Féminaire

November 3, 2017

FullSizeRender 14.jpgMai-Thu Perret

32 glazed ceramics, 9 figures and 1 dog comprise the exhibition “Féminaire” at David Kordansky Gallery in Los Angeles. Artist Mai-Thu Perret uses artistic techniques such as ceramic, papier-mâché and wicker to create works that comment on female identity. Displayed on an elevated platform is “Les Guarillères,” which includes the 9 figures and 1 dog. Each figure is created with different materials yet as an ensemble they all appear as a contemporary army in modern clothing. The figures, and dog, all face the ceramic wall hangings. Like the figures, each ceramic is different. Some are smooth, others are more textural and many include mix colors.

FullSizeRender 9Mai-Thu Perret

FullSizeRender 16From “Les guérillères” // Mai-Thu Perret // 2016

FullSizeRender 15From “Les guérillères” // Mai-Thu Perret // 2016

Serial Flirtations

November 2, 2017

IMG_0549.JPG18th century painter Pietro Rotari is best known for his character studies, which are paintings that illustrate personal characteristics of specific individuals. Rotari’ works were often displayed in a tight hang, with multiple rows. This can best be illustrated in the image below, “The Great Peterhof Palace Museum Painting Hall.” The Norton Simon created an intimate exhibition showcasing a series of his character studies.

FullSizeRender 2The Great Peterhof Palace Museum Painting Hall // Wall Mural

FullSizeRender 8Portrait of a Woman with Black Lace Scarf, Green Coat with White Fur // Pietro Antonio Rotari // oil on canvas // presumably painted after 1750

FullSizeRender 6Pietro Antonio Rotari

FullSizeRender 4Studio Of Pietro Antonio Rotari // Portrait of Ekaterina Petrovna Holstein-Beck, Later Princess Bariatinsky // c. 1762 // oil on canvas

Spun Chair

October 31, 2017

IMG_8717.JPGMagic Spun Chairs // Thomas Heatherwick // Photograph by Alexa Corbin

Who doesn’t love spinning around a swivel chair? British designer Thomas Heatherwick realized the simple fun of spinning in circles when he created a chair designed to spin. Heatherwick’s “Magic Spun Chairs,” are a rotation-molded chair that looks more like a large top than a chair. These chairs have been placed at the Southbank Center in London, the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles and the Design District in Dubai for people to sit and spin their worries away.

IMG_8720.JPGMagic Spun Chairs // Thomas Heatherwick // Photograph by Alexa Corbin

12 Paintings

October 30, 2017

FullSizeRender 4Untitled // Lesley Vance // oil on linen // 31 x 24 x 3/4 in // 2017

Swirls of thick paint spiral across twelve canvases of equal size. Some are monochrome, while others mix two or three colors. Made by Lesley Vance, the abstract twirls of paint create a sense of energy. It appears as though it was produced with a thick brush as often times you are able to see the individual brush marks on the canvas.

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FullSizeRender 13Untitled // Lesley Vance // oil on linen // 31 x 24 x 3/4 in // 2017

FullSizeRender 10Untitled // Lesley Vance // oil on linen // 31 x 24 x 3/4 in // 2017

FullSizeRender 7Untitled // Lesley Vance // oil on linen // 31 x 24 x 3/4 in // 2017

FullSizeRender 6Untitled // Lesley Vance // oil on linen // 31 x 24 x 3/4 in // 2017

Future Present

October 29, 2017

FullSizeRender 9(L) Construction in Enamel 3 // Moholy-Nagy // porcelain enamel on steel // 1923 (M) Construction in Enamel 2 // Moholy-Nagy // porcelain enamel on steel // 1923 (R) Construction in Enamel 1 // Moholy-Nagy // porcelain enamel on steel // 1923

LACMA recently held a retrospective of 20th century Hungarian artist László Moholy-Nagy. In this exhibition over 250 works by Moholy-Nagy were on view ranging in media from oil on canvas, to plexiglas and brass to porcelain enamel on steel. These are a few of my favorite works.

FullSizeRender 10B-10 Space Modulator // Moholy-Nagy // oil and incised lines on Plexiglas, in original frame // 1942

FullSizeRender 8Nuclear I, CH // Moholy-Nagy // oil and graphite on canvas // 1945

FullSizeRender 7Dual Form with Chromium Rods // Moholy-Nagy // Plexiglas and chrome-plated brass // 1946

FullSizeRender 6Kinetic Constructive System: Structure with Moving Parts for Play and Conveyance // Moholy-Nagy // photomontage (gelatin silver prints, photomechanical reproductions, ink, and watercolor) on cardboard // 1922

FullSizeRender 4E IV (Construction VII) // Moholy-Nagy // oil on canvas // 1922

The Untitled Swing Project

September 29, 2017

IMG_8721.JPGThe Untitled Swing Project // Rula Yaghmour, Dina Haddadin, Moar Al-Zo’bi & Rand El Haj Hasan // Arini Creative Platforms // Photograph by Alexa Corbin

Visitors had the opportunity to swing into the art world in an interactive installation by Rula Yaghmour, Dina Haddadin, Moar Al-Zo’bi & Rand El Haj Hasan for the 2015 Dubai Design Week. Various countries in the Middle East had pavilions which showcased innovative art and designs. The swings, fittingly titled “The Untitled Swing Project,” was part of the Jordan Pavilion. Swings allow people to feel weightless and free, evoking a feeling childhood innocence. The swings were all connected  by white beams, whilst the seats were made of stone from Palestine and Jordan.

