SERPENTINE GALLERY - JEFF KOONS, POPEYE SERIS

This exhibition by Jeff Koons at the Serpentine Gallery, I found intriguing and once I had seen it the Intriguing turned to Incredible!

This exhibition is the first major survey of Koon's work to be mounted in the in a public gallerly in England. He has been part of many exhibitions in the Serpentine throughout the years, however this is his first solo exhibition in the gallery. 

The Infulential American Artist (born 1955) started this Popeye Series in 2002.

All of the artists concerns are explored in Popeye seris : consumerism, taste, banality, childhood and sexuality. (Unfortunatly photography was not permitted in the gallery so the photo's below are from the website and photos I have taken from the brochure. )

Much of the exhibition consists of inflatable objects which have been cast. This he has been doing for many years throughout his career from a lifeboat recreated to scale in bronze (Lifeboat 1995) to a larger than life stainless steel cast of a dog made out of balloons (Balloon Dog (Blue) 1994-200).

 

Jeff Koons

Acrobat 2003–09 Polychromed aluminium, 

galvanised steel, wood and straw 

228.9 x 148 x 64.8 cm

Here Shows one of the exhibitions works. All the Sculptures in this exhibition are replicates in aluminium the bright, inflatable children's toys such as those used in Swimming pools. All of the work has a hugely labour in tensive finish done to such precision. Here it is clear that Koons has allied himself with one of his heros Salvador Dali (Super real Surrealism). Here Koons work shows a Lobster (which also makes other appearences in the gallerly) balancing effortlessly on a rubbish bin and chair. One of Dali's most iconic sculptures Lobster Telephone that has a crustacean for a handle. 

'Real art appears. You just have to listen to yourself and when something speaks to you, you have to respond to it.' JEFF KOONS

An essential element to Koons work is the visitor's individual experience of the work - in his view the art is the viewer and not the object. This also explains why he has used such objects, as they are everyday objects to which anyone can relate too. He also chose these objects as they are buoyancy aids and are also intended to 'safe lives.' The Inflatable toys also mantain thier optimism despite the constraints of ladders or rubish bins. 

                                                                                                 

Jeff Koons Hook 2003 Oil on canvas

259.1 x 350.5 cm

Here we see one of the canvas presented my Koons. These where immensely realistic to what they portrayed especially the inflatable characters within them, you had to get really close to just about notice that it was in fact oil on canvas. 

Again along with the sculptures they show the immense precise, The artist uses computer software to compose the different layers before proceeding to

 paint. This is necessary as the paintings give illusions to have many different materials when in fact it is just oil on canvas. 

'My work has always been political even though people don't even look at it in this way. I have been involved in a very political activity: trying to make something that really empowers people.'JEFF KOONS

Now we have to of course talk about the character Popeye and is relevance within this exhibition. The stammering sailor's self -acceptance appealed to Koons, epitomised by Popeye's catchphrase 'I am what I am.' 

Popeye wa

s created when the great depression was taking place 80 years ago, it is therefore Popeye's message of hard times which echoes today. 

Sexuality has always been a big part in Koons work with previeous controversial work 'Made in Heaven' seris which included photographs of the artist invoved a variety of sexual acts with his future first wife. In this as you can see naked women appear, however these are sources from adult magazines as well as advertisments.

His work builds on the traditions of American Pop Art, including artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, who have both used images of Popeye in their work. 

'I feel internally dense while externally, outside my body, it is very airy. I like the inflatable because it's exactly the opposite.'

Jeff Koons

Popeye 2003
Oil on canvas

Caterpillar Ladder 2003
Polychromed aluminium, aluminium, plastic

213.4 x 111.8 x 193 cm

'By making reference to external things, I'm really making reference to people - everyting's just a metaphor for people.' JEFF KOONS

This is an exhibition which I was was shocked by the realitly of it all. I enjoyed it's childish onlook but with an actual solid base and meaning behind it. It is definatly something to try and see if about in London. 

MUSIC I LIKE

These are a few people that my dearest friends Gregey and Joshy Newton introduced me too, of which I love. 

