MACBA

MUSEU D’ART CONTEMPORANI DE BARCELONA

Over the Easter Break I visited MACBA and saw THE BEAST AND THE SOVERIGN exhibition by Jacques Derrida.

Also THE IMMATERIAL LEGACY which investigates MACBA’S own collection, looking at political framework, cultural collisions and moments of rupture

that art was involved in during the seventies to early nineties.

As well as ART AND LANGUAGE UNCOMPLETED. THE PHILIP MEAILLE COLLECTION.

These are some of the things I saw.

The Beast and the sovereign Jacques Derrida

Prabhakar Pachpute 2015. “State Relief Packages-11”

Ines Doujak. 2010 “Not Dressed for Conquering/HC04 Transport”

Interestingly this work is made from papier- mache.

Miralda “Brides Chest” 1969.

Dieter Roth. “Interfaces”

Antonio Beneyto

Sandro Chia. “Troglodite Erudite” 1987

Richard Artschwager. “Corner Piece” 1992.

Blurt A@L/ Map of War. 1974

The exhibitions are spread over three floors, there is a lot of art that I have not mentioned. If you find yourself in Barcelona, then MACBA is well worth a visit.

EXHIBITION AND GALLERY VISITS

LYNDA BENGLIS

Currently has an exhibition at The Hepworth Wakefield. An American artist who works in sculpture and paint.

Brightly coloured latex poured directly on to the floor.

This work with this lighting makes beautiful shadows on the wall.

LEEDS ART GALLERY

I saw some figures made by Simon Fujiwara. This installation is called “Rebekkah” 2012

These are some other works that I found interesting.

M.I.M.A.

STEPHEN McKENNA Perpectives of Europe 1980-2014

Time seems to stand still in Stephen McKenna’s lifeless world.

PAULA REGO

Works in traditional ways that include, cut, paste and painted collages, animal pictures, grand compositions, large pastel works, print making mostly intaglio and later lithography, installations and painting. I find her printed images interesting and inspiring. Rego has illustrated nursery rhymes and other stories in a very imaginative way.

The Crow etching and aqua tint

The Grand Old Duke of York How Many Miles to Babylon

Nursery Rhymes 1989 . Etchings with aqua tint. 52 x 38cm

Pastel on board each panel 180 x 120cm

Oratorio 2008 – 09 255 x 350 cm

A cabinet in wood with side panels on a base. Comprising eight framed works in conte on paper and eight figures in costume.

Marquette for “The Playground” mixed media

“Play Ground” pastel on paper

The Buzzards 2012 water colour on paper 52 x 35.6 cm

Her Prettiest Smile. water colour on paper Sick of it all. water colour on paper

RAFAEL BORDALO PINHEIRO 1898

The Journalist.

This ceramic appealed to my sense of fun.

ENZO CUCCHI

This artist paints in different media as well as sculpts. DSCF9144

A Painter’s Earth Paintings. 1980 oil on canvas 79 1/4 x 86 5/8″ . These rich terracotta colours are similar to the desert in Australia and inspire working with clay.

The Mad Painter 1981 oil on canvas

This work has similarities to my own. The expression and the smaller faces peeping out of the background are sculptural.

Enzo Cucchi and Sandro Chia working on a sculpture that will be cast in bronze.

Untitled 1985. Bronze 47 1/4 x 78 3/4 x 393 3/8″

This work is exciting, it’s large but not intrusive it blends in with the landscape like a pool of water and appears to be reflective. Time will show how it affects the natural landscape, what if any changes will be brought about by plant growth. The appearance will change with the ageing of the bronze.

SANDRO CHIA

Chia paints with a religious theme in mind using bright colours and a simple style which eye catching.

Angelo, Cuore ed Ala 1994 oil on canvas 63 x 79 1/4″

Melancholic Double 1994 oil on canvas 45 x 36″

Uola Colomba 1994 oil on canvas 50 x 39 1/2″

The use of outlines and bright colours grabs your attention.

MARK DION

This artist makes installations that highlight the endangered species of the world.

Selections from the Endangered Species List (the Vertebrata or Commander McBrag taxonomist)

Close up of the desk 1989

M. Cuvier “Discovers” Extinction.

I found Dion’s work interesting because of my interest in this on going issue. Some work dealing with current extinctions would be good as Dion’s work gives the impression that this is all a past issue. In reality species are going extinct everyday.

Exhibitions

During this year I have been to see The Contemporary Art Fair, at Old Shire Hall, Durham. I saw System presents James Hutchinson.

An interesting work that challenges your senses of sight and hearing. Triangles circles and squares, are shown on screen with slides and around the room out of mixed media. The unmusical sound is played while the slide show flickers on screen. James Hutchinson was sat at a table controlling the sound with a carrier bag on his head. I found this work to be disturbing and made me think of brain washing techniques. The bag on his head was suggestive of a kidnap victim or hostage.

Other Galleries that show artists work there were Vane, Praxis, Globe, Python and Breeze Creatives.

I went to see the National Portrait Gallery touring BP Portrait Award 2014 exhibition at The Winter Gardens in Sunderland twice as it was so good. The portrait that most impressed me was “Copycat” Edward Sutcliffe Oil on Canvas. 1,495 x 600mm.

