tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-246268052024-02-18T20:11:03.162-08:00what the heck is art ?The fog of art is thickGurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-57674682885663594062017-06-14T05:59:00.002-07:002017-06-14T06:01:22.753-07:00India in comics, part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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RAJ, a series of <a href="http://www.dargaud.com/bd/RAJ/RAJ" target="_blank">4 bande dessinées</a> by Conrad and Wilbur set in India of 1830s</div>
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The first in the series is 'Les Disparus de la Ville Dorée' (The vanished of the golden city)-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXER6xEC_ds17ZA1vDoDHKLgxndb-yHDu489L1rzoGGsKip0KlfWE8B1nIivE3iX62DvB04piK4WeLnm5TmTPRc7pqqYkqsgU25Iiv1lKWsnwQ8SDQBdYFvh8k-HJRO-hJOpRu/s1600/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_4+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="652" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXER6xEC_ds17ZA1vDoDHKLgxndb-yHDu489L1rzoGGsKip0KlfWE8B1nIivE3iX62DvB04piK4WeLnm5TmTPRc7pqqYkqsgU25Iiv1lKWsnwQ8SDQBdYFvh8k-HJRO-hJOpRu/s640/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_4+res.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>
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Adventures of Alexander Martin, a police officer of the Raj, as summarized by the publisher-<br />
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SUMMARY RAJ TOME 1<br />
Alexander Martin -arrived in Bombay from London in 1931 to join the Indian Political Service (IPS) -whose role was to help the Honorable Compagnie des Indes develop his business ... That is to say to prevent the other states of Europe from settling on the Indian continent dominated by the British. The arrival of the new agent does not seem to enchant those who have been in place for a long time and whose main concern is to increase their personal wealth by despoiling and enslaving the natives. Alexander, however, makes some connections. Guided by the journalist David Baltimore, he discovers the strange local beliefs. Intrigued by the presence of a European in the midst of a group of Hindus practicing their rituals, the journalist follows him to identify him. Alexander finds him a few moments later, dying under the effect of the bite of a cobra ...<br />
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But now, despite the gravity of his condition, David Baltimore disappears. Other mysterious disappearances then occur in the community of English expatriates! Pressed to solve this problem, the I.P.S. Decided to accuse a competitor of the Honorable Company of India. The captain of the Portuguese company Sao Mateo will make an ideal culprit. It is however to count without the honesty of the agent Alexander Martin who is reluctant to arrest an innocent ...</blockquote>
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A few glimpses-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsCHvexWRgEVUW_tSjyb5zG6vvdDUDq0L-bRSAihhKuVYLS5JtzngV_AdRGKt9HtCAoxBSdBp2IW6Dvcg27bDE48309gsmuKB5_0RuRJNg3AzqHFtZOhnum2OzAip9RKheVCG/s1600/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_5+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="900" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitsCHvexWRgEVUW_tSjyb5zG6vvdDUDq0L-bRSAihhKuVYLS5JtzngV_AdRGKt9HtCAoxBSdBp2IW6Dvcg27bDE48309gsmuKB5_0RuRJNg3AzqHFtZOhnum2OzAip9RKheVCG/s640/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_5+res.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigskYoYFS4KmDqfQQaiZ1bl1r0dH8GY2iQK1NpKBu0fyA4u4SO6XL04XK0SlKTyotxUQRn0VCbDEDUkPx3H6K47Em7Y7Wh8ZK9aUeOxIpFXCbEK0yxgVQ95AmWzpjLKkDOC5OX/s1600/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_2+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="645" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigskYoYFS4KmDqfQQaiZ1bl1r0dH8GY2iQK1NpKBu0fyA4u4SO6XL04XK0SlKTyotxUQRn0VCbDEDUkPx3H6K47Em7Y7Wh8ZK9aUeOxIpFXCbEK0yxgVQ95AmWzpjLKkDOC5OX/s640/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_2+res.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPEnKKSCMjy_F-8zG9ZvHSb9VAAvHWLBGxAMrovPLgTYUDUB_62RdsmDnEfo41et3XY9oo-La3IEX686X8bhb5_e7kIq22XYVEd7NTGbMEY0wtRoCXTGqXpWCmR6nEQI_9ejS/s1600/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_25+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="640" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPEnKKSCMjy_F-8zG9ZvHSb9VAAvHWLBGxAMrovPLgTYUDUB_62RdsmDnEfo41et3XY9oo-La3IEX686X8bhb5_e7kIq22XYVEd7NTGbMEY0wtRoCXTGqXpWCmR6nEQI_9ejS/s640/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_25+res.jpg" width="454" /></a></div>
