Monday, December 18, 2023

In ‘Body Politic,’ Antony Gormley Traverses the Human-Built Landscape

“Resting Place” (2023). Installation view of ‘Body Politic’ at White Cube Bermondsey. Exhibition photos by Theo Christelis. All images © Antony Gormley, courtesy of White Cube, shared with permission

Since the 1960s, British artist Antony Gormley has used the language of sculpture to examine relationships between human beings, nature, and the cosmos. If you’ve driven the A1 or taken a train past Gateshead in the U.K., you’ll have likely seen the “Angel of the North,” a public work made of weathered COR-TEN steel installed on a hilltop in 1998 that depicts a figure holding out arms that look like riveted wings. One of his most recognizable projects, the work was met with controversy at the time but has since become a beloved landmark.

For decades, Gormley has featured the human form in his work, often using his own body as a starting point for large-scale installations in which abstracted figures wander through outdoor spaces or convene in enigmatic arrangements. In Body Politic at White Cube in Bermondsey, London, the artist investigates our relationship with industrial environments and the tension between migratory impulses and the need for refuge.

In “Test, Bind” a single figure inhabits the center of one gallery, extending long, iron latticework to each wall and the ceiling, simultaneously supported by and supporting its surroundings. And in another room, 244 modular figures made from fired clay sprawl across the floor in “Resting Place,” evoking a gridded urban landscape. As visitors wander through the maze of prone and splayed bodies, the work summons a tense uncertainty. Some appear relaxed while others express discomfort or pain, stirring associations with the risks migrants and refugees take to escape conflict, along with a lack of resources and the effects of the climate crisis.

 

Installation view of  ‘Retreat’ series in ‘Body Politic’ at White Cube Bermondsey

In a series titled Retreat, blocky concrete pieces, which Gormley refers to as “intimate bunkers for one,” form a single-file line through the corridor of the gallery and into the courtyard. Cast to the scale of the artist’s body, each figure compresses and contorts into different postures, with a small opening at the mouth that reveals a human-shaped void inside. “The only place where we can find true freedom is within the infinite darkness of the body available to us once the body is still,” Gormley says. “These works both evoke and embody the space that we all enter the moment we close our eyes.”

Throughout Body Politic, Gormley wrestles with ideas of interiority and external influences, vacillating between human introspection and the inevitability of outside forces. If you’re in London, you can visit the exhibition at White Cube through January 28. A solo show of his work will also open at White Cube New York this spring.

Gormley also has a solo presentation at the Musée Rodin in Paris titled Critical Mass, which remains on view through March 3. Find more on the artist’s website.

 

“TEST: BRACE” (2021), cast iron, 175.6 x 48.2 x 75.7 centimeters. Photo by Stephen White & Co.

“Test, Bind” (2023). Installation view of ‘Body Politic’ at White Cube Bermondsey

Installation view of ‘Body Politic’ at White Cube Bermondsey

“Stand” (2023). Installation view of ‘Body Politic’ at White Cube Bermondsey

“Retreat: Tuck” (2022), concrete, 81 x 61.5 x 108 centimeters. Photo by Stephen White & Co.

Installation view of “Resting Place” (2023) in ‘Body Politic’ at White Cube Bermondsey

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Sunday, December 17, 2023

In Surreal Portraits, Rafael Silveira Plunges Into the Mysteries of the Human Psyche

A vibrant and colorful portrait of a figure without a head, but instead a bark-like textured neck and bouquet of flowers.

“Extravaso.” All images © Rafael Silveira, shared with permission

Brazilian artist Rafael Silveira supplants heads with bunches of flowers, flocks of birds, and plumes of smoke in fantastical portraits that delve into the inner workings of the human psyche. Lively hues of pink, yellow, and blue come together as he continues to convey the permeation of emotions through surreal phenomena.

