Id been thinking a lot about the great Yayoi Kusama lately, about how indefatigable she was. Now she’s passed away at the age of 97 and I wished I’d written about her sooner. The Polka Dot Queen is dead. She represented modernity in art like few others, painting garish polka dots and pumpkins onto prettyContinue reading “Farewell, Polka Dot Queen 🎨”
Tag Archives: Art
Kate Bush’s Influences
Pics of Kate Bush: John Carder Bush J W Waterhouse, ‘The Lady of Shallot’. Kate Bush was always upfront in her literary and artistic influences. She essayed The Brontes of course, but also Tennyson, Shakespeare and John William Waterhouse. Her Pre-Raphaelite aesthetic was unique in a time of punk, prog and so on, but theContinue reading “Kate Bush’s Influences”
The Royal Mile During the Fringe
Was there ever a better analogy for social stratification than the Royal Mile during the Edinburgh Fringe? A teeming mass, a melee of desperation and showing off, it displays the disparity between the classes in all of its garish, wanton glory. Almost Ballardian in scale,the crowd even works as a guide to life itself. FirstlyContinue reading “The Royal Mile During the Fringe”
“I’ve had a great night… This wasn’t one of them!”
All too often , art critics are dismissed as being malcontents like The Muppets’ Statler and Waldorf, curmudgeonly, jaded old men who find no joy or pleasure in anything. But that’s both unfair and unhelpful. When poring over the music press as a teen, I knew this was what I wanted to do. Some epiphanyContinue reading ““I’ve had a great night… This wasn’t one of them!””
Christine Borland: In Memoriam
Rest in peace , Christine Borland. Another wonderful artist gone too soon.
David Hockney Was Art, David Hockney Is Art
David Hockney , who died yesterday at the age of 88, was proof positive that you didn’t have to come from Paris or London to be an Innovator in the art world. Born in Bradford , he made art with a photographer’s eye for detail, but a painter’s delicate, experimental touch. His famous approach toContinue reading “David Hockney Was Art, David Hockney Is Art”
Nick Cave Virtual Exhibition: Stranger Than Kindness
Available through Nick Cave’s website is the chance to virtually take a trip through his exhibition, Stranger Than Kindness. It’s a fascinating wander through his passions, inspiration, musings and the creative process itself. Featuring artwork by Cave and a painting by old flame Anita Lane, to mocked-up studios, an old bedroom and library, ephemera, toContinue reading “Nick Cave Virtual Exhibition: Stranger Than Kindness”
Freelancer’s Blues
It isn’t easy being a freelance arts writer. While I’m fully aware there are worse jobs to have (I previously worked in a call centre, a hotel and in retail, uggghhh) there are a few issues with this bizarre occupation. Firstly, some publications insist that they will pay you, only to renege at the lastContinue reading “Freelancer’s Blues”
Lost In Music: Geneva Jacuzzi- Art Is Dangerous
Featuring cameos in the video from legendary artists of many disciplines- from Ron Athey to Drab Majesty- the new single from Geneva Jacuzzi is part manifesto,part cheeky deconstruction of art and its function in contemporary society. It’s sexy, smart and danceable. Based in Los Angeles, her work is multi-disciplinary, fusing music, visual art and performanceContinue reading “Lost In Music: Geneva Jacuzzi- Art Is Dangerous”
Interview With The Artist: Philippa Tomlin
Currently based between Scotland and England, the wonderful, award-winning artist Philippa Tomlin makes visual art that’s as bewitching as it’s disturbing. A brand new exhibition featuring her work, CULT, arrives at the end of July. I caught up with Tomlin to find out more about the exhibition, and ask what inspires her. I feel likeContinue reading “Interview With The Artist: Philippa Tomlin”
Hit The North 