Friday, March 19, 2010

Bouquet V


Willem de Rooij
2010

Made with florist Mireille Ruch, de Rooij's bouquet consists of one flower drawn from 95 different floral species. As one wilts, it is replaced with another of the same. Other arrangements include collaborations with Dutch artist Jeroen de Rijke (1970-2006): Bouquet II that references the robe colors of 2002 Nigerian beauty pageant contestants, and Bouquet IV that uses flowers selected for their gray-scale conversion and overall short range that eliminates stark black and stark white.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Library of Rhizomatic Activity


Lucy Pullen
2005

Select books in various collections are covered in artist-made reflective dust jackets. As Pullen writes, when photographed, "the book appears to be consumed in a burst of bright white light, and disappears from the photograph." While the dust jacket conceals the book in normal light, in a darkened room it is a beacon.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Constellation


Chu Yun
2006

Makes me want to get busy in a darkened room with lots and lots of electronics. Plus, I like it when artwork requires the absence of conventional light.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Anything Frank Netter


Frank Netter

Photorealism shmotorealism. Unless we're talkin' medical illustrations in the style of Frank Netter. As only an artist can, Netter's gouache paintings infuse the sterility of medicine with command and palpable sensitivity. If you're wondering what my face looks like as I look at Netter's illustrations, sorry, only he could have drawn it.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Souvenirs


Michael Hughes
ongoing

Photographer Michael Hughes superimposes souvenirs over their inspiration, resulting in kitschy but sometimes beautiful reunions. Browse the photos in his Flickr set here.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

5 Rooms


Jasper Niens
2009

There's something about people braving their way through a fun house that makes me want to throw some drywall and doors together, slap on some signage and call it art. Watch video of Niens's site-specific installation here.