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I really like the largish panels like these (there are several) where movement has some spread and landscape breadth-<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoqxwYinOiuHp0o8_SYyYLNHdQbYrQE68GlgIY8YMs8p0Q7Dh621AQCYMw3y3fniWGWLM9YO2m1zahyphenhyphen43Op9hyVGzuRwYfGc90VLiAsyZ7dBvl62Kv_V37P4TwNmrlka2JMf0/s1600/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_26+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1291" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoqxwYinOiuHp0o8_SYyYLNHdQbYrQE68GlgIY8YMs8p0Q7Dh621AQCYMw3y3fniWGWLM9YO2m1zahyphenhyphen43Op9hyVGzuRwYfGc90VLiAsyZ7dBvl62Kv_V37P4TwNmrlka2JMf0/s640/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_26+res.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Parents be advised- may not be for small kiddos :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2wOwUKq4KhDyJcbH-CRymAZbID_85Om2CCFDZt9M1HAW4ckW6bnbyi62JrobXuRP34abeL4W4Buoxo5lbK2843qgAQ-b5-AV-0JTkvEOgGzrjgPvP4WpwZyLZL9yBjviBGIt/s1600/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_27+res.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="900" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT2wOwUKq4KhDyJcbH-CRymAZbID_85Om2CCFDZt9M1HAW4ckW6bnbyi62JrobXuRP34abeL4W4Buoxo5lbK2843qgAQ-b5-AV-0JTkvEOgGzrjgPvP4WpwZyLZL9yBjviBGIt/s640/Raj%252C+Tome+1++Les+Disparus+de+la+Ville+dor%25C3%25A9e_27+res.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Check it <a href="http://www.dargaud.com/bd/RAJ/RAJ/RAJ-tome-1-Disparus-de-la-Ville-Doree-Les" target="_blank">out</a>!<br />
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Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-53765631720964290312012-07-17T22:58:00.000-07:002012-07-17T22:58:03.563-07:00India in comics,part 3- Kalimán<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px;"><b>Kalimán</b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> (often called </span> <b>Kalimán <span style="background-color: white;">el</span></b><span style="background-color: white;"><b> hombre increible</b>-Kaliman the Incredible man) , according to Wikipedia </span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">
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<span style="background-color: white;">the name of a Mexican comic book hero very famous across Latin America. He was created by </span><b style="background-color: white;">Rafael Cutberto Navarro</b><span style="background-color: white;"> and </span><b style="background-color: white;">Modesto Vázquez González</b><span style="background-color: white;">. The Kaliman comic depicts the adventures of Kaliman and his young companion Solín, an Egyptian boy who is descended from Pharaohs.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Kaliman had his own radio show since 1963, which featured adventures that took place on exotic sites. The comic book was born due to the huge success of the radio show of the same name.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG8v1yofIZHe2Zcbvc7hFptrXcdC6pXBoCnaRSDdG2vluPFOpI_FI-XCQxv8liiLvurHgaTulq7doNG-KukRBLPINkZPuyU5TYI9AjSaGxeAemMSZMfdlyp7FW4DfWIpdGwcr/s1600/Kaliman+comics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLG8v1yofIZHe2Zcbvc7hFptrXcdC6pXBoCnaRSDdG2vluPFOpI_FI-XCQxv8liiLvurHgaTulq7doNG-KukRBLPINkZPuyU5TYI9AjSaGxeAemMSZMfdlyp7FW4DfWIpdGwcr/s320/Kaliman+comics.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">and-</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyN1uylqdX32nqjXSm_xMWMEMusvPf-DfKTjjlCNYPYwxKmh_c0QzUq0qyWrXHioiW6SKNGV4QiYzAs-p39ExKTFvALii9DUcQoX8KJaO31U8JG_trTmCm-fY0o5BhW7lVdmD/s1600/Kaliman+comics_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyN1uylqdX32nqjXSm_xMWMEMusvPf-DfKTjjlCNYPYwxKmh_c0QzUq0qyWrXHioiW6SKNGV4QiYzAs-p39ExKTFvALii9DUcQoX8KJaO31U8JG_trTmCm-fY0o5BhW7lVdmD/s320/Kaliman+comics_cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Kaliman's origin is unknown, which adds to the sense of mystery that surrounds the character. What we know is that he is an orphan adopted by prince Abul Pasha from one of the kingdoms in the valley of Kalimantan, that he is the fifth man in a dynasty of men dedicated to preserving justice in the world, and that he is the seventh man of the goddess Kali's dynasty. He swore an oath to <b>Kali</b> to wander the world fighting for justice, and must return to <b>India</b> to renew the oath every seven years.</blockquote>
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Kaliman wears an all-white outfit with one mark: the jeweled-encased "K" he wears in his turban. He does not use weapons, except a blowgun with tranquilizer darts and a ceremonial dagger that complements his costume. He is a master of martial arts, science and arts. He also possesses extraordinary mental powers: levitation, telepathy, remote viewing, telekinesis, astral projection, control of the involuntary functions of the body (which allows him to feign being dead: what he calls "actus mortis"), hypnosis, and self-healing, among others. He makes clear that he does nothing that any other men would not be able to do through self discipline, study and hard work.</blockquote>
