. . . it's pretty hard for anything else to top it.
Since the eighties, pop art has failed to advance as an aesthetic, with most artists simply following the groundwork laid out by Andy Warhol. Jeff Koons' 1988 sculpture is one of the boldest works of pop art I have ever seen, accomplishing what great pop art should. It is amazing to look at, though questionable as to whether its subject belongs in an gallery. The work makes no explicit statement about its subject, instead letting your views on mass culture, celebrities and Michael Jackson influence your interpretation.
::3 Related Links::
1•Jeff Koons' "Banality" series
2•"Kiki Smith offers up a challenging body of work at SFMOMA" (San Francisco Chronicle)
3•"The many faces of Chuck Close" (San Francisco Chronicle)
6 comments:
I'm expecting a review of a long lost and missed mop top band due for your next post.
There's a Monkey theme running in your posts Will.
This Koons piece is stunning- were you stopped dead in your tracks when you saw this?
It's breathtaking.
I knew it was in the museum and I vaguely remembered it from a postcard, but nothing could have prepared me. I stared in awe for quite awhile. It's rather haunting - I still am thinking about it.
There is a force telling me to travel to see it..like some kind of religious or perhaps satanic urge..
I am no art expert by any means, but I have the impression that in general the Pop Art label was limited to a narrow time and a few artists in it's acceptance by the mainstream. It seems like this is the perfect time for new pop art (since pop culture is so dominant), what is your take?
I think everyone is an art expert - which I guess means no one really is. At least, everyone's opinion is valuable with regards to it.
As for pop art - I think Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Jasper Johns - among others, created great work, because it was based off of very commercial aesthetics, but was twisted just enough to spark great discussions and comment on our popular culture. I feel like with many of today's pop artists (like Ron English or David LaChapelle), they are simply mimicking that same visual style. Only now, pop art has become accepted as "art," that this visual style is no longer effective in creating discussion. They are not commenting on pop culture - they are, in fact, pop culture.
I wonder if maybe pop art has reached as far as it can go with regards to painting. The Koons piece is so remarkable, and I ended up having a great discussion about it. Maybe sculpture, collage, installation, video art are the more effective mediums for pop art.
I also feel like DJ's are the new Pop Artists because they mix so many sounds from our dominant pop culture. People like DJ Spooky, Party Ben or Diplo, especially, mix from different genres, years, and cultures into something that is truly remarkable. I think their work comments on our popular culture, and our culture very well.
Pop art still has its place ... I just wonder what makes it most effective.
Thanks for such a great question Jacquie; sorry for such a long answer. What's your take?
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