Monthly Archive for February, 2007

This past weekend was the international Armory show at pier 94 in New York. Some of the galleries had some nice objects, such as the one to the left, a self portrait by Chuck Close at PaceWildenstein, but as a whole I continue to be unimpressed. It’s not the galleries themselves that disappoint me, they are doing their best to create awareness and sell their works, but it’s the spaces that they are given to do so and the manner in which art seems to be presented these days, with cheap walls, open space, white depressing backgrounds and emptiness. Now I’m a strong believer that art shouldn’t be a decoration, but a work of art, and should not be hung in a place where it “blends” in with the scenery but this is a little exaggerated. I went last year to the FIAC in Paris and it was the same thing, a large space with fake walls put up, white backdrops and no feeling, no emotion, no soul. Unfortunately its been like this for years and its going to continue being like this; there isn’t much anyone can do about it but start over and try to start a new movement.
The question I have to ask is the following: where are we really going with this and what can be done? Is the art world going to become so over saturated that creativity will become bland and redundant or is someone going to step up to the plate and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. An artist I used to work for used to say that he hated auctions because it destroyed the value of the art, but is this doing the same? Are we treating art as if it were disposable? If a painting is worth millions, then why are we treating it like it’s worth pennies by putting it in such cheap looking and feeling surroundings? Art is very personal and that creativity should be celebrated, but not like this. I know this has been discussed a lot over the years, but its time for a change….

Here is another work that I liked but I didn’t get a chance to ask whom it was, enjoy: