the artist/activist. The colors are brilliant. See more HERE on Lurve.

More Robert Longo

Untitled (Shark 12) by Robert Longo

Robert Longo and Ryder Richards

Both of these artists' works touch on ideas of masculinity. Ryder Richards' work connects men with their guns while Robert Longo's famous Men in the Cities connects men with capitalism--"suits." Read an interview by Ryder Richards HERE from homo-neurotic in which he discusses manhood 'n Texas. Robert Longo was a music video director among other things, directing the video below for New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle." Check out the great dialogue at about 2:42--"I refuse to come back as a bug or as a rabbit!" His Men also make an appearance as they flail about in the air against a blue sky.

From Richards' Trajectory

From Longo's Men in the Cities

Source: Varon HERE

"Loved" by Alexander Ocias

 Alexander Ocias' Loved is a game but it is also art. Well, I am sure that many would argue that all video games are forms of art. It is true that many hours and creative manpower go into making games for Xbox, Wii, Play Station, and the rest of the gaming systems one might interact with. However, Loved is simplified in the graphic front, yet it's infuriating and makes you think. I spent about an hour playing, and have just missed finishing the game. It's not so easy. I'm not usually a "gamer" by any means which may contribute to the fact that I haven't made it to the end just yet. Still, I am weirdly connected to the "mind" or "being" behind the scenes, urging you to continue on. If Loved is a game about love, it's a love that is slightly twisted. Ocias calls his game a form of short story--there are quick sentences to read as the game moves forward. What is left unsaid and how you interact with the game is what is most intriguing. Play it HERE. Ocias is a graphic artist and on his website you can experience more of his work. The pic and source came from Matt Bell's blog HERE.

Food Party on IFC

Food Party is the biggest trip I've seen in a while. Thu Tran is hilarious--a talented artist too. Tuesdays are now a time for indulgence and escape 10pm on IFC. Thu gets into misadventures while preparing interestingly disgusting yet weirdly appetizing dishes--a la Martha Stewart and Pee Wee. Gotta Watch It!

Mitch Griffiths: "The Promised Land"

Mitch Griffiths has a new exhibit entitled "The Promised Land" at Halcyon Gallery in London. His work deals with the force of consumerism in today's society and, in broader sense, the construction of identity in a globalized world: including imperialistic ideology and the idea that anything is possible.
Read a great interview with Griffiths on Dazed digital. 

Excerpt from the Dazed interview: 
Mitch Griffiths: "Mass media tells us we can achieve anything we want. There is a flaw in this concept: if anyone can make it then the ones that do are less respected and more resented. The thinking isn't "I can" but "Why not me?" our belief isn't in our abilities but in the right to be given what we want." 

The image is by Griffiths from Dazed digital. The video is from Halcyon Gallery website.

Mitch Griffiths, The Promised Land. from Halcyon Gallery on Vimeo.

Erykah Badu: "Window Seat"

UPDATE: 4/3/10: The video is available on Youtube again. If they take it down once more, the link is below to Badu's website...

You have to visit Badu's website in order to see this video (it has been taken down from youtube by UMG). She strips down to nothing in public for the video filmed guerrilla style in Dallas. At the end, she is "shot" by the site of JFK's assassination.

I think that Badu's video says something about an artist's ability to evolve from their previous works without having to feel confined by those works. Individual's too should feel liberated from the "self" they have built and should pursue evolving and newly negotiated identities in effort to learn more about the world we live in. By stripping herself naked in public, Badu forces those around her to take notice, thereby challenging her own identity and the identities of her spectators.


This is a link to some commentary on the video from NPR. Like the commentator, I too would like to see more videos like this coming from artists that are closer to the mainstream.

Theo Jansen and his Beasts

Theo Jansen
is a Dutch artist who creates "beasts" that utilize wind and "muscles" to roam the earth. The "creatures" are very intricate works but have very light, wispy, graceful appearances and movements. Jansen has a scientific background and his work shows what can be done with natural elements, particularly the wind. His works do take on a personified quality almost--3D animated. Stunning. See the video below the pics...
Website HERE Strand Beest

Reed+Rader Augmented Reality

TRY IT! Augmented Reality image by Reed+Rader. All you need is a webcam. The special "mask" places this digital face over your eyes--very cool if you are talking to someone over skype or other webchat formats and want to freak them out! Genius. Check out the creater's website for MORE.
Thanks to Hop On The Spiral Bitch for the image
Reed+Rader HERE

Taylor Swift: Artist?

