PKM Gallery: Richard Prince/Paul Mccarthy

http://www.pkmgallery.com/
I caught Paul Mccarthy And Richard Prince works at PKM Gallery in Seoul.
Great Gallery, great people. Props to PKM for showing Paul Mccarthy! Wow you guys surprised me! And Props to Sophie for showing me around.
The Richard Prince Painting was from the Nurse series. It was funny to see it in person because I've see these paintings in magazines a lot and on the cover of Sonic Youth's record Sonic Nurse (Sonic Youth lives close to Richard Prince or used to). I'm still wondering how much material was lifted from other sources for these paintings and where from? Prince got famous for his re-photography. Specifically for Spiritual America photos. I really enjoy his re-photography stuff. Especially the Cowboy photos and girlfriend photos. If you look at R. Prince's work it's all over the place, paintings of Nurses, re-photography, hoods from cars, the list goes on. However maybe it all comes down to media? Maria Morris Hamburg, the curator of photography at the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art had this to say about the artist:

"He is absolutely essential to what's going on today, he figured out before anyone else—and in a very precocious manner—how thoroughly pervasive the media is. It's not just an aspect of our lives, but the dominant aspect of our lives."

The re-photography stuff could just be a trick to make us think about the media and how often images enter our lives without us thinking about them. The images of cowboys from old cigarette ads are somehow appealing to me (these were pre-Photo shop days of the 1980s). When I look at them I usually think about the original source material and what that could have been. Or I think about the year it was created.
Paul Mccarthy

The Paul Mccarthy photos were from the early 1980s. They documented a performance in which he is wearing a mask that looks something like a cartoon character. There where only three in the series that PKM Gallery had. Really I was hoping for some of his new sculpture featuring ex-president G.W. Bush. Oh well maybe next time. But they did have a huge screen playing an old Mccarthy performance. One which I wasn't familiar with. Seoul has massive potential as an art city and PKM could easy be a main player and facilitator. I'm looking forward to seeing more from them.

Buro Destruct: Posters

You can't beat Buro Destruct. They make the best posters. Images infused with a classic 70's swiss design with a bit of 90's and 00's sensibility. Not to mention the Asian influence. I wish I could say "Thanks" to the people at the Swiss design Company/movement Buro Destruct. Everything they do is outta sight. I'll let the images speak for themselves.

Court Ordered Richard Prince to Destroy Artwork in Copyright Breach Case

The website Slamhype said:

Renowned American artist Richard Prince has been ordered to destroy works worth tens of millions of dollars after the New York federal court ruled that the paintings, which featured reworked photographs by French photographer Patrick Cariou were found to be in breach of copyright.

http://slamxhype.com/art-design/richard-prince-court-ordered-to-destroy-artwork-in-copyright-breach-case/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slamxhype+%28SLAMXHYPE%29

Banksy: Exit the academy awards

The Faster Times wrote this about Banksy not being able to attend the the academy awards:

In perhaps the most telling moment of his recent career, the street artist ‘Banksy’ was denied permission to attend the academy awards in costume, and subsequently did not appear at all. Nominated for directing the documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop, the notoriously secretive man (or, debatably, collective) released a statement saying: “This is a big surprise. I don’t agree with the concept of award ceremonies, but I’m prepared to make an exception for the ones I’m nominated for.” However, when faced with the apparent risk of multiple men in disguise accepting the award – which is to say, a scene — organizers barred him from entry.

Dear Banksy, Thanks for making the world interesting.

http://thefastertimes.com/entertainmentnews/2011/03/10/oscars-shun-banksy/

Copy Rights

When artist go to court it serves them up heavy helpings of media coverage. So even if they lose, they kind of win. The above link is about some that lost. Intellectual property laws have always fascinated me, especially if it includes art.
Shepard Fairey created this poster for Obama, which was selling on ebay almost immediately after he gave them to the public to post. Which is why he quit giving them away.



http://www.artinfo.com/news/story/37291/copyrights-and-copy-wrongs-learning-from-the-legal-precedents-set-by-jeff-koons-shepard-fairey-and-others/

Doosan Gallery

I stopped in to get a coffee on the way to Doosan Gallery. Even though I ordered a small I got completely wired on caffeine (barista: first day on the job). So I'm wired and listening to girl talk on the way to Doosan Gallery. All I know about Doosan is that they build buildings and have a gallery in New York. The outside is a bit deceiving because its also a concert hall...well mostly concert hall. They have two nice spaces and one wasn't open. They had photographs by Heeseung Chung. People mostly sad looking some laughing and crying. There was a writing about the devil and laughter that I couldn't quite connect to the exhibit. I did like the black space surrounding the people in the photo. That was nice. I will say this the photos worked well together in a group. The looked like huge Polaroids. I'm looking forward to seeing more from Doosan.

