From Rocky To Artist – Sly Stallone Picks Up His Brush

// February 28th, 2011 // View Comments // b-inspired

I love it when a celebrity tries their hand at Art – partly because I’m a bit of a sadist and I like seeing people make fools of themselves, and also because occasionally they’re actually quite good. Well in this case, I hate to diss Rocky, but…

Sly, Mr Stallone, Rocky…whatever you like to call him, he loves a bit of Art. There’s nothing particularly new there, there are plenty of actors come artists, but I just never had Rocky down as an amateur artist. It isn’t just collecting either, Rambo like to paint. Seriously, I have images of him with the red bandana on, splashing the paintbrush about with reckless abandon.

Far from being a mere collector or occasional painter, Stallone’s love for all things Art go much further than enthusiastic fan – Sly has opened his own gallery. This information prompted me to dig a little deeper into Sly’s love of Art, how long has this love affair been going on I wondered? Apparently, Mr Stallone has been into Art for over 30 years now – veteran status.

Rocky has even made a fair old bit of money through Art, he sold one of his pieces last year for a very respectable $50,000. It is only recently though that the Cliffhanger star decided to put his paintings on public display – his abstract art show went on show at Galerie Gmurzynska in St. Moritz earlier this month. The 64 year old has also claimed his love for Art is greater than his affections towards acting and directing – he said: ”If you feel a passion for something, you can move mountains.”

Wow, so is his work any good then? It must be, right? Erm…no sorry, it’s not that great to be honest! I’m not going to be too disrespectful to Rambo/Rocky, mainly because he could literally beat me within an inch of my life, but I think his acting and directing should remain his recognised day job.

Anyway, have a look and tell me what you think? Is Stallone’s Art Rambo good, or Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot bad? I also decided to put a quick clip of Rocky, just because I can…Enjoy!

Music Meets Art Via Jimi Hendrix

// February 25th, 2011 // View Comments // b-inspired

The link between art and music has always been strong, but never more so than in this piece by Manchester based artist, Ed Chapman…

Jimi Hendrix is one of the most legendary musicians of all time, a man that played up to all the stereotypical excesses of a 60′s Rock and Roll star - and then some. Living fast and dying young, Hendrix has always held a mystique and iconic status that few musicians could ever hope to achieve.

It is not just music that made Hendrix a star, his image is practically its own brand. For a guy that died in 1970, his image is still as vivid and recognisable today as it was back then. It is perfectly logical then that Hendrix be immortalised in art – step forward Ed Chapman.

I love the piece Ed has come up with – a 5,000 piece, Fender guitar spectrum mosaic. This isn’t his first mosaic, Chapman is known for his previous efforts of football legends like Eric Cantona and a huge piece of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made out of coins.

The piece, which took Chapman ‘several days,’ is said to be valued at least £16,000 and will fittingly be unveiled at the legendary Abbey Road Studios for the Sound & Vision music heritage auction. London was an important place in the progression of Hendrix’s career, so there is no better place to exhibit this work than at the most famous studio in London and arguably the world.

What do you think of Chapman’s Jimi Hendrix mosaic? Let us know...

Facebook – The Most Critical Of Art Critics?

// February 23rd, 2011 // View Comments // b-scene

Art is the name of the game at B-uncut, so I don’t like to hear about censorship. It seems the latest culprit of art censorship is Facebook…dislike.

Who has the right to censor art? It’s an interesting debate. As I previously wrote a while back, some art can be too crude or graphic to be seen by all – somebody think of the children! But with pictures that are just relatively tame nudes, is it the right of Facebook or any other large company to decide that they aren’t suitable for their site?

This recent argument stems from the social networks decision to target the New York Academy of Art over a picture that they deemed violated their terms and conditions - it was a nude. The clearly evil artist that drew this offensive nude was Steven Assael. How could he do it Facebook?

The funny thing is that the work in question is currently featured in an exhibition curated by the Academy and shown at the Eden Rock Gallery in St Barths. But if it was so bad Facebook couldn’t allow it, how was it deemed acceptable for a gallery? What makes Facebook have to be so whiter than white?