Since childhood, Silveira has harbored a profound interest in the complexities of the mental universe. “I believe that my art is a profound dive into the human mind,” the artist tells Colossal. “I find inspiration in the mysteries of the human psyche and in the energies, both tangible and intangible, that permeate our lives and the nature surrounding us.”

As he translates these concepts to oil paintings, familiar anatomical features partake in unusual sights, as eyeballs hover like hot-air balloons, lips emerge from flowers, and brains converge with swans.

From his studio in Brazil, Silveira is currently working toward his first major solo exhibition next summer at KP Projects Gallery in Los Angeles. Make sure to visit the artist’s website for more work, keep an eye on his Instagram for studio views, and pick up one of his new prints.

 

A vibrant and colorful portrait of a figure without a head, but instead birds flying nearby, with two eyeballs

“Free Mind”

A vibrant and colorful portrait of a figure without a head, but instead a large cloud of smoke, lightning, flames, and sunglasses.

“Burning Desire”

A vibrant and colorful portrait of a figure without a head, but instead two eyebals hovering above the rest of the body, like hot air balloons in the background

“Ebulição”

“Recanto”

an Ibis with a large eyeball on its body, a hibiscus flower, and another flwoer make up the eyes and lips of a face.

“Polyphonic Nature of Existence”

A vibrant and colorful portrait of a figure without a head, but instead pink and red flwoers growing upwards from the body, and a hat on top.

“Flora Intimista”

A vibrant and colorful portrait of a figure without a head, but instead a large pink cloud.

“Vapores de Mente”

An artist painting in their studio

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Saturday, December 16, 2023

A Reissued Book Reveals Hundreds of Photos from Frida Kahlo’s Personal Collection

a man rests on his back with a wide grin and hands in the air

Adolfo Best Maugard, María Luisa Cabrera de Block, and Frida Kahlo, (1945). All images © 2010 Banco de México in its capacity as Trustee in the Trust relating to the Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo Museums, courtesy of RM Publishing, shared with permission

In her short lifetime, Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) collected an incredibly vast archive of photographs. Her father, Guillermo Kahlo, had been one of Mexico’s most well-known photographers, documenting architecture, industry, and himself, and his legacy certainly influenced the artist’s enduring interest in self-portraiture and image-making.

While Frida fostered a prodigious artistic practice of her own, she also amassed more than 6,000 photos taken by friends, family, colleagues, and sometimes, herself. Within her trove are snapshots of Mexico and her life, particularly moments shared with her husband, the artist Diego Rivera. Compiled in a recently reissued book, the collection offers unparalleled insight into the influential couple’s life and work.

Frida Kahlo: Her Photos was originally published by Editorial RM in 2010 and out of print until its re-release in October. Containing annotations and notes, the tome features hundreds of black-and-white images that, before 2004, had been hidden in storage in the artist’s Mexico City home. This edition once again offers audiences the opportunity to better understand the bonds, preferences, and daily minutiae of two of the most important artists of the 20th century.

Spanish and English versions of Frida Kahlo: Her Photos are available on Bookshop.

 

a black and white photo of frida painting a portrait of a man

Frida painting the portrait of her father Guillermo Kahlo (1951). Photo by Giséle Freud

an open book spread showing frida in bed on her stomach

a black and white photo of men wearing sombreros and holding guns

Revolutionaries

an open book spread with two images. on left: a woman wearing a scarf on her head and dark skirt. right: diego rivera standign near a picnic table

a woman wearing a fur-collared coat holds a bird while a young girl looks up at it with a smile. a man with short hair sits in a chair nearby

Diego Rivera with his models, Nieves Orozco and Inesita

a book spread open with two images. on the left: a group portrait on a balcony. right: a hazy portrait of frida

the camera looks down at the artist with his arms crossed. he's seated and wearing a polka dotted shirt and tie

Diego Rivera (1933). Photo by Esther Born

a book cover with a portrait of frida kahlo that says "frida kahlo her photos"

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Friday, December 15, 2023

Meticulous Embroideries by Cécile Davidovici Bring Objects to Life and Evoke the Passing of Time

A portrait of a woman, surrounded by flowers and hands that cover her mouth

All images © Cécile Davidovici, shared with permission

Through densely embroidered still lifes and portraits, Cécile Davidovici stitches together a dialogue between time, objects, and nostalgia. Focusing on gesture and color, the Paris-based artist uses short, expressive stitches to render melons, wine glasses, hands, and faces that glow by candlelight and sunset.