GREG NEWTON

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                                 JOSH NEWTON

These two lovely boys above are very into Music and I therefore learn a lot of my music from them and I love learning new artists as like them I love all kinds of music, wether it be dupstep, drum and base or more chilled out music. Below is a song called Collie Man by Slightly Stoopid. As soon as I heard this I loved it there is something about this song that puts a smile on my face. I therefore looked a bit more into them.

Slightly Stoopid are an American band who are based in Ocean beach, San Diego, California. They describe their music as " a fusion

of acoustic rock and blues with reggae, hip hop and punk."

In total they have released 8 albums, of which 2 have been aucostic. They where originally signed by Bradley Nowell from the band Sublime

to his label while still in high school.

I checked out their website...I was ent so keen on the graphics and layout of it all. However it does ent put me off their music which i am enjoying

learning more and more about by listening to more and more good tunes from them. Have a look and see what you think.

NIKE CUSTOM ID TRAINERS

I know they ' ve been out for a while now but I have been so close to buying some nikey ID trainers but never actually done it! I love the idea that you can be the designer but I think my problem would be that I would always want to change them. I think I am far to indecisive! I do however spend hours just changing the colours! I think Nike has done very well with this idea, it allows people to feel individuality. 

What do you think.......

SHANTELL MARTIN

Shantell Martin is one of my bro's friends and is an Incredible Illistration Artist, and I keep a constant eye on her inspiring work. 

Since Shantell graduated from London’s Central Saint Martins University of Art & Design with first class honors in graphic design and illustration in 2003, she has been expanding conventional definitions of drawing, using it as a base from which to storm and occupy the design, fashion and music scenes. After a while living in Japan evolving her work she has now moved to New York where she continues to expand her creativity and ideas. 

 Shantell Martin has redefined the concept of drawing—using it as a base from which to storm the fashion, music and club worlds.

She collaborates with a number of designers, musicians, DJs and her audience produce fresh, continually evolving art and design that challenge,inspire, amaze and mystify. Below you can see how the immense versatility of her work allows it to still have the same impact on what ever canvas she uses, whether it be a car door or a human body. 

She started with a simple pen and paper to create delicate, intricate and ever-changing otherworldly scenes, of populated quasi-humans and other not-quite-familiar creatures, which themselves seem to be continually engaged in the process of evolving into something else. Of her drawings she says: 

“The lines are spontaneous and intuitive, drawing for me is a line that flows between the past and the future without touching the sides.”

BELOW SHOWS ONE OF SHANTELLS GUERRILLA LIGHT PROJECTIONS

Her drawings which have been exhibited from London to Tokyo. She is now also, an increasingly sought after VJ Shantell has created two unique art forms—both proudly low-tech—which allow her to bring her work to a wider, club-going audience. One, which she calls PPP (pen, paper, projector) and does regularly at an experimental mixed-media collaboration called Test Tone at Super Deluxe in Tokyo’s Nishi-Azabu, involves her covering the walls with an interconnected veil of hallucinatory lines and images to sounds of an eclectic mix of live performances. 

She sees herself as providing a “visual connection between the audience and the performers”.

oi oi Digital Graffiti from shantell martin on Vimeo.

Shantell also has her 1st solo dvd - KOOBS coming out which shows a diverse selection of short videos and would be well worth checking out! 

For the more high-tech work that she does she uses a wacom board, which I myself have just invested in one but she shows the true ability of using one!  

I think she is a Fantastic Artist and a highly motivated exciting person to know and it is always exciting to follow her new creations and ideas!

TINY ACTS OF PUBLIC DISOBEDIENCE

VIDEO LOUNGE

This photograph is by Will Coles and is displayed in the ACP (Australian Centre for Photography) Exibition. I am greatly interested in this Centre as it is where I hope to go after I graudate from Leeds University. I hope to Further my Studies in Photography here. I therefore recieve the News by e - mail, and it was this Photograph which grabbed my attention and interested me in this particular exhibition. The exhibition is on how 'Graffiti' has now turned into 'Street Art'.

