~BLACK & WHITE and puke all over
FILE UNDER: GEORGE CONDO – GARBAGE – OR NOT ?
. . . as in: what’s BLACK & WHITE AND RED/READ ALL OVER ? – THE NEW YORK TIMES.
this Friday’s (JAN 28, 2011) NY TIMES WEEKEND ARTS lead article on GEORGE CONDO’S “first institutional career survey” at the NEW MUSEUM, scribed by HOLLAND COTTER – was so bleakly uninspiring – it only served to bolster my long-held conviction that George Condo – or ‘Georgie’ – as me and my friends like to call him – yes, you can infer a slightly superior and derisive tone – was the king, indeed the emperor of the emperors who wear no clothes. though I have to admit the JOHN CURRIN comparison was thought provoking. and I’d rather have a Currin on my wall.
my disdain, disgust and utter contempt was fueled by the horrible photos accompanying the article – esp the r-e-a-l-l-y bad choice of images – ugly is the only word – and my queasy feelings – only increased to utter bleak-winter-sun-deprivation-type depression when I turned the page, to find that huge, even more ugly, and way less-interesting-on-any-level ugly oversize photo of Leslie Thornton’s work.
or as we say around here – “the worst”.
though, I have to admit the title of the Holland Cotter/GEORGE CONDO piece was worth the paper it was printed on, ‘A Mind Where Picasso Meets Looney Tunes’ . ha. (and, there but for the grace of god, go I.) and for that matter so was the title of the New Museum show – ‘George Condo: Mental States’ – likewise again, by the grace of god . . . )
and talking bout good – so was the article’s lead photo: taken by NEW YORK TIMES lensman CHESTER HIGGINS, JR.
‘GEORGE CONDO: MENTAL STATES’, NEW MUSEUM INSTALLATION SHOT – by CHESTER HIGGINS JR./THE NEW YORK TIMES
which is notable in 3 ways:
1) it’s got to be the ugliest corner of the whole damn exhibit.
2) the fascinating floor’s eye view, no kidding, for real, and . .
3) that priceless silhouette of the more-prevalent-than-you-would-think – fashionista wannabe’s legs. got me to do a double-take. on its face – a pretty unconventional and picturesque snap – as in, really composition-ally striking. but in the weirdest of ways. it’s actually a pretty classic capture of NYC gallery life: the too-short-legged girl in the too-big boots, chunky oversize heels to boot, whose slightly bowed legs are – therefore all clad in black. I know that’s mean – but that’s life !! in the big apple.
I dunno, maybe seeing all that ugliness – is doing the talking . . .
reference: HOLLAND COTTER/WEEKEND ARTS/NEW YORK TIMES/FRI JAN 28, 2011
I was going to leave it at that – and probably not even say anything – till Simon came home to-nite and told me everybody is talking about the KANYE WEST – CONDO connection. to him – that just really killed the deal. jealousy ?
but to me, that just kick-started a whole other game.
unlike most of the other art pundits in this town, a bunch of sorry purists, if I ever did see one – I like it when art goes ‘shallow’ – and takes a swim in the bigger pool of life out there – and sure enough, this was one of those times – when art that died in the academic pages – really took off – in the trendy ones !!
of course. why didn’t I get it – when I saw the music reviews last week – that was a GEORGE CONDO painting on the cover of the newly released KANYE WEST album: ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ – and it looks great in that context – shock brute !!
and, what’s not to like about the fab MARC JACOBS & KANYE WEST embracing Mr. Condo at the New Museum opening – a paparazzi’s dream come true – if there ever was one. I think guestofaguest has the best coverage: best pix of the celebs, best pix of the art, best commentary and even best of all: some nice running real-time celebrity video !! j-e-a-l-o-u-s-y. is the not word. its double jealousy.
even double dutch jealousy, by a factor of ten, a hundred-fold. yes.
which is all to say – sometimes black and white – and downright pukey – can beat the odds and fall into that eternally gray area . . . the decisive final take – the street-cred line – blurred, and for sure, still up for grabs – !!
come on – that’s some damn great album cover . . . ugly as in sick, dude.
esp if viewed – with the right kind of cocktail(s) in hand.
George Condo – one hit wonder ?
KANYE WEST, GEORGE CONDO and MARC JACOBS at the recent NEW MUSEUM OPENING OF ‘GEORGE CONDO: MENTAL STATES’, THRU MAY 8, 2011.
PHOTO BY MARK IANTOSCA/guestofaguest
the album cover: GEORGE CONDO PAINTING/KANYE WEST – ‘MY BEAUTIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY’/IMAGE COURTESY: guestofaguest
make sure to watch: the MARC JACOBS CLIP/Love that bi-polar scarf, Marc !!/guestofaguest
yeah, watch: that KANYE WEST/GEORGE CONDO clip/guestofaguest
puke – the new chic.
would I want it on my wall ? maybe on my album cover. not sure about the wall. esp those New York Times choices – the worst. if you’re hoping the ‘worst’ is the best – don’t hold your breath.