Wangechi Mutu

 

 

 

Her work is of equal parts beauty, charm, intrigue and an unusual sense of glamour. Wangechi Mutu finds herself among the most celebrated and collected artist of her times. She is featured in the world’s most elite magazines and shows in every major venue. Wangechi’s creations reflect the ivory and bronze sculpture of the High Benin Culture and the marvelous collages of Romare Bearden. Mutu’s work is equally marvelous! Mutu’s mixed medium pieces are also akin to the works of the lovely Bette Saar in approach. Mutu’s Kenyan background is a strong element of her visuals without limiting it to being purely ethnic.  This is a good thing; her works are universal in appeal. The spirit and the reality of Wangechi Mutu is ultimately; like all great artist, uniquely her own. The requirement of originality is met superbly by Mutu and we are all the more enriched by it.

 

Mutu is a graduate of Yale and like her fellow graduates Kehinde Wiley and John Currin represent the contemporary leaders of the 21^st Century art scene in a grand manner. Wiley and Currin are almost exclusively painters while Mutu embraces medium as varied as sculpture, installation and video. In this she is very much a force in the art world. Mutu is best viewed (as is a chacteristic of all the best artist’s work) in person. A walk through the works of Mutu is a treasured phenomenon, it is the greatest pleasure.

                                                                                                                                                 

“I’m really trying to pay homage to the notion of the sublime and the abject together and using the aesthetic of rejection, or poverty, or wretchedness as a tool to talk about things that are transcendent… we really do have to pick up pieces and remake and rework things and translate them into something new and hopeful.“

Wangechi Mutu

 

 

She is an artist very much attuned to the cultural, astethic and political climate of our times. All of this brilliantly evident in her art and life. Wangechi Mutu is to celebrate!
 

Beasts of the Southern Wild

A modern parable of life, love, the metaphysical wonder of childhood and the longing to connect our primordial beginnings to our ultimate destinies.  A world of flood, survival, fears and death are viewed through the eyes of a small child in an obscure delta community. The strongest little heroine the big screen has seen probably since the Great Depression is enchanting her own world and pretty much every viewer of this remarkable thing; “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” This is of course an after- thought looking back at a remarkable screen experience. Watching this is to be very much in a state of entrancement, abandon and awe.

 

 

To describe this film is almost to do it an injustice. It is the most unique cinematic style of story-telling to come around in many years; it is the real thing. It can only be truly appreciated in the viewing. It will live with you for a while.The center of the film is Hushpuppy; portrayed by at (the time five year old) Quenzhane Wallis. She is dynamic…you will be drawn in from her first frame on screen.  She and her single parent father Wink; Dwight Henry (who is superbly cast) go on an amazing journey that cuts to the core of life and existence in a rare thing of beauty. Ben Zeitlin directs and shares a co-writer credit with Lucy Alibar. Alibar’s one act play “Juicy and delicious” was the basis of the film. 

 

“Beasts” has already been lauded at Cannes and Sundance. More acclaim is certain to come. It is what film is about when thinking of the new and daring. Add it to your must see list…you will not be disappointed by this miracle!

BANKSY

He should be arrested for his crimes. He should be commended for his social commentary. He has defaced property. He has enhanced his urban environment. He is a criminal. He is an artist. Banksy is in a league of his own. He is one of the coolest guys that no one knows…at least his true identity. No one knows him besides his art dealer and a select few. Literally making his mark first all over Bristol and London; now the world is target. Ranging from Tel Aviv to New York he is a sensation. His works are alarming, humorous, poignant and ridiculous. An Artist/Graffiti Writer of a unique, personal vision that engages and enrages in equal measure. His work is distinctive and immediately recognizable.

Banksy works primarily with stencils. He can accomplish more in a short, safer time period. His work is going on walls and spaces that if he were caught in the act of posting would lead to serious jail time. He has placed his work on gallery walls like the Tate and modified objects on sidewalks for his artistic purposes. Often his stencils extend from their wall beginnings into and becoming a true part of the world. His graffiti is often tailored for a specific spaces and this speaks to his brilliance and daring. Location is all to Banksy.

“Exit Through The Gift Shop” is Banksy’s documentary film piece. It is amazing! It centrally questions the notion of art and the artist in the contemporary world. His book “Banksy,Wall and Piece” should be in every home and library. Many of his quotes, illustrations and stories are told here.

He has ventured into animation with an extended “Simpson” intro segment. This was another phenomenal piece for the adventurous Banksy.  Banksy is in the running of becoming one of the enlightened social humorists of our times and compares to the greats of print, literature, spoken word and paint. His reputation is richly deserved; a true artist in tune with his times speaking with a resounding voice. Long live Banksy!

Banksy Quotes

"A lot of mothers will do anything for their children, except let them be themselves.”

― Banksy 

“The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It's people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages”

― Banksy

“I mean, they say you die twice. One time when you stop breathing and a second time, a bit later on, when somebody says your name for the last time.”

― Banksy

“Sometimes I feel so sick at the state of the world I can't even finish my second apple pie.”

― Banksy