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Kalimán has no superhuman powers, he is a human at the peak of his abilities, thanks to the esoteric knowledge he has. It is assumed that Solín, a common boy, will eventually take his place as he learns from Kalimán.</blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Only in two adventures "El Extraño Doctor Muerte" (The Strange Doctor Death) and "El Dragón Rojo" (The Red Dragon) he gets momentary superhuman powers, thanks to the third eye, opened by the lama masters.</span></blockquote>
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Kalimán never kills. He even puts his life in danger to prevent any kind of killing.</blockquote>
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So <span style="background-color: white;">Kalimán is a hero of Indian origin wandering around in middle-eastish lands.</span><br />
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Note that the name of the protagonist has <span style="background-color: white;">an accent over the 'a' in 'man' in Spanish. So it does not translate into the English 'man' and thus the name </span><span style="background-color: white;">Kalimán is not equal to Kali<b><i>man</i></b> like Superman or Batman - though anyone not familiar with Spanish could easily and understandably believe so. In fact, the pronunciation would be -Kali-<i>maan.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">There are also a couple of Kalimán</span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> </b><span style="background-color: white;">movies.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlh04_R0L6IroUHOwqIBHBJ8zvoyVQNvvW0XPjikxf0aqy_rxmwrimh4xyWEk-FmGUNkpRfaCurxhhQqdQlkMn6wKtuMUwblIIa8okMprk3ZPTnCRP4SQJcFtSMHclbkQbB42/s1600/Fotografia_Primera+Pelicula_Kaliman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlh04_R0L6IroUHOwqIBHBJ8zvoyVQNvvW0XPjikxf0aqy_rxmwrimh4xyWEk-FmGUNkpRfaCurxhhQqdQlkMn6wKtuMUwblIIa8okMprk3ZPTnCRP4SQJcFtSMHclbkQbB42/s320/Fotografia_Primera+Pelicula_Kaliman.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">A scene from <i><b>Kalimán el hombre increible,</b></i><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.800000190734863px; line-height: 19.200000762939453px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> 1972</span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Somebody has been kind enough to put the whole first film on Youtube-</span>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tTkELOdZy3c" width="420"></iframe>
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<b>Kalimán El Hombre Increible </b></div>
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1972 movie</div>
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Here are a couple of pages from No.5, published the 15th, June, 1983 along with the cover-<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgrBPl9A7ifnyDvZgK665Co1nURYfp2fNYLYjLjngZ-yQ7vz2NnbFpjXqgAFCyVI2xGauEengVh94vDnD5k-6hDPpG3HPhBA4JIqHzaeCOn-QMkBmctp8PLL_lTXQ5CHTG8Zb/s1600/grandes+aventuras+de+kaliman+no+5+junio+1983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXgrBPl9A7ifnyDvZgK665Co1nURYfp2fNYLYjLjngZ-yQ7vz2NnbFpjXqgAFCyVI2xGauEengVh94vDnD5k-6hDPpG3HPhBA4JIqHzaeCOn-QMkBmctp8PLL_lTXQ5CHTG8Zb/s1600/grandes+aventuras+de+kaliman+no+5+junio+1983.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Grandes aventuras de Kalimán</b> <br />
no 5 <br />
junio 1983</td></tr>
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</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-25506362143218765902012-07-17T20:24:00.000-07:002012-07-17T20:24:57.852-07:00India in comics,part 2- Djinn vol 10, The Pavalion of Pleasures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
According to its Wikipedia <a href="http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CFMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FDjinn_(comics)&ei=lioGUJ3kEtHKrAf9hqTJBg&usg=AFQjCNFq0X9j-PChp_CNL8AGndpcapPJYA&sig2=dPx0wW-Gqpd5f2QCE00SHA" target="_blank">page</a>-<br />
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<b><i>Djinn</i></b> is a Franco-Belgian comics series written by <b>Jean Dufaux</b> and illustrated by . The story is an <b>adult</b> adventure-thriller and deals with themes of sexuality and colonial politics.</blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3r0jX9qKkUGC3vamzXXdimiwoawX-Do9Y6PgvDkpSnyREgSI_m6CUKch9d9Y_3IIunYOO6ZgMFnxx3KFjevyr_uBMfROdOw5XCZMtE72sZP7vAE0gjkVSphLahFT-jUijQoz/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_Le+Pavillon+des+Plaisirs_(2011).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3r0jX9qKkUGC3vamzXXdimiwoawX-Do9Y6PgvDkpSnyREgSI_m6CUKch9d9Y_3IIunYOO6ZgMFnxx3KFjevyr_uBMfROdOw5XCZMtE72sZP7vAE0gjkVSphLahFT-jUijQoz/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_Le+Pavillon+des+Plaisirs_(2011).jpg" /></a></div>