Evolving quite a bit from her previous works, Davidovici explains, “I’ve always wanted to do portraits, and I finally succeeded in a way that spoke to me by working and experimenting a lot with embroidery. I love the idea of pushing the technique to places it’s never been before.” After completing the series, she applied her new embroidery methods to still lifes.

Placing both modern and classical subjects next to each other, La Vie Silencieuse, or The Silent Life, questions what it means to make still lifes today in contrast to their popularization centuries ago. Created as a joint effort, the artist worked with David Citborsky, who first created 3D models of each composition. Davidovici then used these images to render each scene through copious threads, converging textures, and jewel-toned hues.

See more work and process videos on Davidovici’s website and Instagram.

 

Propped up against mountains, a watermelon and a cantaloupe rest against each other. There is a warm light emitted from the left side.

“Jupiter”

A still life of a cup with a straw, figs, bread, and a cloth.

“Le Poids des Choses”

A classic still life table with a blue cloth, and a vase of flowers, watermelon, and a TV.

“La Vie Silencieuse”

A hand hovering over rippling water.

An orange orb, with a seemingly plastic of translucent shiny material around it.

“Pluton”

A pumpkin, artichokes, and a glass sculpture of an angel on a table.

“Marbre Vert”

Two feet stand on top of a rocky surface. In the background is a sky of pinks and blues.

A tube of unrolled tin foil with a rock resting upon it, a glass, and grapefruit on a table.

“Pierre Bleue”

Candles, a glass of wine, a fig, and blueberries on a table.

“Les Heures de Cire”

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Meticulous Embroideries by Cécile Davidovici Bring Objects to Life and Evoke the Passing of Time appeared first on Colossal.



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Two Newly Discovered (and Very Tiny) Rembrandt Paintings Are On View for the First Time in 200 Years

two hands hold small portraits in black frames up to a gray wall

Rembrandt portraits Jan and Jaapgen. All images courtesy of Rijksmuseum/Olivier Middendorp

Standing just under eight inches tall, two oval portraits rediscovered after 200 years are now considered Rembrandt’s smallest formal works. On view at the Rijksmuseum, which houses the largest collection of the Dutch painter’s oeuvre, the pair was rediscovered two years ago and depicts members of Rembrand’s family rendered with his characteristic loose brushstrokes.

Painted in 1635, the portraits feature the wealthy plumber and slater Jan Willemsz van der Pluym and his wife Jaapgen Caerlsdr, who were married in 1591 and ages 70 and 69, respectively, when they sat for Rembrandt. “Considering (the works’) small size and dynamic, sketchy style, he probably painted them as a favour to the couple,” a release from Rijksmuseum says. “The van der Pluyms had a close bond with Rembrandt’s family, which began in 1624 when Jan and Jaapgen’s son Dominicus wed Rembrandt’s cousin Cornelia Cornelisdr van Suytbroek.”

Larger versions of these tiny works have been known to researchers for decades, which helped to attribute the smaller pair. Using a combination of X-radiography, infrared photography, infrared reflectography, macro X-ray fluorescence, stereomicroscopy, and paint sample analysis, Rijksmuseum found that the portraits were built up like other Rembrandt works and alterations in the sitters’ collars were made similarly to his other pieces. The materials, including lead- and iron-based paints and Earth pigments, also match those often employed by the artist.

Both works are on view long-term in Amseterdam. (via Hyperallergic)

 

a painted portrait of a man with a white collar in a black frame on a gray wall

Jan Willemsz van der Pluym

a painted portrait of a woman with a white collar in a black frame on a gray wall

Jaapgen Caerlsdr

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Two Newly Discovered (and Very Tiny) Rembrandt Paintings Are On View for the First Time in 200 Years appeared first on Colossal.



