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So what’s next for the Fourth Plinth?

January 21, 2017 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

Thumbs Up by David Shrigley | Art-Pie — Thumbs Up by David Shrigley

If you have been near Trafalgar Square in London, you must have noticed a 7m high sculpture looking like a thumbs up.

This particular pedestal on the square is called the Fourth Plinth and the current artist showing their works is David Shrigley.

So what’s next for the Fourth Plinth?

2018 & 20 shortlists announced

London’s National Gallery has revealed the five shortlisted proposals for the 2018 and 2020 Fourth Plinth commissions by artists Huma Bhabha, Damián Ortega, Heather Phillipson, Michael Rakowitz, and Raqs Media Collective.

The shortlisted proposals, which are currently on show in the National Gallery’s Annenberg Court until 26 March 2017, include an empty white robe, a recreation of a sculpture destroyed by ISIS, and a scoop of parasite-covered ice cream.

Not long now to find out which two works will be selected to finally stand on the plinth in 2018 and 2020.

Shortlisted sculptures in images

“Untitled” by Huma Bhabha
– an imposing figure, the scale reflecting a modern comic sci-fi movie.

Untitled, by Huma Bhabha | Art-Pie — Untitled, by Huma Bhabha

“High Way” by Damián Ortega
– a playful and precarious construction of a truck, oil cans, scaffold and a ladder.

“THE END” by Heather Phillipson
– explores the extremes of shared experience, from commemorations and celebrations to mass protests, all while being observed by a drone’s camera.

“The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist” by Michael Rakowitz
– a recreation of the Lamassu, a winged bull and protective deity, which was destroyed by ISIS in 2015.

“The Emperor’s Old Clothes” by Raqs Media Collective
– explores how power can be both present and absent in sculpture.

About the Fourth Plinth

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Taschen book sample sale in Sloane Square

January 19, 2017 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

Taschen book sample sale in Sloane Square will be taking place at their store at 12 Duke of York Square, Chelsea, London SW3 4LY from 26-29^th January.

Expect to find unique books and enjoy strolling through Taschen store in South West London. We included below a selection of some of the items you will be able to buy.

Gisele by Taschen
> Born in the Brazilian countryside, and nearly six feet tall by the age of 14, Gisele Bündchen grew from humble roots into the most successful supermodel in the world. This book celebrates her 20-year milestone in the industry with a unique and spectacular collection of jaw-dropping glamour and intimate, personal insights.

Mario Testino – in your face by Taschen
> Mario Testino’s boundless talent with a camera must be maddening for other photographers working in a highly competitive field, but he remains one of the most revered stars in his profession. Often imitated and never equaled, Testino is graced with a natural ability to float effortlessly from studio to backstage to after-party, producing stunning shots in any kind of situation.

About Taschen

TASCHEN, founded as a small comic shop in Cologne, Germany in 1980, is today renowned as the world’s leading publisher of illustrated books. Our twice yearly warehouse sale offers open copies from our full program of fashion, design, photography, travel, lifestyle, art, pop culture, and sexy books for 50-75% off their list price.

This year our sale is from 26-29^th January and the store at 12 Duke of York Square, Chelsea, London SW3 4LY is open 10am-7pm.

Taschen shop in Sloane Square | Art-Pie — The Taschen shop in Sloane Square

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Hollyweed not Hollywood, the prankster who hijacked the hills of California

January 10, 2017 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

Hollyweed not Hollywood, the prankster (and his wife) who hijacked the hills of California.

You most probably heard about this very recent prank – on the 1st January, the famous HOLLYWOOD sign got hijacked to read HOLLYWEED.

Hollyweed by Jesus Hands | Art-Pie — Click to enlarge

“I wanted to make people laugh”

Zach Fernandes, the artist behind this prank, also goes by “JesusHands,” – at the time of writing this post, his Twitter account seems to have been suspended – https://twitter.com/account/suspended

We hear that Zach Fernandes’s motive behind this prank was just to make people laugh but pressure got too high and the artist cracked under it.

“If I did break the law in trespassing, I’m not going to run from the law,

Fernandez said.

The artist turned himself in on Monday.

Over the fence and a bit of sewing

Looking more closely at how the sign was transformed, you’ll notice that he wrapped letters with tarps to transform its message.

We literally were sewing stuff the day of. It was so fun and exhilarating.

> Read more about this on Buzzfeed

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Abstract painter Sandra Blow’s new show at Fine Art Society

December 27, 2016 Pierrick Senelaer Leave a comment

Abstract painter Sandra Blow’s new show at Fine Art Society is entitled “Eleven Works” and is opening on the 9th January 2017.

The Fine Art Society will present eleven large- scale canvases by the English abstract painter Sandra Blow RA (1925-2006). Spanning a period of almost 30 years, the show will include a number of works which have never been exhibited before.

A pioneer of the abstract art movement in the 1950s, Sandra Blow is best known for her monumental canvases experimenting with abstract form, rhythm, light, space, and texture. Blow introduced a new expressive informality into British art, combining cheap, discarded materials such as sawdust and plaster with the more conventional medium of paint. Her unique manner of abstraction was strongly influenced by the Italian artist Alberto Burri, who she met in Italy in 1946.

Arriving on the London art scene in 1950, Blow quickly received international recognition and went on to exhibit throughout Europe and America alongside the most important artists of the day. Her canvases became increasingly graphic, colourful and exuberant as her career developed, as did her ambition of scale.
Blow moved from London to St Ives in 1994, but continued to participate in every Summer Exhibition at Burlington House, fulfilling her role as a Royal Academician, which she was elected for in 1971. St Ives and the sea inspired the strong but subtle use of colour that characterises a number of canvases featured in this exhibition.

“The Swimmer” by Sandra Blow, Acrylic On Canvas | Click to enlarge

The artist John Mclean described Sandra Blow as “the most amazing colourist and the most original composer of a painting we have had in recent years”, comparing her to the likes of Matisse and Mirò. Indeed, the grand statements presented in this exhibition suggest that her importance is yet to be fully recognised.
Sandra Blow’s work is included in a number of major international private and public collections including the Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. An exhibition to celebrate Blow’s 80th birthday was held at Tate Britain in 2005.