Sang Sang Ma Dang

I was on the bus and heard a song by Rick Springfield called "Jesse's Girl". Hearing this song in Korea was a surprise. It took me back to 1982. Anyone can appreciate this song. Which is how I feel about Sang Sang Ma Dang (pronounced Song Song Ma Dong). One half gift shop one half art gallery, Sang Sang Ma Dang is located in the heart of Hongdae. Now for those of you that don't know Hongdae is the mecca of young college Seoul Korea. Which is saying a lot considering there are about 40 Universities in this city. It's the part on town that always has people roaming the streets. Sang Sang Ma Dang is the frozen pizza of Korean art. It ain't super bad and it ain't super good. When I go there I know what I'm getting. This time around they had some nice graphic design pieces and upstairs photography. I got some picts of the graphic design. The photography was of...you guessed it, sad people within the space of city/nature/home. "Dear korean photographers, I get it. People are sad." I was with a friend and the exhibit was so sad we started to laugh at it. But you know the quality of the print was something. The printer (or computer) did one hell of a job printing. So Mr. Printer...props.

Alt Space Loop -March 12, 2011

Though out this blog I've expressed my loved for Hongdae gallery, Alt Space Loop. I can always find something I enjoy there. ANd they keep it fresh with younger artists. This time was no different, however I've got some complaints this time. has brought attention to the fact that street art is in need of a serious make over. The graphics pasted on the side of the gallery is a good place to start. It's possible to make anything look fresh, but how many times have we seen guns meshed cartoon characters meshed with clouds? Since 1997 have I been looking at this stuff. I think the biggest problem with street art is that you see it everywhere now days. Magazines at barnes and noble, galleries, t-shirts, hand bags, stickers, websites and yes on the streets. I want some new images and colors to replace the old ones. It's like watching someone create almost the exact same some over and over again. I'm a person that enjoys visual culture but damn the culture has gotta change. Of course maybe this is all a good thing. Maybe this is the beginning of a new movement. Maybe there will be a change to street art and new path will be made. I'm hopeful. Art and therefore people have never let me down. There is some person in an apartment developing quiet magic for us.

Old article from the NY Times on Paul Mccarthy

When I was 17 I would buy records from an artist and really love them. Within a few years though the love story was over and their music just wouldn't have the same enthusiasm as it did when they started out. That happened with a lot of records I bought.
Art is different than records I know but still when an artist keeps you looking and discovering, that artist is doing their job to the hilt. No other artist I know does this better that Paul Mccarthy.
Ok I'll admit it I'm a Paul Mccarthy nut. I guess it happened around the late 90's. My friend had an issue of Juxtapose which featured PM on the cover and a nice article inside. I was upset by the images of his 70's performance art. Then I borrowed the magazine and read the article. The more I read the more I wanted to know. Those images really change me. My whole perspective on art changed right then and there. I went from hating PM to loving him in a matter of a few hours. In way It's been a journey to try to understand Paul Mccarthy and his art. The guy keeps me guessing. From Piccadilly Circus to the W bush sculptures I'm always asking myself "What have you done this time Paul?" It's the guess that keeps me coming back for more. And I'm pleased to report with age he's getting better. The man show's now signs of slowing down. Here's an old article from the NY times.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/arts/design/22mccarthy.html?_r=1&ref=paulmccarthy

Seoul National University Art Museum (MOA)

http://www.snumoa.org/
Seoul National University is located off the green line in Seoul.
Transportation
Bus: 5511, 5512 (previously 413), 5513, 5516 and 5518 Subway: Seoul National University Station on Seoul Subway Line 2, Exit No. 3 (use school shuttle buses, city buses (5511–3) or taxicabs)

Of course you can't take pictures at an institution like this. A rule which does not serve the artists if you ask me. Unless it's an artist that makes money from publishing their art already which I'm sure are few. Obviously it comes down to money and someones worried that someone else will make some money.
It takes a little while to get to this museum because you have to take a bus to it even after you reach the subway station. Look for the bus stop where the students are going. Get off right after you enter through the main entrance. You'll see the building on your left across from a stadium. You can't miss it.
It's free to get in but be ware the snobbery level in high. 8 out of 10. It's worth it though. They have a nice collection. I really don't know who's who when it comes to Korean art but it's a big contemporary scene there. Lots of paintings. Most Korean paintings are OK. It's hard to put my finger on it. There are about 3 levels. There was some memorable video art. Go see.