Conceptual artist, Rune Guneriussen, has totally transformed the landscape of his hometown in Norway into a fairytale. Like other fairytales, this one does not last forever…
A multiverse explanation by Rune Guneriussen
Guneriussen, born in Norway in 1977, graduated from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design in England where he developed the passion for sculpture, installation, and photography. For him, “art itself should be questioning and bewildering as opposed to patronizing and restricting.”
For his latest installation, Guneriussen uses man-made objects such as books, chairs, lamps, and phones. He that then places the objects outdoors to discuss the relationship between mankind and nature.
After photographing the installations, the artist quickly removes the objects as though nobody has ever been there, leaving no trace of the fantastical visual scene.
The photos are the only proof of the installations ever existed.
Don’t leave the lights on by Rune Guneriussen
The installations made by the artist are not intended as the “next trend”. Guneriussen strives to stay true to the work, the story behind the work, and the message being delivered.
Connections by Rune Guneriussen
In “The science of planting”, the artist piles a stack of books to create a tree, which brings many questions in our mind. Is the piece about the future of deforesting and paper-making? Or is it about the book as a sign of science? You decide!
The science of planting forest by Rune Guneriussen
Their song Blue (Da Ba Dee) received a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 2001 Grammy Awards.
Yet, the Italian musicians were not the only artists to utilize “blue” for creative purposes.
In 1901 Pablo Picasso began a prolific series of monochromatic paintings, which were later categorized as his Blue Period.
As Picasso sank into a severe depression, blue tones dominated his paintings of subject matter such as the poor and the outcast of society.
The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso (1903)
For a slightly more contemporary and uplifting approach to “blue art,” check out the Off-Broadway production of Blue Man Group.
An amalgam of avant-garde performance art, experimental rock music, and interactive activity is punctuated by the show’s cast of three’s deceivingly blue skin.
The Blue Man Group (Photo: Blue Man)
Still hungry for some blue? Head over to Flatiron’s Blue Smoke restaurant for authentic pit barbecue and a dazzling decor of some sculptural blue stars hanging from the restaurant’s ceiling.
Blue Smoke Restaurant (Photo: Blue Smoke)
Feeling blue? We hope you’ve enjoyed our exploration of the color and stay tuned for more Color Commentary from The Bare Square!
Yet for visual artist and composer Christian Marclay, twenty-four hours is just the right amount.
Christian Marclay (Photo: Nadav Kander)
In 2010, Marclay released a twenty-four hour film phenomenon, “The Clock”, composed of time-related movie moments that accurately account for every minute of the day.
Is this the work of a man with too much time on his hands, or of an inexplicable genius?
With “The Clock” exhibited at the 2011 Venice Biennale, a space shared with the likes of Wassily Kandinsky and Jackson Pollock, the latter seems most appropriate.
Using small segments from thousands of films like “Gone With The Wind,” “A Clockwork Orange,” and “The Godfather,” Marclay spent three years piecing together a working clock that actually syncs with real time in the outside world.
Through spoken words and shots of various time-dictating devices, the music, dialogue, and action of one film scene blends into those of another.
When first screened in New York City in 2011, “The Clock” welcomed art lovers and film buffs to the Paula Cooper Gallery for free — after a two-hour-long wait!
The line to see Christian Marclay’s “The Clock” outside the Paula Cooper Gallery. (Photo: Essrog)
And now you get a second chance to see this truly epic 24-hour film.
“The Clock” will run Tuesday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to Sunday 10 p.m. Admission is free, first-come, first-served.
Check out a sneak peak of “The Clock” below for a preview of Marclay’s creative brilliance. How many films and actors can you identify in just three minutes?
Today marks the halfway point of 2012! (Give or take.)
We’re taking the holiday week to reflect on the first half of the year and some of the great gallery shows we’ve seen this year.
Here’s a short list of three of my favorite exhibitions of 2012 so far:
1. Julie Chang’s recent exhibition at the Hosfelt Gallerywas enjoyable and thought provoking, a reflection of her work. Chang’s paintings are bold and beautiful yet their recognizable cultural imagery makes you think more about the deeper meaning behind the work. Enjoy this Art Seen episode from the opening:
2. In a March “Jen Recommends” I suggested heading to Joshua Liner Gallery to see a solo sculptural show by mixed media artist Kris Kuksi. Upon arriving at the gallery I entered a room vibrating with energy and people which escalated as the minutes passed. The artwork, wow, I was expecting intricate and intriguing works, but I wasn’t expecting the massive scale of some of the pieces which changed the interaction. Kulsi’s show, Triumph, at Joshua Liner, named well, was certainly triumphant in my book.
Kris Kuksi, The Surrender of Helios, Mixed media assemblage at Joshua Liner Gallery
3. I didn’t end up suggesting this show on “Jen Recommends” and wasn’t able to film it for Art Seen, but I went, and boy was 10Twenty10 at Claire Oliver awesome! (I event went back more than once and brought the whole nAscent team to see it too). 10Twenty10 celebrates 10 years in New York, twenty years as a gallery with ten participating artists. One of the better group show’s I’ve seen, it’s a fabulous cohesive presentation of varied, interesting works. If you can, run there this week! The exhibition continues until July 7th.
Norbert Brunner, Imagine You Are Invincible, digital print on plexi; Swarovski crystals; LEDs; mirror, at Claire Oliver gallery
If the second half of 2012 measures up to the first, we’re in for a real treat.
We’re spending tomorrow hosting good friends with good food and a great view of New York City’s fireworks. Hope you are, too!
Stay tuned right here every Tuesday for “Jen Recommends”, my recommendation for a hot NYC gallery opening each week. (And don’t forget to watch Art Seen if you can’t make it to the gallery openings in person!)
And tomorrow, we’ll have a special 4th of July edition of The Bare Square.
This past week the U.S. Supreme Court made a landmark decision to uphold President Obama’s health care reform.
But if you don’t have your universal health care just yet, try this alternative — Touch Drawing!
Created by Deborah Koff-Chapin, a Cooper Union graduate, Touch Drawing relies on the fingers instead of a pen or brush. By placing paper over a freshly painted surface, the movement of fingertips creates imprints that adhere to the underside of the paper.
As a direct mode of sensory creation, Touch Drawing stimulates the body and mind through meditation and feeling.
Founded in 1974, Koff-Chapin’s Center for Touch Drawing, based online, introduces a cathartic painting process that spans across artistic, therapeutic, educational and spiritual practices.
Touch Drawing resonates particularly well with those suffering from serious illness like cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Leukemia.
Personal stories shared on the Touch Drawing websiteexpress how the incredible method of Touch Drawing helps to improve one’s health.
A Touch Drawing class for an elderly group with Parkinson’s disease resulted in comments like, “He was so much calmer the rest of the day,” and, “Her movements were easier for hours afterwards.”
For Julie Rathbun, suffering from Leukemia, her experience with Touch Drawing helped her find balance during recovery.
She says, “For me, the mere act of releasing stress-triggering emotions through images helped my immune system to return to a healthy state of full function.”