“Tony” by Jelena Bulajic Mixed media on linen 2,700 x 2,000mm. The enormous size of this work was very impressive. The minute detail made the painting look very real.

These two works were very realistic.

I have also been to see “Emotional Resources” at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. This exhibition gives pause for thought about daily life and the things we talk about. The interactive nature of the ping pong exhibit is fun. The first exhibit “The Real Snow White” showed human reactions well.

I also went to see Virginia Bodman’s exhibition LIGHT/DARK/DARK/LIGHT at the Globe Gallery in Newcastle. Covering three floors the brightly painted works were amazing and surprising and a joy to see.

Katharina Fritsch

This artist creates work that is full of symbolic references to culture and religion. Viewers can relate to their own lives and experiences.

The works are life size, and some are in bright primary colours. They work very well in public spaces, I found them very stimulating.

“Figure in the garden” 2006-08. Epoxy resin and paint.

“Madonnenfigur” 1987 Epoxy resin and paint. The only female figure.

“Elefant” Polyester, wood and paint. 1987 380 x 160 x 420cm

“Tischgesellschaft” (Company at Table) 1988 Plaster, wood, cotton and paint. 1,6000 x 175 x 150cm.

“Mann und Maus” (Man and Mouse) 1991 Polyester and paint. 225 x 130 x 240cm

“Rattenkonig” (Rat King) 1991-3. Polyester and paint. Diameter 1,300cm height 280cm.

“Doktor” (Doctor) 1999. Polyester and paint. 37 x 56 x 192cm.

“Handler” (Dealer) 2001 Polyester and paint. 40 x 59 x 192cm.

“Warengestell mit Gehirnen” (Display Stand with Brains) 1989 Plexiglas, plastic and paint. Multiples.

“Schwarzer Tish mit Eineiigen Zwillingen” (Black Table with Identical Twins) 1985. Mr. Wiegmann and Mr. Wiegmann.

Wood, paint and plastic.

Thomas Schutte

I have been looking at this artists work. He works in ceramics but also with other materials. His work around the human form appeals to me and some of it is similar to the work I have been doing. I like the way he has stood some of his human forms on the top of buildings.

This work is “Die Fremdon” (The Strangers) Life size glazed ceramic.

After the unification of Germany in 1989 unemployment and housing problems were severe. Refuges from the east became scapegoats. Racial prejudice was rife hostels and houses of foreigners were burnt down.

The figures built in clay, fired in one piece. Geometric vases up to the hip, upper body more abstract. Faces realistic , hair expressionistic

I also like his water colours.

“Magnolias”

“Quartett” 1994 Bronze

“Waiting for a Wonder” 1983 Wood, Paint h 36.5 cm

“Grobe Kopfe” (Large Heads) Glazed ceramic. h 100 cm.

Untitled Glazed Ceramic 1993

“Januskopf” (Janus Head) 1993 glazed ceramic h. 90 cm.

Moving on, another artist I have looked at is

Paul Gauguin

1894 Partially enamelled ceramic stoneware.

Also this

Jar in form of head. 1889. Self portrait. Glazed ceramic. h 19.3 cm.

Paul Gauguin made a small amount of sculptural work. His main work was Painting.

Barbara Hepworth “Centenary”

Hepworth uses different materials for her sculptures and creates smooth flowing lines in the forms she makes. The human forms are recognizable. The work “People Waiting” is abstract but gives a good impression of people standing and sitting.

Jacob Epstien Book of Illustrations.

These works some of which were part of an exhibition at The Tate Gallery in 1952 are made from different materials some of which were bronze, plaster, marble and stone. He uses a mix of different styles and finishes for his work.

Walter Ritchie “Sculpture in Brick and other Materials”

Most of the work featured in this book is relief carving on walls. “Women in The Wind” is dramatic. Ritchie makes works with a religious theme as well as emotional pieces, also animals and plants are featured.

“Women in the Wind”

Ivor Roberts-Jones “The Journey to Harlech”

Roberts-Jones work has a rough look, he uses plaster, bronze or clay and gives a rugged representation of the subject. The first image shows a work that has a relief image on the sculpture.

This image shows a commissioned work of Augustus John.

BOOKS AND ARTISTS

Henry Moore ” Animals” text by W.J. Strachan

Moore has made fifty-eight animal sculptures, of these the birds are more interest to me. I think the way balance is used in these works is inspiring. Moores bird forms became much more abstract during the 1970’s. I tend to prefere his earlier works which for me have more meaning. Moore has also sculpted sculls, his abstract of the

elephant scull keeps the basic form in mind

Henry Moore ” A study of his life and work ” by Herbert Read

Moore has also made many sculptures of the human form. ” Family Group ” made in 1944 expresses feelings we can all understand. As with the animals his work becomes more abstract as time passes. The Lincoln Center Sculpure of the “The Reclining Figure ” 1963-1965., could make you wonder what it represents.

Should sculptures stir feelings in

us ? Or should we be confused as to its reason for being ?

Elephant scull

This doesn’t look like a reclining figure.

“The Language of Sculpture ” by William Tucker.

This book looks at several artists work. I was interested in Constantin Brancusi work “The Kiss” 1907. The work gives a strong feeling of love and togetherness.

The Kiss

Auguste Rodin sculpted the human form in a dramatic way, showing emotion and stress with realistic works. Rodin also made a series of figures showing dance movements.