To make matters even worse, after blocking the use of the picture, Facebook then put a block on the Academy uploading any images for a whole seven days – that’s practically a lifetime in social media time. Obviously the Academy had a little something to say, asking “If it begins with Steven Assael, a modern master, who’s next?”

Cue Facebook then removing the works of two more Academy artists – Richard Scott and John Wellington. This is the same Facebook that recently banned a pregnant woman doing a ‘Demi Moore‘ and posing naked, albeit with her modesty covered, for her profile picture. Is it a vendetta against nudity then?

One rather hilarious poster on the art school’s site brought up a good point – how do Facebook even find out about these images and what their criteria for banning a picture?: “Fans of both artists have speculated on the protocol used for determining which images are removed. From ‘algorithmic programming’ to ‘Facebook censor control department’ or even ‘a titty and crotch recognition program and it’s nothing personal’, and finally an inculpable ‘depends on users violations’, the criteria that surrounds how the images are ‘curated’ seems indeterminable.” Very true.

In the end, it seems the Academy got their way as Facebook apologised and re-instated the art. Facebook spokesman Simon Axten even moved to clarify the sites protocol on these issues. It turns out, Facebook bans nude photographs, but in the interests of making everything as simple as possible, has ‘an unwritten policy’ that allows drawings or sculptures of nudes. Well that’s that all cleared up then.

Interestingly Axten also says the company only reviews images following a complaint – and sometimes gets things wrong. So it seems the culprit for the New York Academy of Art’s beef wasn’t Facebook after all – it was simply a case of a random Facebook user being a tad offended by nudity. Maybe the big companies aren’t that bad after all?

Whoever decided to ban the picture, did anyone have a right to do so? What do you think? Let us know…

David Coulter – The Former Radiator Painter Heating Up The Art World

// February 21st, 2011 // View Comments // b-inspired

From a lifetime of radiator painting to a living as fully fledged artist, David Coulter has made a big step up from white emulsion…

David Coulter is a 63 year old grandfather of three that has made a living painting radiators – hardly the most likely candidate for his own exhibition. But in a story that gives even the most frustrated amateur artist hope, David has done just that - it’s fair to say his 500 or so pictures of his home town have created a bit of buzz.

David said of his new exhibit: ‘Having an exhibition is a dream come true – I never thought it would happen but it’s lovely. I was really surprised when people at the exhibition started asking to buy them and I’d never even thought about prices. I’ve not even decided yet if I want to sell them – it’s a bit like my children leaving home.’ Nice bargaining strategy David.

Coulter is clearly passionate about his home town: ‘Manchester is a fantastic place and I want my pictures to show people what they might have missed as they go past the same places every day. I like to call my style of painting “Manchester impressionistic“. A new movement?!

Davis’s exhibition, entitled ’3/4 Mile’, is on display at The Zion Arts Centre in Hulme until 26th of February, when he will be holding a live ‘paint-in’ at the gallery -a very novel idea! What I like about David’s work is that even though it he an everyday guy, his work is well beyond what you would expect for a former radiator painter. In fact, comparing David to some of the most successful artists out there at the moment, you would be forgiven for thinking that they were the former radiator painter and he was the successful artist.

High praise indeed…Let us know your thoughts on David’s nifty art work and go on see his work if you’re in the area…

And The Oscar Goes To….Banksy?

// February 18th, 2011 // View Comments // b-inspired

Banksy is becoming a bit of a national treasure in the U.K, and now his cheeky artwork is hitting the streets of L.A  - How will his style go down in the U.S of A?

The British enigma has been causing typical mischief in sunny LA ahead of the Oscars, with a series of images popping up on walls and billboards. The elusive artist is actually up for an Oscar of his own next weekend, his film ‘Exit Through The Gift Shop’ is nominated in the best documentary category.

No one actually knows for sure that it is Banksy in town – mainly due to the fact that his appearance remains a mystery - although the sudden presence of some typical Banksy-like pieces has set alarm bells ringing.

The new pieces - come on, they must be by Banksy! - have been appearing in a variety of LA locations, including a the Sunset Strip, a university building and Beverly Hills.

One of the typically humorous Banksy works was an adaptation of a billboard poster, with a drunken cartoon of Mickey Mouse draped around the original woman, accompanied by a drug-addled Minnie Mouse. Obviously the piece wasn’t too well received - it was removed from the site in Hollywood a few hours later and now remains blank.

