Art
E-Waste As Art? A New Generation Of Environmental Artists Is Bringing The Sublime Up To Date – Forbes
When the Irish statesman Edmund Burke first described the sensation of “tranquillity tinged with terror”, he was not characterizing our present-day reality, in which environmental crisis is met with tranquilized complicity. The year was 1757, and Burke was attempting to portray the profound effect of nature on an individual experiencing its grandeur. He called this condition the sublime. His term that came to define Romantic art, and to describe the predominant aesthetic sensibility in Europe and America over the course of more than a century.
Times have changed, as have tastes, but the French curator Nicolas Bourriaud doesn’t think that the sublime is obsolete. On the contrary, he views it as vital to understanding how the grandeur of nature is being laid to waste today. As a member of the independent curatorial collective Radicants, he has set out to illustrate his point in a series of three exhibitions at the Palazzo Bollani, coinciding with the Venice Biennale. The series of exhibitions, running from April through November, is collectively called Planet B.
“I am convinced that through the notion of the sublime, we can outline a new approach to contemporary aesthetics,” Bourriaud writes in the exhibition catalogue. “Shorn of any romanticism, this updated version of the sublime seems to be the most relevant aesthetic concept for analyzing art in the Anthropocene.”
From Bourriaud’s perspective, the sublime is not only important as a curatorial framework or an art historical theme. He believes it to be nothing less than the quality that gives contemporary art its potency as an antidote to “the Capitalocene”. In other words, his exhibition is political. What distinguishes it from countless other politically motivated exhibitions about the environment is that environmental polemics are all but absent.
Consider, for instance, the work of Hicham Berrada. In his Permutations series, aquariums are filled with otherworldly structures, organic in appearance, grown from the dissolution and crystallization of exotic metals sourced from electronic waste. These “strange landscapes”, as Berrada describes them, can be viewed as premonitions of a post-technological world in which our machines reconstitute themselves according to the natural affinities of their materials. In other words, they preview our future absence on a planet we’ve attempted to make in our image. Berrada’s Permutations can be seen as permutations on the landscapes created by the 19th Century German Romantic painter Caspar David Friedrich, which typically depicted the human figure as the most minor feature in a vast panorama.
Yet there are important distinctions between Friedrich’s paintings and Berrada’s mixed media works that support Bourriaud’s contention that the “new sublime” is different. Most obvious is the way in which the human element is expressed. Friedrich often portrays a lone hiker overwhelmed by his surroundings. Berrada shows nobody, but implies our entire species through the initial conditions from which his landscapes emerge.
Monk by the Sea, 1808-1809, by Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840), oil on canvas, 110×171 cm. (Photo … [+]
De Agostini via Getty Images
More subtle, but also more important, is the difference in process. In the case of Friedrich, we identify a painter and distinguish him from the painting which bears his touch even 182 years after his death. The conditions under which Berrada’s works come into being are more fluid, both literally and figuratively. The work self-assembles as he lets go of it.
As Bourriaud smartly observes, Berrada and contemporaries such as Bianca Bondi and Peter Buggenhout refuse “the mental scheme that has structured Western aesthetics for the past two millennia: imprinting matter, drawing a figure against a background.” More than any environmental message that might be deduced from Berrada’s use of electronic waste, this refusal has political implications that are potentially transformational. “We live in a gigantic echo chamber,” Bourriaud observes. “Such is the new awareness from which the contemporary sublime arises, which is above all a refusal of the tragic confrontation between the human and the world that has been the leitmotif of Western thought.” The new sublime is to be found in the dissolution of our selves.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Ukrainian sells art in Essex while stuck in a warzone BBC.com
Source link
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has reopened its doors to the public after a fire swept through the historic building in central London. While the gallery has resumed operations, the rest of the iconic site remains closed “until further notice.”
On Saturday, approximately 125 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze, which sent smoke billowing across the city. Fortunately, the fire occurred in a part of the building not housing valuable artworks, and no injuries were reported. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Despite the disruption, art lovers queued outside the gallery before it reopened at 10:00 BST on Sunday. One visitor expressed his relief, saying, “I was sad to see the fire, but I’m relieved the art is safe.”