NIXON ADVERTISING

This Nixon advertising caught my eye due to its clean cut presentation. The Typography of the above also grabbed my attention although it is actually very think when you look closely it manges to be bold and transfer its message very successfully. I also like the use of colour in the above. They have used orange for both the typography and the background but yet the typography still stands out. The orange also contrasts well with the black of the headphones making them stand out as the product. 

MY FAVORITE PAGE IN WALLPAPER MAGAZINE

Wallpaper Magazine is one of my favorite magazines and this is my favorite page! On this page they show the Global Shopping, what to get where. I love travelling so love to see what you can get where. I love the fact that it ranges from simple products to much more extravagant products each as interesting as the next.

BANKSY 'WALL AND PIECE'

I was given this book for my birthday and love it. I obviously knew who Banksy was but hadn't really looked that much more into him but I found this book fascinating. It shows him as a true artist writing about many of his great experiences in many different countries along with picturing his incredible work.

It gives you an insight into the Artist who is unknown, a face we don't know.

This book also contains many of Banksy's quotes two of my favorites which I have shown below.

Banksy seems to say it as it is which makes me give him a huge amount of respect. Within this there are also many quotes from Banksy, two of my favorites which I have featured above. 

Another quote which caught my eye was probably the simplest one featured on the back cover of the book.."There's no way you 're going to get a quote from us to use on your book cover" METROPOLITAN POLICE SPOKESMAN 

His art also amazes me because he manages to create such incredibly 'real life' graffiti in such a short period time. Some of his most famous arts took less thank 15 minutes to do.

He also is so intriguing because he has the passion to create the art, even though he knows that it may well be washed away within the hour. 

An example is his Mona Lisa with Rocket Launcher which was done in Soho in 2001. This was washed away within two days.

Here you see Banksy's 'Rock with Marker Pen' which is displayed in The British Museum in London. This piece is very interesting as it managed to last 8 days but is now in its permanent collection. This is an example how Banksy manages to get away with things which most would'ent!

Featured below is his work at the Ramallah Checkpoint in 2005 on the Segregation Wall in Palestine. The History to This wall is that it was built to separate the occupied territories from Israel, much of the building being illegal under international law. It has many checkpoints and observation towers.

Here Banksy's guide said : You could paint here - there are no guards in the watch towers, they do not come until the winter.

Banksy : (Returning to the car after painting for 25 minutes) Whats so funny?

Guide: (Laughing hysterically) Of course the guards are in the towers, they have the snipers with the walkie - talkies. 

 I don't want to give away anymore but there are many more little exciting story's so I would definitely recommend a look whether you like graffiti or not, if you don't you may be amazed! 

EGGLESTON

I stumbled across Eggleston's Work when watch I watch a programme called ' Imagine....The Colourful Mr Eggleston.' He is described as one of the great characters in Contemporary photography.

His subject matter is biennial and everyday. Much of his work is described as 'the gap between anything else,' or as 'photographing nothing,' although he described it as 'photographing democratically.' He only ever takes one photo of anything so that he does not get confused as to which is the better photo, and his photographs are seen as loose and organic.

Eggleston received his first camera at the age of 18, and from then on pretty much taught himself photography with some help from literature by company's such as Kodak. He has always printed his images himself and was influenced by photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Despite the fact he spent 6 years at Various Colleges studying art, he never graduated.

In the mid 1960's he change the course of his career and photography itself by doing the 1st role of colour film. It was radical in this day and age and took people along time to understand and appreciate it.

On one occasion he was asked to photograph a wedding and instead of doing the usual photographs of the the bride and groom he was going around taking photos of the ash trays. When he presented the photos they where all of the sky.

He was also responsible for bringing dye transfer Photographers (which has an incredible saturation of colours that never fade) into the art world. Before him this type of photography was only used commercially, especially in the fashion industry.

It was in the early 70's where Eggleston and Andy Warhol got together where Warhol introduced Eggleston to film, and where Eggleston had a long affair with Viva one of Warhol's very successful factory girls.

Despite his strange personal life having a wife and children and then a mistress both of which knew about the other one, he has been one of the most successful photographers introducing a new element into Photography.

I have found his work very interesting as he seemed to do what he wanted, he was the first photographer of his generation to do this and not take photographs of the usual things, but the things people had forgotten about or not even noticed.