The Artist In You by Tim Biskup
April 28, 2008 | Categories: Art / Books

It’s not everyday that I wake up to an email from Tim Biskup, especially an email with a PDF version of a book he’s releasing, but last week that exact thing happened. Coming up on May 17th, Tim is having a solo show at Jonathan Levine Gallery called The Artist In You, and along with the show he’s releasing a book as well.

The book is also titled The Artist In You, in which he writes, “is intentionally unpoetic and bland and therefore compels me to explain my intentions. It also, hopefully, will compel the audience to seek an explanation.” Part of the reason he sent me the book was because I had mentioned that I’m not a bigger fan of “deeper meanings”. I’m okay with art being purely a visual experience. The best example I will ever be able to give is the tampon in the teacup, this is what I think of your “deeper meanings”.

But the book argues that sometimes you need a little bit of both to make really good art. That’s because he personally is thinking more and more about his art, that he feels like he’s creating better artwork. He also isn’t shoving this poitn of view in anyone’s face though, which I think makes a difference. This is my interpretation by the way, I could be totally wrong, haha… One of my favorite parts though is a passage called Sour Grapes For Rotting Vegetables, which is basically written for all the pretentious, art leeches out there:

Fuck you art intelligencia. Weak fuckers. You can all get in circle and talk about how art is dead and in need of re-contextualization, but it is your art that is dead. Your fake meaning and questions have spirale d into a post-art wasteland. Your need to control the situation and fear of risk and truth is what got you here. You must continue with your high art jack off if you want to maintain your relevance. It is only in the flimsy context that you and the other pathetic vampires have put forward as important that you retain a shred of meaning. Faced with time tested professional artistic ability and deep conscious personal truth you will wither and die. Put me in context and I will stomp your fucking head into pulp. Your greed has created a blood sucking, soul shattering beast that is growing full and sick and purple with the blood of the weak and brilliant. You can’t be like us and you don’t want to do what it takes to get to that point because you are so full of pain, evil, denial, mountains of bullshit, miles of rocky path and insurmountable passages. When the brave return they are battered and strong. If you control them, then who will doubt your power?

They may be strong, but your shame is stronger. Hear this: there is no elephant in the room. It is far worse. There is a crippled and shaking old theorist taking their last breath. We are coming. We are here.

I giggled while I read this because I’ve thought those exact thoughts before, even though I don’t even make art. I also asked him if that last part had anything to do with Banksy and he said I was onto something, haha… But he also argues the other side of the coin, getting rather deep and even poetic in some parts. I don’t know, maybe it’s because I respect and admire Tim Biskup so much, or maybe he just seems like a humble guy, but I have a lot easier time agreeing with the “deeper meaning ” philosophy when it comes from a guy like him. I feel like he isn’t a pretentious person, I mean he makes little plastic dinosaurs on one end of the spectrum, and fine art paintings on the other. I think that constitutes a rather well-rounded individual, as opposed to someone like Tobias Wong, who makes a living out of questioning the “deeper meanings” of everything.

So if you’re in New York next month, be sure to check out his show, and if you’re looking for a good read, grab the book as well.

Bobby

When Is a Fashion Ad Not a Fashion Ad?
April 21, 2008 | Categories: Advertising / Books / Clothing / Photography

When Is a Fashion Ad Not a Fashion Ad? by Cathy Horyn

I have quite a fascination with the photographer Juergen Teller. For me he’s on the same level as Ryan McGinley and and Terry Richardson, guys who create these mythic, dream-like images that show life in such a surreal way. So I was excited to read this article in the New York Times about the German photographer.

From the article it sounds like he has it pretty easy, even though he works his ass off to make Marc jacobs proud of what he does. It’s also interesting to hear that he’s a really funny and genuine guy, it makes me want to meet him. I did a little digging and Juergen’s going to be putting out a new book in the fall called Juergen Teller: Marc Jacobs 1997-2008, which is being published by Steidl. I want this book to come out right now, I’m so excited to read about this. I don’t even care that it’s $75, I need this book so badly.

Bobby

Jorge Pardo
April 18, 2008 | Categories: Architecture / Art / Books / Design

When it comes to art with a deeper message, or that requires you to think about what the artist was intending, I’m usually pretty turned off by it. Art to me is meant to be simple, if you look at it and you like it, it’s good. Thinking hurts my brain… But reading this new monograph of Jorge Pardo at least helps me understand that frame of mind better.

Pardo was born in Cuba, raised in Chicago, and then eventually made his way Los Angeles where he studied fine art at Art Center.
Since then he’s been creating works of art that are not only beautiful, but intend for people to think about the art he creates as well the industry of art in general. The book covers numerous points in his career, ranging from architecture to designing lights to fake J. Crew catalogs featuring Matthew Barney as the model. His use of color is also astounding, especially in reference to his ceramix tiles and lights.

His monograph is being published by Phaidon and will be coming out at the end of next month. Check out under the cut for more photos!

Keep reading Jorge Pardo…

Mister Lonely Book
April 14, 2008 | Categories: Books / Films / Photography

This year is shaping up to be another awesome year in movies with Mister Lonely being one that I’m most excited about. I posted the international trailer for the movie a couple weeks ago, and now I’ve got some new photos of a collaboration between Swiss publisher Nieves and Harmony Korine. The book you see above is the script of the movie, along with 22 pages of photos taken by Rachel Korine and Brent Stewart. It’s only $24 and you get to see a bunch of clips of the movie, as well as read the movie before I’m sure anyone is going to get to see it.