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The first four volumes make up the "Ottoman Cycle" while the following five comprise the "Africa Cycle". The "Indian Cycle", planned for four volumes, started 2010 with the volume "<i>Le Pavillon des Plaisirs</i>".</blockquote>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K7Dc7aOqmIKHBhHcymCTtpU-IqT6_xaYkUrByD2_zl7YV_8JjpBY9LYz4Mfvh76qTrO5fRpBO7W-9i4RANfTinY9n6ArXjQ8mTf-JJfRRVg-dwBdJZ9qrfxeKJkmaMkjhrSe/s1600/Ana+Miralles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5K7Dc7aOqmIKHBhHcymCTtpU-IqT6_xaYkUrByD2_zl7YV_8JjpBY9LYz4Mfvh76qTrO5fRpBO7W-9i4RANfTinY9n6ArXjQ8mTf-JJfRRVg-dwBdJZ9qrfxeKJkmaMkjhrSe/s320/Ana+Miralles.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>Ana Mirallès</b><br />Illustrator of the Djinn comics</span></td></tr>
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The series starts out with-</div>
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A young Englishwoman, Kim Nelson, travels to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul">Istanbul</a> in search of information about her grandmother Jade. In the years before <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I">World War I</a>, Jade had been the favourite of the "Black Sultan", and ordered by him to seduce an English diplomat, Lord Nelson, in order to alter Turkey's influence in European politics. Kim's story and that of her grandmother are revealed in tandem, in a Europe where sexual and political allegiances are constantly shifting.</blockquote>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI4sNilEkhvc0e8eXkLL2X1yf6mpCya5mNxiuKNsCuJGZCz2bFjsbJhg6Fk0ffZyO-7WDupbEJubtOEu9QKFI3v42Q41XBa0Lf5GW0uzDHF-mQuwOLfD4N8DytRQVmEaEOK33/s1600/Djinn+vol.10_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxI4sNilEkhvc0e8eXkLL2X1yf6mpCya5mNxiuKNsCuJGZCz2bFjsbJhg6Fk0ffZyO-7WDupbEJubtOEu9QKFI3v42Q41XBa0Lf5GW0uzDHF-mQuwOLfD4N8DytRQVmEaEOK33/s1600/Djinn+vol.10_cover.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>Djinn</b> vol 10 - <i>Le Pavillon des Plaisirs</i><br />
cover</td></tr>
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The "Indian Cycle" book is titled <span style="background-color: white;">"<i>Le Pavillon des Plaisirs</i>"(</span><span style="background-color: white;">The Pavilion of Pleasures). The French comic book site </span><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Coinbd</b> provides us this </span><a href="http://www.coinbd.com/series-bd/djinn/le-pavillon-des-plaisirs/" target="_blank">summary</a><span style="background-color: white;">-</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Premier épisode d'un nouveau cycle qui se situe chronologiquement après le cycle ottoman et avant le cycle africain, Le Pavillon des Plaisirs se déroule aux Indes à l'époque de la domination britannique. Jade, accompagnée de Lady et de Lord Nelson, arrive au palais d'Eschnapur mandée par la Rani, mère du maharadjah. Celle-ci souhaite que la Djinn initie à l'amour sa future bru, la fille du rebelle Radjah Sing. Ceci dans l'espoir secret que sa bru, forte de son pouvoir, influence la politique de son fils, favorable aux Anglais. Mais une étrange malédiction plane sur le palais. Malédiction qui prend la forme d'une enfant qui ne se montrera... qu'à Jade.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;">which the Google helpfully translates to(grammar corrected to avoid inadvertent laughter)-</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">First episode of a new cycle which is chronologically after the Ottoman cycle and </span><span style="background-color: white;">before the African cycle, </span><span style="background-color: white;"> 'Pavilion of Fun' takes place in India at the time of British rule. Jade, accompanied by Lady and Lord Nelson arrives at the palace Eschnapur commanded by the Rani, mother of the Maharaja. She hopes that initiates Djinn initiates his future daughter-the daughter of the rebel Rajah Singh- to love. This in the secret hope that her daughter, with her power, influence the policy of his pro-English son. But a strange curse hangs over the palace. Curse that takes the form of a child who will appear ... to Jade only.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Here are some of the best pages from the book. Unfortunately, I have the Italian version only-</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNuBNdgar_iljbAEK-YYfuGDr3qHTxtToq43DcCNmiFbBy6dvCAu2HWSs6eJ3DehsUiQIu0PIrd8MGfav56lEqDBk3Cytn5HBPXV_Ef_XvNe43_Ehv0eR9cFQ3sWL8aH1LPBW/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_pg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNuBNdgar_iljbAEK-YYfuGDr3qHTxtToq43DcCNmiFbBy6dvCAu2HWSs6eJ3DehsUiQIu0PIrd8MGfav56lEqDBk3Cytn5HBPXV_Ef_XvNe43_Ehv0eR9cFQ3sWL8aH1LPBW/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_pg1.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Djinn</b> vol 10 - <i>Le Pavillon des Plaisirs</i><br />
