World Art - by Craig Hill

Film reviews Popular culture - World Art

Star Wars Renaissance Paintings

September 4th 2008 03:31

The Force was with us a Long, Long Time ago

Yoda regails the Nymphs

The 14th century renaissance period in Europe, so named because of its “rebirth” of artistic and intellectual expression was arguably the richest time in human history for art, religion and science.

The Venus De Leia?

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, (Earth in 1977) a film called Star Wars came along and triggered a renaissance of its own. One that reignited cinema audiences appreciation of the classical 1930/40’s serials and adventure romps.

Da Vinci goes Wookie

Taking traditional mythologies and inserting them into a contemporary, lived in future opened many eyes to the possibility that a postmodern approach to the past was desirable.

Grievous on the Throne

As with most successful ventures, the hand was eventually overplayed and illustrated by the disappointment that many feel for the continuation of the saga in the last decade.

Vader taller than Napoleon but the dark Side is strong

It seems logical then that the Photoshop competition site worth1000.com would embrace this renaissance idea with a call for gurus to create images that draw on George Lucas’ massively influential space opera. Images that draw on the philosophical revolution from centuries ago to reinvigorate its historical significance with a motif leaning towards cleansing the decaying quality of wasted opportunity into real world context.

The horrors of a trooper facism

I have included just a few examples from the worth1000 site that I found pleasing, to view the complete body of entries into the competition please click HERE.

Look closer and use the force

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Art reviews, Film reviews, Popular culture, Exhibitions & Performances

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The Pop Art of Dave Perillo

August 29th 2008 04:54

The Pop Art Style continues

A Selection of David Perillo Posters - I love that Ramones one

Trawling the many caverns and crevices around the net I stumbled across a site called montygog.blogspot.com. The site features the work of a 34 year old Philadelphia artist named Dave Perillo, a pop culture nut who has drawn inspiration from some of the most recognised cult creations of the moving picture age.

You have just entered the Twilight Zone

From fantasy stop motion guru Ray Harryhausen to grandiose cinematic lord Alfred Hitchcock, from Muppet man Jim Henson to the sci fi anthology of The Twilight Zone David has put his own unique stamp on recognizable characters, posters and other retro merchandise.

The horror icons on parade - just for our resident Horrorphile Bryn

Personally I think David’s art bares some the marks of Genndy Tartakovsky creations like "Dexter’s Lab" and "Samurai Jack", this is a good thing. Simple designs, bold colours and strong lines make all his pictures easy to enjoy.

Star Trek...but at what cost?

In turn, there is also something quite Charles M. Schulz (Charlie Brown) meets Hanna Barbera (Flintstones, Top Cat etc) about the graphics.

Kneel before Zod

The end result is a sentimental nostalgic tone that forces me to share them with all you readers, hope that you like them. Please visit montygog.blogspot.com for loads more pics.

The Wonder of Woman

The whip carrying archeologist

The post wouldn't be complete without one Star Wars reference at least..ootini

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Miscellany, Artist profiles, Film reviews, Popular culture

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Boogie Woogie – The Art of Satire

August 27th 2008 07:43

Boogie Woogie Lands a cast of Excellence

The Boogie Woogie Novel

Doing for the contemporary art world what The Devil Wears Prada did for fashion the novel Boogie Woogie was released in 2000 to some acclaim. Now a cinema adaptation is due to be released later this year.

Set amidst the egos, neurosis and excesses of the modern day London art scene the story centres around the acquisition of Piet Mondrian’s abstract expressionist painting titled Broadway Boogie Woogie. Danny Huston is Art Spindle, a dealer who MUST have the painting despite its current owner, collector Alfred Rhinegold’s (Christopher Lee) reluctance to sell.

Exposing the farcical underbelly of the business end of the creative medium, as the obsession for the piece grows so to does the superficially perceived value, just like real life.

A Plot synopsis from Wikipedia:

“Boogie Woogie is a comedy of manners, its cast of characters devouring each other in a small world awash with big money. Set against the backdrop of contemporary London and the international art scene, it casts an eye over the appetites and morality of some of its major players. Dealers, collectors, artists, wannabees vie with each other in a world in which success and downfall rest on a thin edge.”

