Art In The Twenty-First Century
September 29, 2008 3:11 PM   Subscribe

Art:21 - art in the twenty-first century is the only series on television to focus exclusively on contemporary visual art and artists in the United States, and it uses the medium of television to provide an experience of the visual arts that goes far beyond a gallery visit. Fascinating and intimate footage allows the viewer to observe the artists at work, watch their process as they transform inspiration into art, and hear their thoughts as they grapple with the physical and visual challenges of achieving their artistic visions. 72 featured artists: 300+ video clips: youtube page: examples - Janine Antoni: Eleanor Antin: Alfredo Jaar: Ann Hamilton: Sally Mann: Matthew Barney: Matthew Ritchie
posted by vronsky (13 comments total) 25 users marked this as a favorite
 
Hooray
posted by roll truck roll at 3:26 PM on September 29, 2008


Since he was not one of the 72 featured artists, I'll add Jonathan Yeo. He's an accomplished portraitist, but has achieved a new level of fame with his portraits of George W. Bush (be sure to click at the bottom right for detailed pictures) and Paris Hilton that are constructed from pornography. More here.
posted by Frank Grimes at 4:42 PM on September 29, 2008


If you want to see said portraits by Yeo that Frank Grimes mentions above, they're up in New York until early October: Lazarides Gallery in New York.
posted by suedehead at 5:13 PM on September 29, 2008


It is a wonderful series. I know that a lot of art schools use it in teaching.
posted by R. Mutt at 5:22 PM on September 29, 2008


This is great--thanks for posting!
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 5:26 PM on September 29, 2008


A good way to explore the site further is to click on the "72 featured artists" link, choose an artist and click "biography." There you can find much more info on each individual artist including slideshows, interviews and essays about their work. Sally Mann for instance.
posted by vronsky at 5:26 PM on September 29, 2008


This is awesome.. check out Matthew Barney and the final thing he says. It's priceless. Guy's a douchebag. "... [they] have a kind of physicality in common, about, the way that violence is...um....is sublimated into form.. somehow."
posted by ChickenringNYC at 5:51 PM on September 29, 2008


This is awesome.. check out Matthew Barney and the final thing he says. It's priceless. Guy's a douchebag.

From the first second of that video I just knew it had to be that Cremaster guy.
posted by kid ichorous at 6:27 PM on September 29, 2008


This series is great. I've seen the first few on the air and on DVD. I still miss EGG.
posted by JBennett at 7:29 PM on September 29, 2008


It's priceless. Guy's a douchebag.

Sir, I am impressed by your ability to deduce human characteristics and personality out of a five-second video clip. Also, whenever a vagina needs washing, I shall call on your expert opinion to quickly find and label whatever devices may be helpful. Thank you for your comment in this thread.
posted by suedehead at 7:55 PM on September 29, 2008


Suede: I'm certainly not the only person on this planet who finds Barney a hack. Watch the video and tell me it's not the funniest thing you've seen in a while. His delivery is what makes it funny. And as far as I'm concerned, "douchebag" has a playful connotation which is still dismissive but not, in my opinion, hateful. I've seen nearly all of Cremaster, and its concurrent exhibition. Now calm down, take a stress pill, think things over, and have a nice warm bath in melted vasoline with MB.
posted by ChickenringNYC at 9:00 PM on September 29, 2008


Chickenring: I saw the video, and it appeared to make very little sense, like all other horribly condensed excerpts of artists talking about their work (press releases, bios, exhibition placards, etc. etc.). So what?

Oh, and Barney as a hack? I don't know anybody who would remotely consider Matthew Barney as a hack. "Not very good", or "bunch of nonsense" or "re-Conceptual art-world-insider-y spectacle", sure, but I don't really think that renting giant whaling ships, or an entire stadium full of cheerleaders, and shooting blockbuster-scale films with the high amount of detail and attention to production quality, is synonymous with the implication of laziness and half-assery that the word "hack" conjures up.

I'm just reacting to what I see a lot (and what I catch myself doing as well): namely, people being overly touchy towards big-name artists whom they don't understand, don't agree with, or just don't like. What's the big deal? Let's just say "oomph" and move on.

*wipes vasoline off with a towel*
posted by suedehead at 10:36 PM on September 29, 2008


Thanks for the post. Was interisting and usefull for me.
posted by defc0n1 at 11:48 PM on September 29, 2008


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