LA Art Girls

"Painting In Tongues" la moca show

"Painting In Tongues"
I saw this show and felt at a complete loss to find a clear connection among the title, the work, and the curatorial statement as written in the press release. Maybe I just hate painters' freedom, but I thought this show was confusing and frustrating.

First, I am not sure why it is called a "survey", since it only shows work by seven artists. Second, why did Kai Althoff need a smelly, dirty, hotel carpet/bad lighting in the space? Third, why were the all the works by each artist hung in discrete sections -- as opposed to intermingling them in the space where they might have some chance of sparking a conversation about the topic at hand. (non-painting paintings) Is that curatorial decision part of the idea of "survey"- as in a mini-survey of each artist?

That said, there were a few nice moments in the show-some Ivan Morely's paintings seemed to work in conjunction with the Masters of American Comics show, and personally made me yearn for my redneck youth. Gillian Carnegie made a small painting of a fall-season tree that was lovely. The tree was bursting and dying all at once. I am very excited about inventive tree painting after seeing the Cezanne Pisarro show at LACMA, so this little piece is very timely. Carnegie had several other paintings of trees and landscape which revealed an interest in manipulating paint in different ways from one painting to the next. These paintings worked together as a group very nicely.

Actually, I think if many of these works were not struggling to fit under the rubric of "painting"(in tongues) they might break free and become something interesting. Artists, especially painters, get boxed into styles and "signature" techniques fairly quickly. This may happen because painting is hard, and sometimes a long and tenacious time to develop a style that is truly compelling. I think the deeper problem, however, is the market's reliance on style over content or concept.

Every artist I know makes different types of things. (THANK GOD!) Some painters make sculptures, drawings or videos or installations or beautiful frosted fake birthday cakes. So why call them paintings? I applaud the idea of having show which embraces the artist who works with ideas and allows the medium or technique to follow the concept. However, the title of the show and the efforts of the curator are at odds. The show suggests that artists are breaking free from the constraints of style, form and medium--but every thing made by a painter still has to be called a PAINTING?

If you saw this show and liked it, please respond and tell me why I am a dumbass. If you haven't seen the show, go see it and tell me what you think. There are three other shows up-Karl Haendel, Masters of American Comics & After Cezanne. Check out the R Crumb drawings--I know, I know, everyone loves R Crumb--but the drawings and studies are truly transcendent.

PRESS RELEASE
PAINTING IN TONGUES
01.29.06 - 04.17.06
This survey examines the work of seven international emerging artists who have embraced a novel and challenging approach to painting. By employing a varied mix of painterly styles, modes, sources, and materials, as well as working against a single recognizable �hand,� the featured artists have each crafted a complex and rich practice that offers innumerable avenues for exploration and growth. The artists�Kai Althoff, Gillian Carnegie, Mark Grotjahn, Lucy McKenzie, Rodney McMillian, Ivan Morley, and Anselm Reyle�are guided by a variety of individual motivations and conceptual frameworks rather than the outward appearances of their canvases. The exhibition is curated by MOCA Assistant Curator Michael Darling and is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue.

Posted by vaderrove08 at 07:41 PM | Comments (5)