Some of the cast of familiar faces that will Boogie Woogie

Adapting his own novel into a screenplay writer Danny Moynihan’s story is Directed by Duncan Ward who makes his feature film debut. An enviable cast which includes Danny Huston, Charlotte Rampling, Gillian Anderson, Christopher Lee, Alan Cumming, Heather Graham, Joanna Lumley, Stellan Skarsgård and Gemma Atkinson bring the collection of vignettes to life.

Curator and Author Moynihan taps into an existence he knows all to well in the book. Danny has been ensconced in the universe that he writes about for several years. His real life contacts are vast with friends like artist Damien Hirst.

Let’s hope the honesty of the book translates to celluloid, maybe we could have another Art School Confidential on our hands.

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Film reviews, Popular culture

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What is Art? An Animated Answer.

February 6th 2008 00:03

What is Art, the Animal Kingdom talks.

Creature Comforts

“I’ve thought about this for years. My definition of art is anything that anyone creates that invokes a reaction from someone else, even an animal. That’s art. Art’s also a friend of mine, a Mexican guy, nice guy.” – Creature Comforts

What is Art? It is an age old question, one all those who embark on a creative endeavour ask themselves at some time. It is a complex riddle with no definitive answer.

The uber talented Aardman animation team (Wallace and Gromit, Flushed Away) obviously obsessed over the eternal quandary. The clip below is from the acclaimed Creature Comforts series which was itself inspired by the original Oscar winning short. In it various talking wildlife discuss the deeper nature of art.

Nick Park with the studios most famous creation

Witty, philosophical and hilarious this mock interview touches on most all reasonable responses. Injecting a pop culture spin to proceedings there is also some absurdist humour that removes any pompous gravitas.

Childishly mature, the charm of stop-motion, claymation characters has become an art in itself. The patience and dexterity of bring the figures to life impresses with the Zen like dedication of the animators.

The Caged Bird Sings

There is a magical quality to the anamorphosis of these beasts that doesn’t insult like some Disney films. I have always been a fan of Nick Park and his gang and this really highlights the appeal of their work.

The only question left to ask, “Is the clip itself art?”

Settle back and laugh with the Creature Comforts animal’s artistic perspective.

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Posted By: Dexter - Category: Miscellany, Film reviews, Popular culture

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What are your favourite films about Artists?

November 22nd 2007 06:24

9 Great films about Artists

Some of the cast of Basquait

Cinema is considered an art form by many and the obvious connection of visual expression on a canvas links painters and celluloid makers. It is fair to assume their should be a kindering of spirits when a storyteller of film expresses the life or essence of a painters existence.

Cinema history tells us that there are no guarantees for success, but here are 9 films that I think express the artistic temperament and touch on an emotional level the inner turmoil of most creative inspirations.

Pollock Poster

Pollock (2000) Director – Ed Harris
American Painter Jackson pollock’s life is brought to the screen in a labour of love from Ed Harris, in front and behind the lens.

Basquait (1996) Director - Julian Schnabel
True story of a modern entry in art history, that of Jean Michel Basquait, an urban artist (Jeffrey Wright) who took the upper class for a ride. David Bowie features as Andy Warhol.

My Left Foot poster

My Left Foot (1989) Director – Jim Sheridan
Daniel Day Lewis gives an astonishing performance as the handicapped Christy Brown.

The Draughtsman's Contract (1982) Director – Peter Greenaway
So it’s strictly not a film about art but an artist is the lead character and the story gets the temperament just right.

Lust for Life (1956) Director – Vincente Minnelli
Starring Kirk Douglas as Vincent Van Gogh and Anthony Quinn as Paul Gauguin, Lust for Life tells of the relationship between these two iconic geniuses.
Trailer

Agony and the Ecstasy (1965) Director – Carol Reed
The story of Michelangelo’s struggle to paint the Sistine Chapel with Charlton Heston as the grandiose artist.
Opening scene of Agony and the Ecstasy

I Shot Andy Warhol (1996) Director – Mary Harron
The twisted story of a 60 flower child Valerie Solanas (Lily Taylor) who spirals into madness and ends up shooting Andy Warhol because he refused to read her screenplay.