pg1<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VCf1FPjyq4_Ag_y2GHvHuH-ju8obqhkCpPR9EDOESjNPf65enKnHQ1adn9nCBwJj97gswxEtBNVp1-lNKt_GThRotep9c_6wHAzRMiAGWVd-iiVwSRCytNbvpVkdtF1QPNIw/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VCf1FPjyq4_Ag_y2GHvHuH-ju8obqhkCpPR9EDOESjNPf65enKnHQ1adn9nCBwJj97gswxEtBNVp1-lNKt_GThRotep9c_6wHAzRMiAGWVd-iiVwSRCytNbvpVkdtF1QPNIw/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_19.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Djinn</b> vol 10 - <i>Le Pavillon des Plaisirs</i><br />
pg19</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cxh4hz3jCgIqi1bDRjGE0EDPcBlKhrwVWv4JadqAwXv09hH2eKtphsbiVnB3Oicec5Fv8-SQJRO9NmTfZojfoqSTC26NPvmgte1TdAePM36dqLAtJb9pEwEh-vcroYHwtj4e/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_pg32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cxh4hz3jCgIqi1bDRjGE0EDPcBlKhrwVWv4JadqAwXv09hH2eKtphsbiVnB3Oicec5Fv8-SQJRO9NmTfZojfoqSTC26NPvmgte1TdAePM36dqLAtJb9pEwEh-vcroYHwtj4e/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_pg32.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Djinn</b> vol 10 - <i>Le Pavillon des Plaisirs</i><br />
pg32</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbtwJsbuADzbuvEZylRJiB_63eT4otaZjRJjtQ58MsfN3oS9yyDda-DZqq8ynbxzxNBB5Ms_8e_Qq0v7VLoRKsd18HUb_DPzFXmBK7GNWtva0_tjvdqSTVIo0tS8HaNLu7V4C/s1600/Djinn+vol.10_pg41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVbtwJsbuADzbuvEZylRJiB_63eT4otaZjRJjtQ58MsfN3oS9yyDda-DZqq8ynbxzxNBB5Ms_8e_Qq0v7VLoRKsd18HUb_DPzFXmBK7GNWtva0_tjvdqSTVIo0tS8HaNLu7V4C/s1600/Djinn+vol.10_pg41.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Djinn</b> vol 10 - <i>Le Pavillon des Plaisirs</i><br />
pg41</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHqOYkrgogSpvSfKwpCr1Q1o1Pz88LkC7z05QGDLma1Vm77WeVpuh6hVvwVdnbNYDBa3CHxSXLxUUq91JnqC1n86Gperi1EENBIE0HRxvC7ciXXWolkxOT1enXogFXESB0aFF/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_pg+43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHqOYkrgogSpvSfKwpCr1Q1o1Pz88LkC7z05QGDLma1Vm77WeVpuh6hVvwVdnbNYDBa3CHxSXLxUUq91JnqC1n86Gperi1EENBIE0HRxvC7ciXXWolkxOT1enXogFXESB0aFF/s1600/Djinn+vol.10+_pg+43.jpg" width="580" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Djinn</b> vol 10 - <i>Le Pavillon des Plaisirs</i><br />
pg43</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">The images are tempting enough to make one buy and keep the book.</span><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=libert0d-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=2505009724&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=C576D1&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-72962832668997075782012-07-16T15:19:00.000-07:002012-07-16T15:19:36.660-07:00John Lennon's song Imagine as a comic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rTNbPwn5ngddZUpMhaLNrvKGILg7YiCnrY5fvXPAYvaKKJ6EuiIubOQ6KPHZivCs-pVv47eRnXIW3m2UPR7W0qVpvMl7U6dvlXcB_HfwJgBO_WoTxc1yl05IKY8Qrl046Pcj/s1600/imagine_header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rTNbPwn5ngddZUpMhaLNrvKGILg7YiCnrY5fvXPAYvaKKJ6EuiIubOQ6KPHZivCs-pVv47eRnXIW3m2UPR7W0qVpvMl7U6dvlXcB_HfwJgBO_WoTxc1yl05IKY8Qrl046Pcj/s320/imagine_header.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>John Lennon</b>'s song <i>Imagine</i> as a comic by <b><a href="http://www.stanleycolors.com/2012/06/imagine/" target="_blank">Pablo Stanley</a>-</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLb8UqATbM30yKGqRjasbBASIbFndqjgwzi92BfKij_GYxNd6HLqQIjN-UBQqH6SzPdUCURqEmaUM_IFBd06AJrVQpPKx80Str9L5KAaXcn_-1rYN3WRYFB0Y0crbE19Cexcka/s0/imagine_lennon_comic.jpg" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLb8UqATbM30yKGqRjasbBASIbFndqjgwzi92BfKij_GYxNd6HLqQIjN-UBQqH6SzPdUCURqEmaUM_IFBd06AJrVQpPKx80Str9L5KAaXcn_-1rYN3WRYFB0Y0crbE19Cexcka/s0/imagine_lennon_comic.jpg" width="550" /></a></div>
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</b></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-35653417559262465602012-07-16T14:26:00.001-07:002012-07-16T14:26:36.263-07:00Art Quote<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><b>Sean Robsville</b> commenting on <b>Roger Scruton</b>'s 2009 documentary '</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Why Beauty Matters</i>'-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">Modern art engages the mind on a purely superficial level by its constant attempts at 'originality', which usually end up as scatological attempts to 'shock' some imaginary </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">strawman</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> of middle class public opinion ('</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Épater</span></span> la bourgeoisie</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">').</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">But this public opinion has actually long since become jaded by the antics of the self-appointed </span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">avant</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">-</span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">garde</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">, which may have been shocking the first time round, but have become boring and vacuous with repetition.</span></blockquote>
