Mad is Mad: Auto(Re)Trato

Just Back from Madrid and I took a couple snapshots of some of the work presented there above and below.


I'll be involved in a show in Madrid if anyone happens to find themselves in Madrid over the weekend. If not the work should be up for a couple months. Other artists involved include
RAQUEL SAKRISTÁN, BUBI CANAL, DANIEL ENTONADO, FRANK PLANT, HECTOR ORUÑO Y LUJÁN MARCOS. The inauguration starts at 8pm and will go until 1am to coincide with Noche en Blanco of Madrid. The Gallery is situated in Pelayo 48.....

Dealing Arms: My piece of the pie

Finally it dawned on me that this art gig is for the dogs, I could claim a variety of reasons but I don't want to sound bitter. Hence in my search for a new profession I wanted to find something that would be immediately lucrative and I have, arms dealing. I got started yesterday. Click the above image or here to go to Contain Gallery.

I mean why should all the governments get to keep all the revenue from such a lucrative all be it craven trade. No seriously that funny thought crossed my mind yesterday as i was making a shipping crate for my 3.5 meter fuzzy red Kalashnikov ( that's right! 3.5m, fuzzy and red!) which is on it's way to Cologne, Germany to be in the inaugural exhibition of Contain Gallery. I thought Charlton Heston would be proud of my crossing over to the Dark Side. I think I'm ready for lunch with Dick Cheney and Donnie Rumsfeld

Does this make me a bad person?

Should I be concerned about eternal Damnation?

Below you have a link to the video of the inauguration of Contain Gallery where the AK is currently housed.


In their own words:
"There’s a new arrival in Cologne’s design family
CONTAIN Gallery selected design editions is Cologne’s first gallery focused on young international design.

From now on there is a place in the heart of Cologne’s creative Belgian Quarter for exhibitions from the progressive world of young design.

The opening exhibition “Utopie jetzt! / utopia now!“ deals with the utopian idea of an allegedly refined society – contradicted by a cross-section of modern urban lifestyle.

A forum for young and modern design – this is CONTAIN Gallery’s mission statement. Alternating topical exhibitions present international up-and-coming artists and their exclusive prototypes, progressive design concepts and limited editions. Carefully selected pieces will also be available in the Gallery Shop."

Interview with Ioanna Paraskeva, director of Contain Gallery
in the Koelner Stadt Anzieger on the recent opening of her Gallery.

Personally Political

This is the invite for Personally Political, Contemporary Sensation, a show that I will be involved in Berlin at the Kunsthaus Tacheles, curated by Barbara Fragogna, Here is short blurb on the show... "Is the artist’s work Political even if it is Personal?

What is Personal and what is Political?
Aren’t they as well an expression, explanation, and reflection of the contemporary?
Again, what is contemporary? Hasn’t art always been contemporary?
Aren’t we all contemporary, being alive now, in a specific society, culture, epoque and environment?"

The opening is the 26th of June so anyone in the neighborhood of Berlin is obliged to show up.
Tacheles, the legendary Berlin squat, alternative culture factory or however you'd like to descreibe it, from the backside.


Ain image from the evening of the opening

Go Figure....

Series of Fifteen Quasi Identical Figures, Steel, cardboard, paint, 48cm x 24cm each unit, 2009

Figure, steel, etc.., 48cm without signage, 2009

This is a new series of 15 figures that I am working on. It falls in line with my earlier piece "Stay on Message". Working in a series allows me to discover the process involved in producing multiples (mindnumbing) which is something that I have never done. Even though the original drawing of the figure is the same because they are made by hand they still have each one their own individual differences. In the end they will also be adorned by other materials, some painted, some not, as well as signage that will make them different from one another. I am currently taking suggestions on what to put on the signage from anyone who cares to offer ideas. It can be text, an image or even an obeject, and can be any laguage or alphabet with a wink to musical notes and mathematical equations. Thesigns normally carry proclamations/declarations of love, fear, social injustice, hate etc... Sometimes just the will to communicate is enough. So if you have an idea please feel free to send it to me. I will be posting more images as I have them.