Needless to say, I am not a Taylor Swift fan by any measure. I can tolerate what I do hear of her music when I have no ability to stop it: When shopping for groceries or cheap clothes, mostly. But, I do not knock anyone who is a fan. Everyone's tastes are different and I would not expect everyone to like all the music I do (though I do love suggesting). With that in mind, I was a bit surprised but also intrigued and slightly happy that folks took an opportunity to critique her recent performance on the Grammy Show this past Sunday. I was surprised because I did not think that, in the spectrum of Pop music these days (And Taylor Swift is a POP act, NOT a country act. C'mon people!), it was a prerequisite that you actually have the ability to sing well. I thought the Pop Music World had moved beyond that notion in recent years (Auto Tune anyone?). I am happy because while people point out the flaws in Swift's performance, which I too think was lacking in raw vocal talent, I see a glimmer of hope: Hope that we have not completely thrown out a want for musical acts to deliver a nice sounding vocal performance. If you are not going to "blow the audience away", at least sound "OK". During her performance, Swift was a few notches below OK. To put it one way: If she had been a performer in a talent show at my former High School, I don't think she would have won. Perhaps the performance was a fluke. A one off bad showing. Whatever the case, what is fascinating about the entire ordeal is that she is being crticized and what the criticism says about the level of talent that we might expect from a "musical artist."

Great singing talent does, indeed, exist in today's Pop music. Despite its tackyness, American Idol does showcase singers with good voices (for the most part). But not just from American Idol (I only use it as an example). Talented "artists" are making their way to the forefront and have made their way without the help of TV shows. There were a few good examples of such artists during the Grammy Show on Sunday. But, the idea that Taylor Swift is a really great singer, is not believable. However, many people argue that this fact is beside the point. The CEO of Taylor Swifts record company (Big Machine), Scott Borchetta, commented in Swifts defense (of course), "This is not `American Idol.' This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note. This is about a true artist and writer and communicator. It's not about that technically perfect performance" (AP). I think that this quote points out key factors in the career of a successful artist. But isn't another key factor in the art of song and performance the ability to please the "ears" of listeners? The only time this may not hold true would be in cases when the point of the art is to cause displeasure and audible discomfort purposely (Maybe something avant garde, etc.). But Taylor Swift is in the business of "pleasing." While communicating a message and aesthetic to your audience is important, I do not feel that these aspects of performance should ever trump the most important "act" of all. That is, the act of delivering musically pleasing art. Remember, we are talking about a musical performance, not a speech, painting, novel et al. It should sound good. If you do not believe that it should sound good or that one should even go about the critiquing of a singer's vocal instrument, then maybe this says more about what you consider to be "art" and who you consider to be "artists." To a music company, Taylor Swift is a commodity, a product. What matters to the company's bottom line is how effectively their product is "communicated" to a targeted "audience." Music companies need to remember that while an "artist" may "speak" to their audience on several important levels, if you are going to call someone a "musical artist," you cannot neglect the level of musicality. Many have called Taylor Swift, "the voice of her generation." Whoa! Big words, right? What a message. But if this is truly the case (I know millions would beg to differ, but if it is) it means that the messenger seems to be communicating with an audience pretty well (biggest selling album of 2009). But the message and the story are louder and placed in greater importance than the music itself. With Taylor Swift's poor performance being called into question, maybe there is hope that in the Pop Music World an artists talent will need to match all the hype. Otherwise, in my opinion, we need to refrain from a labeling a Product as an Artist.

AP story HERE
Photo by Reina Ltd.

Null Stern Hotel: Switzerland

This video is a short film that gives insight into a very interesting feat in hospitality taking place in Switzerland. Null Stern means "No Star." No star hotels could very well be the new trend in travel accommodations.The entire project is a part art installation and part real functional hotel. This being so, guests are treated to unique experiences as well as comfortable beds. The set up may not be for every traveler, but definitely for those looking for a refreshing and original approach to hospitality.

Null Stern SITE

The Theo Adams Company: London

Theo Adams is a performance artist from London and this is a video of a piece put together and presented for W Magazine. Adams has a vision and he goes for it along with fellow creatives and members of his eponymous Company. He is the kind of person who wears braces on his teeth well after they were due to come off. The company is all self funded. I am sure that will soon change.

Theo Adams Company will be performing for one night only in Tokyo, Japan at the end of November. If you can't make it, check out the video above or the links to the Theo Adams Company blog.

You can truly get pulled into the pieces and may also feel slightly disturbed while watching. The artists do pour so much of themselves into their work. I find it poetic, exciting, and great to watch.

Interesting Theo Adams Interview
Theo's Blog site HERE

Yayoi Kusama

Obliterating the world with dots: Yayoi Kusama has given us some fantastic works of art. I am just now learning a bit more about the Japanese artist and think that other art lovers who don't already know Kusama's work need to take a look. Check out the trailer for a Kusama Bio film by Heather Lenz and Karen Johnson (below). Kusama's official website is also very informative.

She has done happenings, sculpture, painting, performance, installations, and more. Her name is known, but her work is probably not as known as it should be. Kusama has lead a very intriguing life and lives in a Mental Hospital in Tokyo with her studio down the street. 

Kusama Website HERE