Paintings, not Painters
In line with what I said last week, I’ve decided to put up three paintings I’ve nicked from the twittersphere because I like them. I don’t think the artists are particularly famous – although I’ve heard of Terry Greene and seen his stuff “in the flesh”, so to speak – if they are, my apologies. You can find more of their work online, of course.
Michelle Hold
She lives and works in Italy.
Leyla Murr
More stuff on Saatchi.
Terry Greene
Lives and works in West Yorkshire apparently. I saw some of his work a while back at the dalla Rosa gallery.
Hoyland, Caro, Noland, Pace Gallery, W1
Dropped in to see this exhibition yesterday – turns out it was the last day. Lucky for us, but not for you if you’re in London – it was great. Here are some pics:
Caro, Hoyland, Caro (behind column), Hoyland
Caro, Hoyland
Noland (the surface is like suede)
Noland – touch of Diebenkorn here?
Raoul de Keyser and Early Mondrian – The David Zwirner Gallery, W1
The Mondrians are amazing – farm paintings, cows, trees and rivers; like Van Gogh without the inner fire. De Keyser, as always, is strangely mundane – but strangely interesting…
de Keyser – touch of William Gear?
de Keyser – this one’s tiny.
The Revenant (2015), Alejandro Inarritu
I saw this yesterday and I doubt I will see a better mainstream film this year. The cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezky) is superlative; the shot of the snaking river, the party lost in the mountains, Glass walking across the snow river (see above), the fires, tiny points of light in the darkness (bit of Auden there), the woman floating on air, the Caspar David Friedrich dream sequence at the ruined church… it’s all just ravishing. An inspiring film too; I was inspired to go for a run after yoga, in the snow this morning.
Now to get the film references out of the way, starting with the visuals: Aguirre, Wrath of God; Black Robe; Dersu Uzala; Dances with Wolves; Jeremiah Johnson; Gladiator (visits from deceased wife and family); The Shining (trivial I know, but still…); and anything with snow in it. I’m not bothering with bear attacks in films, too many of them.
It also made me think of Redford in All is Lost and that climbing documentary, Touching the Void… And literary reference; “Butcher’s Crossing”, John Williams. And several Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson and Wild West Annuals from the 1950s.
Ridiculous article in the Observer by Carole Cadwalladr, who described it as “pain porn” and associated the film and its audience – us – with Isil burning that poor Jordanian pilot in a cage and putting it on the internet. I thought the film’s “message” was never give up while there’s breath in the body – in fact, it was openly stated. The revenge was fully justified, if not fully taken and most of the men, apart from the French trappers, behaved reasonably, given the time and place. I could even see Fitzgerald’s point of view – apart from killing Glass’s son, of course.
In any case, there’s a world of difference between watching the actors killing each other in a film and watching the actual murder of real human beings. As for the rape scene, it was ugly (properly), brief, in no way titillating and its inclusion was justified with regard to both history and the narrative. The reaction of the Native American woman, judging by her expression during the ordeal, was portrayed as defiant, stoical and unbowed.
Last word on the film – the bear’s acting was brilliant and Leonardo was very brave to take her on; I understand they can be unpredictable, no matter how well trained..
Readers in London may wish to come to the private view for my partner’s exhibition, as advertised below – but please carry on to the bottom to see MY new picture…
Playing Card Woman
Blackpaint
Jan 17th 2016