The Clark family, visiting London from Washington state, USA, had a unique perspective on the incident. While sightseeing on the London Eye, they watched as firefighters tackled the flames. Paul Clark, accompanied by his wife Jiorgia and their four children, shared their concern for the safety of the artwork inside Somerset House. “It was sad to see,” Mr. Clark told the BBC. As a fan of Vincent Van Gogh, he was particularly relieved to learn that the painter’s famous Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear had not been affected by the fire.
Blaze in the West Wing
The fire broke out around midday on Saturday in the west wing of Somerset House, a section of the building primarily used for offices and storage. Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, assured the public that “no valuable artefacts or artworks” were located in that part of the building. By Sunday, fire engines were still stationed outside as investigations into the fire’s origin continued.
About Somerset House
Located on the Strand in central London, Somerset House is a prominent arts venue with a rich history dating back to the Georgian era. Built on the site of a former Tudor palace, the complex is known for its iconic courtyard and is home to the Courtauld Gallery. The gallery houses a prestigious collection from the Samuel Courtauld Trust, showcasing masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. Among the notable works are pieces by impressionist legends such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, and Vincent Van Gogh.
Somerset House regularly hosts cultural exhibitions and public events, including its popular winter ice skating sessions in the courtyard. However, for now, the venue remains partially closed as authorities ensure the safety of the site following the fire.
Art lovers and the Somerset House community can take solace in knowing that the invaluable collection remains unharmed, and the Courtauld Gallery continues to welcome visitors, offering a reprieve amid the disruption.
Sudbury’s annual art and music festival is marking a significant milestone this year, celebrating its long-standing impact on the local cultural scene. The festival, which has grown from a small community event to a major celebration of creativity, brings together artists, musicians, and visitors from across the region for a weekend of vibrant performances and exhibitions.
The event features a diverse range of activities, from live music performances to art installations, workshops, and interactive exhibits that highlight both emerging and established talent. This year’s milestone celebration will also honor the festival’s history by showcasing some of the artists and performers who have contributed to its success over the years.
Organizers are excited to see how the festival has evolved, becoming a cornerstone of Sudbury’s cultural landscape. “This festival is a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible talent we have here in Sudbury,” said one of the event’s coordinators. “It’s amazing to see how it has grown and the impact it continues to have on the arts community.”
With this year’s milestone celebration, the festival promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a full lineup of exciting events, workshops, and performances that will inspire and engage attendees of all ages.
The festival’s milestone is not just a reflection of its past success but a celebration of the continued vibrancy of Sudbury’s arts scene.
A linebacker at West Virginia State is fatally shot on the eve of a game against his old school
Hall of Famer Joe Schmidt, who helped Detroit Lions win 2 NFL titles, dies at 92
Coastal GasLink fined $590K by B.C. environment office over pipeline build
12 Bizarre Things People Did Just To Make Social Media Content
dynaCERT Inc. Invites You to Join Us at the Vancouver Resource Investment Conference | INN – Investing News Network
AP source: Bears acquiring quarterback Nick Foles from Jaguars – Sportsnet.ca
-
News23 hours agoTaxi driver suspected in fatal B.C. hit-and-run has left Canada: RCMP
-
News23 hours agoSingh claps back at Poilievre ahead of House return
-
News23 hours agoMore than 67 million people watched Donald Trump and Kamala Harris debate. That’s way up from June
-
News23 hours agoThe ancient jar smashed by a 4-year-old is back on display at an Israeli museum after repair
-
News23 hours agoMounties say there’s no evidence Lytton, B.C., wildfire was arson; cause unknown
-
Sports22 hours agoCanada’s Stakusic, partner Savinykh lose in doubles quarterfinals at Guadalajara Open
-
News12 hours agoCanadanewsmedia news September 12, 2024: Air Canada pilot strike looms, BC transit strike talks resume
-
News12 hours agoReggie Bush was at his LA-area home when 3 male suspects attempted to break in