The Gateway at CityCenter

September 27, 2017

IMG_9847.jpgDavid Niles

Three colossal high definition screens form a 25 foot hight, 50 foot long archway in Washington DC. The entrance to an apartment complex, this work of art was created by David Niles. The screens display a variety of subjects such as elephants, bubbles, astronauts and in this photograph geometric designs. The images are accompanied by music. This, however, is no ordinary video work. Instead of having images on a constant loop, the video changes with the number of people walking through the arch. For example, if bubbles are on the screen, the number of bubbles shown will increase, as well as the music volume, if there are a lot of people walking through. When I visited there was only a handful of people, so it was pretty quite and the geometric patterns changed slowly.

IMG_9846David Niles

The Effect of Lightning on a Rainbow

September 26, 2017

iNight Flower (From Left to Right Blue, White & Pink) // Masood Kamandy // 2017 // dye-sublimation print on aluminum // 24 x 18 inches // edition 3

The world is filled with photographers. Everyone with a smart phone is a photographer whether they consider themselves to be one or not. Smartphones are something the average person carries with them everywhere. They use the camera, along with numerous photo editing apps, to document their lives in snapshots. Artist Masood Kamandy recognizes the importance of photographs in this smartphone generation. In a recent body of work, Kamandy created and designed his own photography app for the iPhone called “Oblique.” The app is available for download in the Apple App store for $1.99. The app essentially combines all photo processing into one step, compressing the image and causing the photographs to have distorted colors that swirl and blend. Some of his photographs were on view in Luis De Jesus Los Angeles Gallery in Culver City. Curious, I downloaded the app and decided to play around with some of my photographs. I took a snap of my backyard then used the filter features to warp my photo. The last three images are ones I created.

xHorizon (Dark) // Masood Kamandy // 2017 // dye-sublimation print on aluminum, 3 panels (triptych) // 16 x 12 inches each // edition of 3

uPurple // Masood Kamandy // 2017 // dye-sublimation print on aluminum // 36 x 27 in // edition of 3

eShear Matrix (White) // Masood Kamandy // 2017 // dye-sublimation print on aluminum // 24 x 18 inches // edition of 3

Rosa Yaghmai

September 24, 2017

dd.jpgZap a Gap // Rosa Yaghmai // silicone, silk, tulle, gap filler, pigment, bricks // 78 x 47.5 x 3.75 in // 2017

Recently on view at Kayne Griffin Corcoran Gallery in Los Angeles was an exhibition on Rosa Yaghmai’s work called “The Courtyard.” LA artist Yaghmai transformed the gallery space to create an indoor courtyard equipped with light-color changing benches and standing sculptures, made of mixed-media such as corrective lenses, which resemble trees.

ddd.jpg(L) Courtyard, Figerglass Bench // Rosa Yaghmai // fiberglass resin, UV LED lights // 18 x 72 x 20 in // 2017 (R) Imitation Crab // Rosa Yaghmai // silicone, quilting cotton, pigment, tin weave, bricks // 84.5 x 47.5 x 3.75 cm // 2017

f.jpgPipe #4 // Rosa Yaghmai // resin, corrective lenses, produce bags, aluminum, miscellaneous debris, steel, rust // 68 x 28.5 x 27.25 in // 2017

aaaLugi Luigi // Rosa Yaghmai // resin, plastic debris // 85 x 3.5 in // 2017

Tiffany X Whitney Biennial

September 23, 2017

IMG_6333.JPG.jpegPhotograph by Erin Fong

This past March was the Tiffany X Whitney Biennial curated by Christopher Y. Lew and Mia Locks. The exhibition, which took place at Tiffany’s Fifth Avenue store in New York City, consisted of works by five artists who participated in the Whitney Biennial: Harold Mendez, Shara Hughes, Ajay Kurian, Raúl de Nieves and Carrie Moyer. Each artist worked with a Tiffany designer to blend Tiffany’s style with a contemporary work of art. Mendez created a sterling silver death mask. Hughes painted landscapes on a bone China pitcher which rotated under a light, allowing for different views of the pitcher to be illuminated at different times of the day. Kurian made sterling silver card holders with intricate designs and phrases, such as the word ‘PSYCHO.” Nives work consisted of detailed etched glass and Moyer made an installation for the front window.

IMG_6327.JPGPhotograph by Erin Fong

IMG_6328.JPGWinter Wonderland // Photograph by Erin Fong

IMG_6329.JPGSculptural Still Life // Photograph by Erin Fong

IMG_6331.JPGModern Secrets // Ajay Kurian // Card case in sterling silver featuring a stereogram hiding the word “PSYCHO” // Photograph by Erin Fong

IMG_6326.JPGRemote Twilight // Shara Hughes // abstract landscape hand painted on bone China pitcher // Photograph by Erin Fong