Another painting features a child pointing a rather large gun at a no-parking sign – it’s a pain to find a parking space sometimes, but come on.

Back to the action and with the Oscars ceremony next week, it will be interesting to see if we finally get a chance to put a face to the name – Officials insist Banksy can’t conceal his face if he takes to the stage. I will be watching on with interest.

Do you think Banksy will finally bare his face to the world? Let us know…

A Bench, A Naked Bloke And A Flame – Is That Art?

// February 17th, 2011 // View Comments // b-scene

Oh art – What is going on with you lately? When I see a show like Roger Hiorns latest effort, it really does make me wonder…

Without trying to be too offensive to the guy, Mr Hiorns – a Turner Prize nominee no less – has created a piece of art that will make anyone and everyone out there think they too can make it in the art world. This really is art of the lowest quality – a metal bench, a naked bloke and a flame – how genius….or maybe not.

Hiorns has drafted in three art school students to sit nude in the installation on the South Bank. When I see this kind of show it makes me think the world has gone mad, and in this case, makes me want to get a fire extinguisher and end the show early.

As I already mentioned, Hiorns is a Turner Prize nominee – although that prize goes down further in my estimations by the day -  and his ‘piece of art’ will be shown at the British Art Show. The show describes itself as a ‘snapshot of contemporary culture’ and runs every five years, opening at the Hayward Gallery tomorrow.

That element of contemporary culture must have passed me by – thankfully.

Mr Hiorns vaguely described the piece as “a collaboration of choreography and objects“. Now, art is no stranger to naked figures, but generally they make some kind of sense – where is the context in this piece?  I’m sure I won’t be the only person out there that doesn’t get this piece – no matter how ‘profound’ it will be billed as.

I hope art sorts itself out soon – I can’t take many more pieces like this one! What do you think of Mr Hiorns work? Let us know your thoughts…

Francis Bacon And The Big, Big Sale

// February 14th, 2011 // View Comments // b-inspired

His works are known for putting a metaphorical middle finger up to conformity. It seems Francis Bacons’s painting should also be known for being extremely expensive…

Unfortunately, the only Bacon I own is probably past its sell by date. If I did happen to be the lucky owner of a legitimate Bacon, I could be living like a King this morning. There is a question that is often levelled at the Art world, that with the inflated prices that are driving Art – has Art lost its soul to money? Ironically, it’s the King of non-conformity that may be inadvertently helping to cement that argument.

In another case of Art defying the economy, three Francis Bacon portraits of his friend and fellow controversy munger, Lucian Freud have just sold for a tidy £23million. Following on from a bumper sale of a Picasso for £25.2m, several Bacon pieces were sold, including one 5 by 3.5 inches piece that came to £188,000 per square inch of paint. That’s pretty damn impressive.

In fact, the Bacon pieces were part of a ridiculously huge £93,520,000 sale of 60 paintings owned by an unknown “private collector” - presumably having money problems? Of course, London Art types are simply hopeless at keeping secrets, and it seems the mystery identity may belong to late car and electronics trader George Kostalitz.

As I already said though, it is the elitism and cliquey attitude argument being levelled at the Art world that is the real issue here. So much money changing hands for Art in a time of such hardship doesn’t help a scene that’s PR image has already been tarnished massively by its apparent ‘stuck up’ nature. It is very ironic that it is one of the biggest non-conformists of all that may have helped to push this perception further.

What do you think of Bacon and the crazy prices being paid at the moment? If any one is worth it, is it Francis? Or is it all too much? Let us know your thoughts…

The Queen Of Carving – Rosemary Feit Covey

// February 11th, 2011 // View Comments // b-inspired

There are a ton of different mediums out there for an artist to work with – paints, charcoal, stone, ice, elephant poo...But there is one that I never really thought of before, until I saw Rosemary Feit Covey’s work that is…

So what weird or wonderful material has Covey made her own? Well to be honest, it’s not that weird, but her work is pretty wonderful. Covey has become a master of wood carving. OK, we’ve all seen ornate looking wooden furniture before, it’s nothing new. But this isn’t furniture, it’s proper art.

