John Waters: Director and Artist

JOHN WATERS
Children Who Smoke, 2009
Chromogenic color print
8 photos: 20 x 14 inches overall (50.8 x 35.6 cm), Ed. of 5, Gagosian Gallery

Cult film director John Waters' (best know for the original Hairspray) photographic and sculptural work is currently on show at leading gallery Gagosian (Beverly Hills), under the exhibition title "Rear Projection". Waters utilises the medium of cinematography which he often uses absurdly and boldly in his own films to create hybrid stills which depict unreal or imagined situations. To Waters, "There is no such thing as a bad movie frame", although there certainly must be a disturbing one. Waters manipulates stills to include actors with cleft palates, speaking pig latin, holding product placements and a cheeky nod to the exhibition title, films projected onto bottoms (not all in the same still). Click here for a video of John Waters talking about his work and artistic practice.




JOHN WATERS
Pig Latin (detail), 2009
Chromogenic color print
8 photos: 14 3/4 x 86 3/4 inches overall (framed) (37.5 x 220.3cm)
Ed. of 5


Rear Projection
April 11 - May 22, 2009
Gagosian Gallery (Beverly Hills)

BCAM AT LACMA

The LACMA in Los Angeles has recently undergone a big renovation so my timing in visiting it was pretty perfect. However in what seems to be an amazing addition is the Broad Contemporary Museum of Art. Broad, (named after the benefactors Eli and Edythe Broad - not as in general art) is an astounding collection of what is basically the best and comprehensive contemporary & pop-art collection I have seen.

Including works by Damian Hirst, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, Ellsworth Kelly, Cindy Sherman, Jean-Michel Basquiat, John Baldessari, Jeff Koons, Chris Burden, Mike Kelley, and Richard Serra.This private collection which has been donated is not only a whos who of names but some of their most astounding and important works. This collection is basically gasp after gasp for those of us to don't live next to the MOMA or a similar institution.

Clearly it is Eli Broad's intention to make this rival and it does the likes of New York or London in terms of the collection and breadth of works. The security obviously was very tight, so I couldn't take photos however check out the online collection at the LACMA website.

the getty - LA

My first international post from lovely LA:

The Getty Center is on top of an LA Hill looking down on the massive 405 Highway and the rich houses of Bel Air. This building just screamed the money and donations that American's contribute to the arts here and this building has the best of everything and the nicest tram leading up to the gallery I have ever seen.

Although the Getty Center by Richard Meier is an style an amazing piece of Modernist architecture has some classic modernist moves. From the eaves "that represent what the building purpose is", to the geometric use of squares and light coloured materials.

This is a really awe inspiring building and the although the museum's contents have absolutely nothing to do with Modernism it is still an amazing example when people have too much money and too time but do something great with it.