</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-7636271115117985452012-07-16T13:50:00.000-07:002012-07-16T14:04:45.854-07:00The Empowered Man - Anti-Obama art<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><b>Jon McNaughton</b> is that rarest of species - a 'conservative' artist! Yes, they do exist, even if in dangerously low numbers, in perpetual threat of extinction. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Political art that is not only not leftist but unashamedly anti-leftist comes as a rude but pleasant shock. So habituated are we to the the antics of the leftist art Establishment that the works of </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">McNaughton are like a sudden kick in the nuts out of nowhere.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sEOjNWxk56m17Q7vqQAK_CVWRO6IMi2bhhYqRMZ0K8L9lKoHtkXjEL2VxomRuBp8nZx8KUKRkp9c1oIOMDWGrRoGk7AdbmeswUzHsoSBzBI_CgXCSixULFdCA_-t5TgHUBs0/s1600/The+Empowered+Man_Jon+McNaughton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7sEOjNWxk56m17Q7vqQAK_CVWRO6IMi2bhhYqRMZ0K8L9lKoHtkXjEL2VxomRuBp8nZx8KUKRkp9c1oIOMDWGrRoGk7AdbmeswUzHsoSBzBI_CgXCSixULFdCA_-t5TgHUBs0/s1600/The+Empowered+Man_Jon+McNaughton.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Empowered Man</i><br />
<b>Jon McNaughton</b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Observe that writer of the <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mhastings/anti-obama-artist-strikes-again" target="_blank">following</a> 'report' can barely conceal his contempt of the artist-</span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Anti-Obama Artist Strikes Again</h2>
<b style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Jon McNaughton, the artist who depicted Obama burning the Constitution, has a new painting</b>. He's aiming to sell it to the highest bidder, between $50,000 and $100,000.<br />
Popular conservative artist Jon McNaughton has released a new painting, the latest in his <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/mhastings/anti-obama-art-selling-for-six-figures" style="background-color: transparent; border: 0px; color: #0077ee; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">controversial series of anti-Obama artwork</a>.</blockquote>
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'Controversial' art is readily celebrated - but not when a 'conservative' creates it.</div>
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The Empowered Man—which shows President Obama watching in horror as a thirty something white male, standing in front of the White House holds up the U.S. constitution in one hand and a wad of cash in the other—was released this week.</blockquote>
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“I wanted this painting to reflect the hope many Americans are having that we can steer our country back on track,” McNaughton emailed BuzzFeed. “I used real models and it took a couple of months to paint.”</blockquote>
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The Empowered Man is a follow up to another painting called Wake Up America, which included inflammatory images of President Obama standing in a rain shower of corporate cash while American workers trudged along in chains.</blockquote>
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One can understand the sentiment of this tired MSM hack - when so many of the artistic and media elites drool and slobber over Obama, an artistic criticism of their messiah must sound '<span style="background-color: white;">Inflammatory'. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9I_3vRBmLBqR8Ou7nIbvjl2O7dgLFi0Vp2hKd9dyGdnjtdmhXkGdNo-52o_JZniA2ndvWpa3OiYgAArmEaJbrH7phe5WzoHOlCfk5uSIha3FfEEupdsuXWu_Ua9KyQOMw_qOm/s1600/Wake+Up+America_Jon+McNaughton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9I_3vRBmLBqR8Ou7nIbvjl2O7dgLFi0Vp2hKd9dyGdnjtdmhXkGdNo-52o_JZniA2ndvWpa3OiYgAArmEaJbrH7phe5WzoHOlCfk5uSIha3FfEEupdsuXWu_Ua9KyQOMw_qOm/s1600/Wake+Up+America_Jon+McNaughton.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Wake Up America</i><br />
<b>Jon McNaughton</b></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Both paintings feature the same “everyman” character, who in McNaughton’s telling, has chosen to break off the chains of an oppressive federal government.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;"></span>The Provo, Utah based painter has struck artistic gold with his series, tapping into a widespread libertarian distrust of Washington, as well as a deep-seated hatred of President Obama, which critics says is animated by racial bias.</blockquote>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Yes,obviously -anyone who cannot appreciate and be grateful for the saintliness of Obama must be a racist. Nevertheless-</span></span></div>
