POSTCARD OF THE WEEK: No.3

(from) Inflammatory Essays, 1979-82

Jenny Holzer

YES. This reminds me of a conversation I had today with Rachel actually, about anger towards other people, (or recurring violent thoughts about other people!) Luckily, the important people in my life are amazing, but I think this is something we can all feel from time to time. Art like this, I believe, can make one feel a bit ‘better’. I, and we, can dance off anger and paint it in pink :).

A thought: at a graduate exhibition the other week, one girl whose work was being exhibited said: “I don’t like art with meaning.” What? Surely that’s like saying “I don’t like bread baked with flour”. Or am I wrong? I’m not an artist (just an enthusiastic appreciator I’d like to think!) so are perceptions of art different to those who actually create it? I’d love to know what anyone thinks!

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Innocent and naive without depiction: the face of a balloon

My brain isn’t full of words and 'wisdom' today, from the frantic thought and scribble in the exam today (!). So I thought I’d share a poem from the volume Ariel by Sylvia Plath, a lovely Christmas present from Milly.

Balloons

Since Christmas they have lived with us,

Guileless and clear,

Oval soul-animals,

Taking up half the space,

Moving and rubbing on the silk

Invisible air drifts,

Giving a shriek and pop

When attacked, then scooting to rest, barely trembling.

Yellow cathead, blue fish –

Such queer moons we live with

Instead of dead furniture!

Straw mats, white walls,

And these travelling

Globes of thin air, red, green,

Delighting

The heart like wishes or free

Peacocks blessing

Old ground with a feather

Beaten in starry metals.

Your small

Brother is making his balloon squeak like a cat.

Seeming to see

A funny pink world he might eat on the other side of it,

He bites,

Then sits

Back, fat jug

Contemplating a world clear as water.

A red

Shred in his little fist    

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POSTCARD OF THE WEEK: No. 2

The Love Potion, 1987

David Hockney

I bought this while visiting Salt's Mill in Yorkshire - an old textile mill holding one of David Hockney's largest collections. Such a lovely day with the fam! The Love Potion (I think) illustrates illusions brought on by alcohol consumption (maybe, in this case, wine goggles!) The female figure is sad and passive, while the protagonist directly rejects his love interest pre-potion intake. Hmm. His expression, however, implies one of passion, determination; his eyes failing to leave her :-)

What do you think? Do you disagree? Tell me!

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Blue Valentine, Taylor Wessing and "Wilton's!"

Expecting to see something roncom-ish and easy to digest, Blue Valentine came as a wonderful, beautiful surprise (!). In fact I felt so immersed and involved, I forgot who I was watching the film with! (sorry Jumping Joe). It's about a couple having marital problems. I liked it, really natural with those ‘touches’. A bit too pretty to feel real though. When will the US get truly gritty when it comes to looks?!

Managed to drag myself down to the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize. Here’s who won!

1^st: David Chancellor, Huntress with Buck

2^nd: Panayiatis Lamprou, Portrait of my British Wife

3^rd: Jeffrey Stockbridge, Tic Tac and Tootsie

4^th: Abbie Trayler-Smith, Untitled 2

THE WINNER

None of the photographs really captivated me; most of the portraits had a solemn feel about them. I found the BP painting prize a lot more enjoyable, and felt that it had ‘more in it’ almost! Maybe painting is where my true love lies. Oh! And have just remembered what someone said, once:

“It could be said that photographs now replace what painting has depicted”, or something along those arty farty lines.

No! No!

Highlight of the week was visiting Wilton’s Music Hall, helping out as an usher. It’s the oldest surviving music hall in the world (!) opening in the mid-1800s. But there’s nothing princely or pretentious about it. The experience filled me with joy; we even got an umbrella each on our way home!

“Here at Wilton’s we have plenty of umbrellas” :-)

I hope Peter the pianist doesn’t mind me robbing his photo...it totally sums up the vibe of the place!

 

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POSTCARD OF THE WEEK: No. 1

I own too many lovely jubly postcards. On reasoning that “it’s only 30p” at the galleries and museums, I’ve ended up with LOADS. In a bit to ‘better’ myself (ha to the neats) I’ll do a postcard of the week, every week. Sharin’s carin’ :-) (Reid, 2010).

Nyrmla’s Wedding 2, 1995-6

The Singh Twins

One of my faves! Bought at the National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery is too big, I like faces. The Singh Twins live on The Wirral (my home town) and I’m a twiny too so I find them instantly likeable!! Such a shame the photograph is shite – its f’in beautiful, incredible detail, sheer artistic skill. I love how the clash of Indian heritage and westernised consumerism is conveyed in this piece (check out Ronald McDonald in the background!) amongst the flourishing eastern patterns.

:-)

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Can you believe I found this on the street, in a bin?! Well, by a bin...

I absolutely love it. Rather like a loutish, modern day version of The Scream?

Ahhh!

(Obscene gesture!!)

I've never found it scary. I just see scuffle in a British pub. And one might quite like the idea of thugs hanging above her bed.

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Hello fancy bums, freaks, neats and chums :-)

Happy 2011! Blog blog blog. I'm really looking forward to getting into it! It'll keep me going you know, I'll feel fullfilleddddd. Anyway, here is my first 'thing' :-)...