Thursday, September 16, 2010

Slammer


James Hopkins
2008

Hopkins corrects the imbalance that the medium creates.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Benten Kozō Kikunosuke


Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III)
1860

This is a theatrical scene from the artist's imagination. The male actor plays a thief who dresses as a woman; the reveal is made by his tattooed arm peeking out, as only men bore tattoos back then. Despite that, I like to think of this as a self-portrait. I mean, I sit on furniture and drink tea with my arm out like that all the time.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Skulls


Julie Moon
circa 2007

Skulls are too dark to keep on display in plain sight in your home, no matter what the attraction is. Canadian artist Julie Moon smooths over the grim discrepancy with her ceramic skulls pictured here. At first glance, the skull is made a lovely object. On second thought, Moon resets the skull. The object, which is usually and expectedly so infused with male bravado, softens. In place of intimidation and death, the innate quality of the skull is brought back to mind: its home within and the sensitivity of it.