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The Provo, Utah based painter has struck artistic gold with his series, tapping into a widespread libertarian distrust of Washington, as well as a deep-seated hatred of President Obama, which critics says is animated by racial bias.</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
McNaughton has now sold two works of art for six figure sums this year, an almost unheard of feat in the art world.</blockquote>
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One painting was purchased by his most prominent art patron, Fox News host Sean Hannity.</blockquote>
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He’s currently taking bids on the painting, and expects to get between $50,000 and $100,000 for the original canvas of the Empowered Man.</blockquote>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Way better than a no-talent nobody making it big on tax-payer supported NEA grants for politically correct art which nevertheless is feted for 'challenging' the assumptions of the establishment, no?</span></span></div>
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<b>Update-</b></div>
Jon McNaughton on <i style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">The Empowered Man </i>in this video-</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/SUfh-2n5cWI" width="560"></iframe>
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<br /></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-31598827128565187262012-07-16T13:06:00.001-07:002012-07-16T13:06:44.819-07:00Cartoons on art no.1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A <a href="http://www.andertoons.com/art/cartoon/0504/i-dont-think-its-metaphor-for-anything-i-think-its-bowl-of-fruit/" target="_blank">cartoon</a> by Mark Anderson-<br />
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<a href="http://www.andertoons.com/art/cartoon/0504/i-dont-think-its-metaphor-for-anything-i-think-its-bowl-of-fruit/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false"><img alt="Art Cartoon #0504 by Andertoons" src="http://static.andertoons.com/img/toons/cartoon0504.png" style="border: none;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.andertoons.com/search-cartoons/art/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">Art Cartoon by Andertoons</a></div>
</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-15352230851263599752012-07-16T08:23:00.000-07:002012-07-16T08:23:00.616-07:00Art school students in 1950's London<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The fascinating blog '<a href="http://rbkclocalstudies.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><b>The Library Time Machine</b></a>' has some images of art school students during the 1950's London.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe5Kh2oNm6HtRXdJOJ4R2i2ubjGTw6JSjI66uuy3NrK7OWBt-0EuF9z097uFB0_46xDV51cjy-QIllEOsDBiZQ7TdNELuU8G34h-1iJW8fdib_Qa-uVnk9o7y0PQHE8LDNPGb/s1600/artists-sketching-off-sydney-street-1950-1828b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUe5Kh2oNm6HtRXdJOJ4R2i2ubjGTw6JSjI66uuy3NrK7OWBt-0EuF9z097uFB0_46xDV51cjy-QIllEOsDBiZQ7TdNELuU8G34h-1iJW8fdib_Qa-uVnk9o7y0PQHE8LDNPGb/s1600/artists-sketching-off-sydney-street-1950-1828b.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyQ1vRdhhEIoFqPBLy7LD5nvJeESxn4sM4_F8athDW77XXB8H8anJaNcKH1zGe6uMemdLetQKz1q68Lgfq9ldJirOFc6Xz21QwNY4U8P5GeysCwA8qmAFZTj_Vtz33dz-NqMH/s1600/art+students+sloane+square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyQ1vRdhhEIoFqPBLy7LD5nvJeESxn4sM4_F8athDW77XXB8H8anJaNcKH1zGe6uMemdLetQKz1q68Lgfq9ldJirOFc6Xz21QwNY4U8P5GeysCwA8qmAFZTj_Vtz33dz-NqMH/s1600/art+students+sloane+square.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ12zosZN2oZEaiDmYbqS8Dj1sctLEeJW-RZV3gCWUyz2jJDLQqaSkARy4q915hwIywcy08kg0JTT-l7WfSX2msZhAXlhX5SjFg9EJCcXd-K4ArIMbt15-93iCzNN2X3UiTyUa/s1600/chelsea+school+of+art-1950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ12zosZN2oZEaiDmYbqS8Dj1sctLEeJW-RZV3gCWUyz2jJDLQqaSkARy4q915hwIywcy08kg0JTT-l7WfSX2msZhAXlhX5SjFg9EJCcXd-K4ArIMbt15-93iCzNN2X3UiTyUa/s1600/chelsea+school+of+art-1950.jpg" /></a></div>
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Do check it out for more.</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-32973909076245061662012-07-16T07:46:00.001-07:002012-07-16T07:46:41.399-07:00What we say to the Art Establishment -" You’re not my mom!"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23l0blrogEekJrY40A45Dj1TmNKCsTpTTHY7m5tpVrU2bPta2xu1EBECr3rWh7xiDzQK1XUhFeyplLSM_Pgzh5YFYPJPTXp4yfH-1kWN9VysNYoG2k8eHmiQ1qkj2mcYpZZWO/s1600/damien+hirst-dots-tate+retrospective.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23l0blrogEekJrY40A45Dj1TmNKCsTpTTHY7m5tpVrU2bPta2xu1EBECr3rWh7xiDzQK1XUhFeyplLSM_Pgzh5YFYPJPTXp4yfH-1kWN9VysNYoG2k8eHmiQ1qkj2mcYpZZWO/s1600/damien+hirst-dots-tate+retrospective.jpg" /></a></div>
