Art is Research

In this video from the 2010 PSFK conference, Zach Lieberman talks about how art is a type of creative research, in his case the tech oriented interactive art is like a glimpse into our tech infused future. Zach does amazing things with technology and I agree with him that art, all art, is an exploration and in fact research into new possibilities.

This is not a sculpture…

This is actually a street performer in Los Angeles, the mysterious Mirror Man. I think this is a fantastic idea. I think as a static sculpture it would be an arresting image and bring up metaphysical contemplation, but the added layer of it being a live performer really brings it up another level. Would love to experience this in person.

Unfortunately I can’t find any more info about this artist/performer, but you can check out a lot more images of this scene at SiLver sKY’s flickr photostream where I found this.

Peter Baldes

“Hypertemporality Animations are a series of gif files layed out in a table and due to network conditions, browser idiosyncrasies, and client behavior act dynamically. try reloading them. try different browsers”

You gotta click through to the animated examples here and here. These are just awesome, the perfect blend of simplicity combined with knowing and understanding your medium. Exploring the internet and subtly getting into the crevices of how it functions, all with the humble animated gif the very thing that was there in the beginning. And who doesn’t love an animated gif?

(via today and tomorrow)

Exit Through The Gift Shop – Banksy


(Image: Exit Through The Gift Shop, a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No-Derivative-Works (2.0) image from russelldarling’s photostream)

Finally got to check out this Banksy film. Except it wasn’t about him. Wasn’t even that much about street art in general. It’s mostly about this guy named Thierry Guetta a.k.a. Mr. Brainwash. Mr. Brainwash you see, is more famous than Banksy and his work sells for more than even Banksy’s does. He even had a huge street art show in LA called Life is Beautiful. Banksy used to be friends with Thierry, but not anymore. that was before Mr. Brainwash decided to become a famous artist! It’s so easy! Anyone can do it! Just take an iconic image and be ironic with it. Make sure it’s a little rough around the edges, uses lots of spray paint, is in yo’ face, and just has that “street art” style to it.

Now, doesn’t that sound ridiculous? Maybe… …Banksy is just tired of all these real life street-art wannabee’s, it’s so easy to pick up a spray can and mindlessly deface property, and is showing us, through an intricate and elaborate set up, just how ridiculous the celebrity art world can be. Sure, maybe it’s easy to criticize, as he is cashing in, and plenty of people consider him a sell-out, but that doesn’t negate the fact that a lot of his work is actually quite good and a cut above much of what is out there. I definitely enjoy the often site-specific, always thought-provoking and with a distinct unmistakable style Banksy offerings.

As far as a review goes maybe Film just isn’t Banksy’s medium? Too much emphasis on the message and not enough un-fabricated not-mr.brainwash content. I really would have enjoyed more of “Thierry’s” raw footage, and maybe an intellectual delving into the forces driving street art and the artists behind it.

Portraits

These are some of the best and most wonderful portraits I’ve seen all year. It is quite a collection. Is that Marina Abramovic in there? Yes these photos are part of Marina’s performance at the MOMA. A professional photographer takes a portrait of every single person who participates. I think that gives me second thoughts about participating, but the results are stunning and well worth extended study.