Expressionism 2

EXPRESSIONISM Part 2 EXPRESSIONISM IN LOS ANGELES: 

EXPRESSIONISM Part 2 EXPRESSIONISM IN LOS ANGELES

“L.A. RAW” at the Pasadena Museum of California Art: 

“L.A. RAW” at the Pasadena Museum of California Art

RICO LEBRUN Born Naples, Italy 1900-died Los Angeles 1964: 

RICO LEBRUN Born Naples, Italy 1900-died Los Angeles 1964 1940 Self Portrait & Quinto del Sordo de Goya , 1958

Rico Lebrun, From the Buchenwald Series, 1957: 

Rico Lebrun, From the Buchenwald Series, 1957

Lebrun was inspired by Jose Clemente Orozco’s Prometheus, Pomona College, 1930: 

Lebrun was inspired by Jose Clemente Orozco’s Prometheus , Pomona College, 1930

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Lebrun, Genesis mural, 1960 Pomona College

Lebrun’s son at “L.A. Raw,” in front of several of his father’s art works: 

Lebrun’s son at “L.A. Raw,” in front of several of his father’s art works

Hans Burkhardt (Born Basel, Switzerland, 1904-died Los Angeles, 1994): 

Hans Burkhardt (Born Basel, Switzerland, 1904-died Los Angeles, 1994)

Burkhardt retrospective @ CSUN, Fall 2008: 

Burkhardt retrospective @ CSUN, Fall 2008

From 1929 to 1936, Burkhardt shared a studio with Arshile Gorky (1904-1948) in New York Gorky, Organization, 1933-36: 

From 1929 to 1936, Burkhardt shared a studio with Arshile Gorky (1904-1948) in New York Gorky, Organization , 1933-36

Burkhardt, Burial of Gorky, 1957: 

Burkhardt , Burial of Gorky , 1957

Paul McCarthy & the ABJECT: 

Paul McCarthy & the ABJECT

To understand the ABJECT, let’s look at the work of Cindy Sherman : 

To understand the ABJECT, let’s look at the work of Cindy Sherman

Untitled film still: 

Untitled film still

Film still: 

Film still

Film still: 

Film still

Color still: 

Color still

still: 

still

still: 

still

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Cindy Sherman has also put herself into art historical compositions, like this Renaissance Madonna…

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Sherman has “become” male painters from the Renaissance.

Sherman Clown: 

Sherman Clown She has also “become” (creepy) clowns.

PowerPoint Presentation: 

And even creepier dolls. Here she addresses Kristeva’s concept of the ABJECT.

THE ABJECT: 

THE ABJECT According to JULIA KRISTEVA in The Powers of Horror , the abject refers to the human reaction (horror, vomit) to a threatened breakdown in meaning caused by the loss of the distinction between subject & object or between self & other. The primary example for what causes such a reaction is the corpse (which traumatically reminds us of our own materiality); however, other items can elicit the same reaction: the open wound, shit, sewage, etc.

Cindy Sherman & the ABJECT: 

Cindy Sherman & the ABJECT

PowerPoint Presentation: 

Sherman Abject

PowerPoint Presentation: 

The work of Los Angeles artist PAUL McCARTHY (born 1945) is all about the abject.

Paul McCarthy, Ship of Fools, Fools Adrift 2010: 

Paul McCarthy, Ship of Fools , Fools Adrift 2010

Tracy Harnish on Ship of Fools: 

Tracy Harnish on Ship of Fools The way the figures have been ravaged suggests these were no innocents, with a telescope or pipe punching through the vacant spot of an eye socket or mouth, another blowing a horn or spewing vomit, arms showing clubby or missing hands, all with cracked heads and faces. Paint cans and brushes outside of the boat hint at work undone or consumed by a fire that leaves behind absurd remains while eclipsing whole structures. A box of blackened figurines sits near the boat, a child’s playthings? And is that really a butt plug in the corner? According the gallery’s press release this sculpture is part of the Hummel series McCarthy has been working on and is a commentary on the distortion of youth.  I couldn’t help but feel it was a commentary on the waywardness of men that do not want to leave Never Land and create in their wake destruction that can be physical, financial or emotional.

Hummel figurines have been collectibles since 1935. These figure go for 100s of dollars. Jeff Koons has done art about them as well…: 

Hummel figurines have been collectibles since 1935. These figure go for 100s of dollars. Jeff Koons has done art about them as well…

Jeff Koons, Ushering in Banality, 1988 KITSCH as a subject for art…: 

Jeff Koons, Ushering in Banality , 1988 KITSCH as a subject for art…

KITSCH: excessively garish or sentimental art; usually considered in bad taste. JEFF KOONS at VERSAILLES. Kitsch?: 

KITSCH: excessively garish or sentimental art; usually considered in bad taste. JEFF KOONS at VERSAILLES. Kitsch?

One final image from “L.A. Raw”: Judy Baca’s Dead gang member : 

One final image from “L.A. Raw”: Judy Baca’s Dead gang member