The thing that makes Covey’s work interesting is that she has, as Roberta Waddell of The NY Public Library puts it, “taken the most resistant of media and used it to powerful and unnerving effect. I usually associate wood engraving with very literal renditions, but in her expert hands she conveys imaginative, unsettling, and discomforting visions.”

Roberta has a point. Covey’s work is extremely intricate, with a very personal detail evident. Her work is very atmospheric and my first views of her work conjured up spooky images of the woods in my head – there is a very dark and eery theme going on here. The second thing you think when you see her work is ‘wow, that must have taken a long time’. You have to appreciate the craft behind these pieces.

Take a look at some of Covey’s work and let us know what you think…

Picasso Defies The Recession With A £25.2 Million Lecture

// February 9th, 2011 // View Comments // b-scene

When it comes to top billing at an auction, Picasso is still art’s main exhibit. £25 million for a painting with a guide price of £14 million – who said there was a recession?

OK, so £25 million wasn’t entirely accurate – I missed off a couple of hundred thousand. Personally, I would love to have the extra two hundred thousand under my bed, but I digress. What does £25.2 million buy you then?  The big money piece in question is a portrait of Pablo’s muse, the women who is credited as having transformed the painters life.

The piece, titled La Lecture, went to an anonymous phone buyer after a paltry six minutes of bidding – that’s impressive shopping, I don’t even think my girlfriend can compete with that!

The piece depicts Picasso’s secret lover, Marie-Therese Walter, who was just 17 when she met a 45 year old Picasso in Paris. The pair kept their relationship a secret for many years – probably due to the large age gap and the fact Pablo was still married.

It’s clear from Walter’s account of the pairs first meeting that Picasso had some pretty strong chat up lines – his opening line to, a then stranger was: “I am Picasso – you and I are going to do great things together.”

Until La Lecture was painted, Picasso’s young muse had only appeared in his works in code. Her features were often slyly hidden in the background of his paintings to avoid obvious attention.

It was actually when La Lecture was exhibited at a Picasso retrospective that his wife, Olga Khokhlova, realised she was an uneven side in a Picasso love triangle - that dog. Olga left shortly after she saw the painting and Walter and Picasso went on to have a child together.

So Olga wasn’t a fan of the painting, but £25.2 million says someone was a huge fan of the rare piece.

What do you think of the painting and it’s huge price tag? Let us know your thoughts…

Typically Quirky Japanese Art At Be Alive! @ The Hara

// February 7th, 2011 // View Comments // b-inspired

I love all things Japan, I even had sushi for lunch. So a collection of some of Japan’s finest contemporary artists of the past two decades is art to my eyes…

The Hara Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo is the venue for some typically Japanese art – by that I mean a little bit nuts, with a special quality you can’t quite put your finger on. The last thing I’m going to do is steal a phrase from Simon Cowell here, but you get the idea. Japanese art is great because it can have a very strong sense of Japanese heritage and it can also be reminiscent of the spooky and downright strange movie’s that have put Japanese cinema the forefront of Spooky, atmospheric film.

As The Hara put it, the pieces featured in the new exhibit – Be Alive! – are ‘a selection of works by artists whose dynamic expression has made them the vanguard of contemporary expression during the first decade of the 21st century. What connects these works here is the sense of immediacy, of life and of spirit evoked by the show’s keywords “Be Alive.”

The Hara itself, is one of the smaller museums in Tokyo, yet is revered for it’s atmospheric housing – a grand old mansion. Art director Toshio Hara, is also known as somewhat of a trendsetter – a conclusion that is proved right with this show. This the weird, wonderful and quirky world of Japanese art that I would want to see if I was going to a Japanese gallery – I just wish I could afford the air fare.

Here are some of the pieces on show – if you’re lucky enough to be in Japan between now and the 12th of June, make sure you get down The Hara Museum and check it out…

Miwa Yanagi, Series of Fairy Tale/ Gretel, 2004, gelatin silver print

Izumi Kato, Untitled, 2006, oil on canvas

Kohei Nawa, PixCell-Bambi #2, 2006, mixed media

Tabaimo, Japanese Kitchen, 1999, video installation

What do you think of the art on show here? Let us know your thoughts…