Something for Everyone

Something For Everyone, Steel, bright red Rayon fibers, adhesive, 350cm x 120cm x 5cm, 2009

A young Kalashnikov at the drawing board


I've had this image in my head for awhile and the more I researched it the more engaging the project became for me. More than a few years back I did a large handgun and was always surprised at the variety of responses that I received, beyond the standard positive/negative people would really just sit there and reflect on what it meant to them. The majority found it disturbing, I did as well. It was and is a potent symbol.

Something for Everyone, Steel, 350cm x 104cm, 2009

Something for Everyone (detail), Steel, 350cm x 104cm, 2009

The Kalashnikov or AK-47 (standing for Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947) was invented by Mikhail Kalashnikov and has had what could be considered an illustrious trajectory in becoming first the standard issue rifle for the Russian military and then exported en masse to cold war battlegrounds in the middle east and especially Africa. In some countries, Mozambique for example, it is seen as a key element in their struggle against colonialism and imperialism and was even adopted as an image on their flag on May 1st 1983 (Recent years have seen a sharp debate to have it removed). Kalashnikov has been quoted that he is proud that for many his invention is synonymous with liberty, he has also stated that it was Germany's fault that he became a fabricator of arms otherwise he would have happily stayed and agricultural engineer which was what he was previous to being drafted into the Red Army during WWII. A few interesting facts about General Kalashnikov on his Wiki profile here.
As for the name I've given the piece, Something for Everyone, it has to do with this type of work which i feel leaves no one indifferent. I start with concern/interest in the composition of the object but ultimately am also aware of it's socio-political as well as historic significance. As far as scale is concerned I was due for a big one. This piece should not be confused as a pro arms stance or celebration of the arm itself but more an opportunity for reflection.

Flocking

Some new tools to explore

As you can see the Kalashnikov is destined to be a 3.5m bright red fuzzy Kalashnikov. Quite a process.

Taking in the Laundry

Taking in the Laundry, painted steel, 140cm x 90cm, 2009

New Corkscrew

New work made for Alex Goerke and recently installed in his Flat. Harks back to the older more iconic images that I was working with a few years back.

Corkscrew II, Steel, 166cm x 53cm, 2009

Sketches....

Star Power and Raising Pooh

Three new small figures that are a part of a larger series where I'm investigating new materials and techniques most prominently the process of flocking which is completely new to me but quite fun and super kitsch. The two figures on the left and the right are employing this technique.

1. Star Power: Sarah with Hanky, Steel, Fabric, flocking dust, 45cm x 4cm, 2008
2.Alex Raising Pooh!, Steel, Doll, 45cm x 4cm, 2008

3.Star Power: Maiken with Hanky, Steel, Fabric, flocking dust, 45cm x 4cm, 2008

Star Power: Maiken with Hanky(Detail)

Here you can see a bit better the texture flocking leaves, in the end it is not unlike felt to the touch and is supposedly weather proof. Not sure where this is leading but I'm liking working with texture and color.

We Know What you're thinking

The latest.... One more to go.

These are the first three figures of a new piece involving five figures that I'm currently busy with. In the end with all five figures the signs will form a sentence when read in sequence. Can anyone guess what the last two signs will have on them??? As of yet the pieces are not painted or clean and the color of the signs and fonts to be used are also still to be determined so stay posted... Now off to ARCO!

Funny That... Art imitates life etc...

Le Monde Diplomatique, January 2009 edition

In November I did a piece entitled "Relief" (see below) of a figure reading a copy of the La Vanguardia newspaper, the local daily here in Catalunya, of the day that Obama won the elections back in the good ole US of A. Over the holidays an art director from the esteemed (re. very serious as I've been told by a french friend), Le Monde Diplomatique got in touch with me about using the image in their January edition. Being the the slave to any form of publicity I can muster I readily agreed and lo and behold what arrived in the mail today. I'm well pleased and find it ironic that a piece that I did of a fellow reading a newspaper ends up in a newspaper.

LOST Property: Granny walking through the Hood, Nick Waving his Hanky and other things you might catch in the neighborhood

Nick waving that hanky

Skepticism

New series, Kinda speaks for itself....