A big shout out to Marco for sending me these photos!

Bobby

Shepard Fairey for Penguin Books
April 11, 2008 | Categories: Art / Books / Design / Illustration

I’m the first to admit that I wasn’t the best student in high school. I’m a strong believer that if you can’t make something relevant to a student, then they won’t want to learn about it, and I certainly was of that mindset. Maybe Penguin Books was thinking the same thing when they asked Shepard Fairey to redesign the covers of two classic books, Animal Farm and 1984.

1984 is an obvious match up with Shepard and his style and the mantra his work embodies. Animal Farm has those same sort of ideas, but I was still a little surprised he did that one in addition. These covers stick to pretty much the same thing he’s done over and over again (think of the Smashing Pumpkins cover he just did and compare it to the Animal Farm cover), but I think this is a really smart move on the part of Penguin’s nonetheless. If someone had handed me one of these books when I was 16, I would have instantly though, “Oh, he’s that guy who makes those Obey clothes!” and been excited to see what the book was about.

As horrible as it sounds, kids judge a book by it’s cover. Hell, as an adult I still do. Hopefully Penguin enlists the help of more designers like Mr. Fairey to liven up the fronts of books, possibly opening up a new love of reading for kids growing up in the age of the internet. How about Futura doing the cover of Brave New World? Evan Hecox doing The Outsiders? Neckface doing Lord of the Flies? So many awesome artists out there that could help make a kid read.

Click here for more info about the project.

Found through Coudal Partners

Bobby

The Flowers In This Garden Were Planted By My Grandparents by Os Gemeos
April 4, 2008 | Categories: Art / Books / Design / Illustration

The most creative graffiti artists out there right now, Os Gemeos, have a new book out called The Flowers in this Garden were Planted by my Grandparents. The book is a retrospective of their work that was created for their exhibit at the Museum Het Domein, Sittardk in the Netherlands. The book itself is divided into different sections like Public work, sketches, and installations.

The book is 170 pages, is limited to 2500 copies, and you can pick it up for $58 over at Giant Robot’s online store.

Bobby

R.I.P. Arthur C. Clarke
March 19, 2008 | Categories: Books / Science / Technology


Arthur C. Clarke passed away earlier today which is pretty sad. The guy was a one of a kind visionary, writing over 100 books, a ton of things named after him, including a dinosaur. I remember reading not too long ago about how he tried to convince the city of Los Angeles to create trains and subways to go through the city instead of building more freeways. Now looking back I’m sure people are kicking themselves as gas soars toward $4 a gallon. If only they would have listened to him things could have been a lot different.

Bobby

New Retail by Raul Barreneche
March 7, 2008 | Categories: Architecture / Books / Films / Science

I was browsing around Phaidon’s site earlier this week and came across a new book they’ve released called New Retail. It’s 208 pages of innovative retail stores from all around the world. What caught my eye was that they posted the Mpries grocery stores which I posted about last May. The fact that they caught onto those stores was pretty exciting for me, not to mention stores like Prada and Hermes, which are both in Tokyo. And of course, the giant beautiful photos are the biggest sell, and it looks like they’re filled to the brim with them. Definitely check this book out if contemporary architecture does it for you.

Check out more photos under the cut!
Keep reading New Retail by Raul Barreneche…

Urban Abstract by Evan Hecox and Show Tonight
February 23, 2008 | Categories: Art / Books / Design

Last night after work I drove out to GR2 for the release and signing of Evan Hecox’s new book, Urban Abstract.The get together was pretty small and mellow, but that was okay, I didn’t have to wait in any lines. Above you can see the little camera sketch Evan did for me, which I thought was pretty rad.

The book itself is absolutely amazing and is a lot bigger then I thought it would be. The book literally covers the last 15 years of his career, so I guess it makes sense, but you can tell they had to do a lot of editing to even this much fit. It’s really great to finally get to see all of his work combined in one place, with a section for Plates, Linouts, and then Projects and Installations. On a personal note, the book smells really good, one of the first things I noticed, haha…
You can pick up the book over at You Work For Them.

Also, if you’re in LA, be sure to stop by the Kinsey/Desforges Gallery in Culver City tonight from 7 to 10 PM. The show is centered around images from Mexico City. Should be a good time.

Check out a couple more photos from the book under the cut.
Keep reading Urban Abstract by Evan Hecox and Show Tonight…

Stand Alone and Smile by Tommi Musturi
February 3, 2008 | Categories: Art / Books

While I was at Family I also picked up this other mini-book by Tommi Musturi called Stand Alone and Smile. As far as I can tell, Tommi is a Finnish artist who makes tons of art books, and I mean TONS. A visit to his site Boing Being gives you an idea of just how many of these books he’s actually made.

I didn’t really think much of the cover, but I loved the deep navy print that the book is printed with, so I decided to pick it up. Inside there are some weird drawings of tons of random looking creatures and things, but then there are also som really beuatiful drawings of things that resemble flowers. I was totally taken by how beautiful these were, the organic shapes all coming so naturally together.

Check under the cut for some more pictures from inside.

Keep reading Stand Alone and Smile by Tommi Musturi…