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Thursday, December 14, 2023

Uncanny Woven Portraits by Jason Chen Splice Two Moments in Time

a woven photo of a woman standing in front of a white building covered in green vines

“Coming to an End.” All images © Jason Chen, shared with permission

Rather than capture a single moment, Jason Chen (previously) weaves together photographs taken just seconds apart, creating disjointed portraits that convey movement and the passage of time. The Philadelphia-based artist often splices snapshots of the same setting and subject with slight differences in the tilt of the head, gesture, or gaze. Laced into a grid or hypnotizing circle like a photographic tapestry, the resulting images are uncanny and disorienting, nodding to fragmented identities and skewed perceptions of the self and others.

In a note to Colossal, Chen shares that the process and outcome of each piece depend on the subject. “When I work with professionals, the initial photoshoots tend to be an exploration of movement whereas with my close friends, there is often an exploration of more subtle emotion in the process. Sometimes I’m most excited about the pieces that end up only having a subtle shift,” he says.

While Chen sometimes plans portraits, the weaving process is entirely intuitive. He often narrows his materials to two images, although he’s currently experimenting with adding more to the mix. “Unlike the initial act of photographing, the photoweaving process involves a lot of unknowns. I usually like to dive in without preplanning the effect the weaving is going to have on the two photos, and sometimes this leads to weavings that don’t quite work out, but it makes it that much more exciting when they do.”

Find more of Chen’s recent works at Paradigm Gallery + Studio in Philadelphia.

 

a woven photo of a girl wearing a white dress and standing in a meadow

“Familiar”

a woven photo of a man on a trolley

“He Stayed”

a woven photo of a woman dancing outdoors with a fan in her right hand

“La Éimi II”

a woven photo of a woman dancing in a black dress in a subway station

“Like Nobody’s Watching”

a woven photo of a woman tilting her head

Detail of “Coming to an End”

a woven photo of a woman wearing a black dress dancing in front of a rusted blue door

“La Éimi III”

a woven photo of a landscape and two people sitting on a rock

“Disguised Confidence”

a fragmented woven photo of a person on a rock, facing in both directions

Detail of “Disguised Confidence”

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article Uncanny Woven Portraits by Jason Chen Splice Two Moments in Time appeared first on Colossal.



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In a Neighborly Portrait Series, Ashraful Arefin Turns His Gaze Toward Four-Legged Passersby

A cat with its back to the camera turns its head to look at the photographer. another orange cat is blurred in the backdrop

All images © Ashraful Arefin, shared with permission

In Animals from the streets, photographer Ashraful Arefin takes a moment to greet the furry creatures that join the hustle and bustle of the city. Taken during the last few years in cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Jaisalmer, Kathmandu, Dubai, and Dhaka, where Arefin is based, the portraits are dreamlike and neighborly, glimpsing the mundane goings on of cats, rhesus monkeys, and cows sunbathing or lumbering through small thoroughfares. Arefin takes a friendly approach to documenting his subjects, framing them like any other passerby wandering through the streets.

View the entire series on Behance, and follow Arefin on Instagram to keep up with his latest projects.

 

a cow licks its own face while walking down the street

a white cat looks at the camera

a monkey sits peacefully on a stone

a monkey sits on a concrete block

a cow with horns is in the center of the frame with blurred people in the background

a small cat sits in front of fringed textiles

two cows lie down in the street

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In a Neighborly Portrait Series, Ashraful Arefin Turns His Gaze Toward Four-Legged Passersby appeared first on Colossal.



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A Knotted Octopus Carved Directly into Two Pianos Entwines Maskull Lasserre’s New Musical Sculpture

“The Third Octave” (2023). All images © Maskull Lasserre, shared with permission Behind the hammers and pins of most upright pianos is a ...