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Regular readers of this blog will be aware of our unofficial motto - We respect great art, not great reputations. In fact, we never shy away from taking on the art Establishment(with a capital E). In the words of Sarah Hoyt- "<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">You’re not my mom!</span><span style="background-color: white;">"</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Here's her quote in <a href="http://accordingtohoyt.com/2012/03/25/timshel-thou-mayest-3-2/" target="_blank">greater</a> fullness-</span><br />
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In the Arts, the lawgivers of the current Establishment are the revolutionaries who overthrew the previous Establishment, the Avant Garde become the Garde. The sign and watchwords of an Establishment are the words “thou shalt not,” and the first sign of revolt is a small voice that says, defiantly, “Sez who? You’re not my mom!”</blockquote>
Yup, we are that small voice.<div>
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</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-40609685617651142672012-07-16T07:16:00.002-07:002012-07-16T07:16:34.427-07:00What the heck is art? Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What now seems like long ago we started out by asking-<br />
<a href="http://whattheheckisart.blogspot.in/2006/12/what-heck-is-art.html" target="_blank">What the heck is art?</a><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7WdIOOzg51NcIXuDAjCcjHswlnTntTdYoWnyoL6uQGiNW_UW5nATKwsRx1FvPjmxWVm1lsz6aYrglfgL4GAmFLadNpD82hN4sfTKrEIBTdC4j2p7jwiZNKbznmwfmwOL2Fo5/s1600/modern_art.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7WdIOOzg51NcIXuDAjCcjHswlnTntTdYoWnyoL6uQGiNW_UW5nATKwsRx1FvPjmxWVm1lsz6aYrglfgL4GAmFLadNpD82hN4sfTKrEIBTdC4j2p7jwiZNKbznmwfmwOL2Fo5/s320/modern_art.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Ernst Billgren in his book <b><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9197897388/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=libert0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=9197897388" target="_blank">What Is Art and 100 other very important questions</a></i></b> answers it this way-</div>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;">
What is art?</h2>
<b>Short answer:</b>A question.<br /><b>Long answer: </b>Just as a physicist is a collection of atoms trying <span style="background-color: white;">to discern what an atom is, so art is an invention </span><span style="background-color: white;">that aims to discover what art is.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Heh.</span></div>
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</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-42863399962726253532012-07-16T06:52:00.000-07:002012-07-16T06:52:26.817-07:00Renoir’s Baigneuse- de-sexed by restorers?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFL13ElD7lZTIX6T6wpB_wbBWM-7FgNuStRqVyXqFOXoGh67yAGkFeBEpZ8-Sgek-qRjujztxbHD3GVZEk3OJFgnl8iSzrulB-b8mbROJGbkh7NFERDKOSemu3az0Sa0d_npt/s1600/Renoir%E2%80%99s+Baigneuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFL13ElD7lZTIX6T6wpB_wbBWM-7FgNuStRqVyXqFOXoGh67yAGkFeBEpZ8-Sgek-qRjujztxbHD3GVZEk3OJFgnl8iSzrulB-b8mbROJGbkh7NFERDKOSemu3az0Sa0d_npt/s1600/Renoir%E2%80%99s+Baigneuse.jpg" /></a></div>
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Daily Mail-<br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Has one of the West’s great sensual paintings — Renoir’s Baigneuse — been de-sexed by restorers? That is the startling suggestion from a London art historian.</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UiLuzg17BOo93QpCYiyJO82Gg8-ZU070ly76CMJNiNhIs24CGFHsCC7busvkTjSGNzkSR1oM62Dl0kjKbPSjBwulzfxoEdnikiQOQ6vp7M1cj-3lHKjDjzyiCpSlK4oOKjwV/s1600/Pierre+Auguste+Renoir-Baigneuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UiLuzg17BOo93QpCYiyJO82Gg8-ZU070ly76CMJNiNhIs24CGFHsCC7busvkTjSGNzkSR1oM62Dl0kjKbPSjBwulzfxoEdnikiQOQ6vp7M1cj-3lHKjDjzyiCpSlK4oOKjwV/s320/Pierre+Auguste+Renoir-Baigneuse.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Baigneuse</span> (
After the Bath <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 10px;">)</span></i><br /><b>Pierre-Auguste Renoir</b><br />1888<br /> Oil on canvas<br /> Private collection.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">The picture, worth an estimated £18 million, was shown at a London auction house last month. Mysteriously, it was withdrawn at the 11th hour and ‘sold privately’.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 12px; text-align: left;">Artwatch, a group which questions art-restoration methods, fears the painting was markedly altered from its 19th-century state. Shadowing at the base of the young woman’s naked back seemed to have been lost. Brush strokes were, apparently, lost or reduced</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigVVTiHEhSnvsjdhtcBGfLYXHBwTqujBjE3zJ8WR1mll5pMOyBkf9DJPlfgInq0hZZDDrJcVnILbZ1N-9Uz2msnLsmHBAqNiZBE1w7ISp4bWs3s9iAZ_x-Xk2lnoG0C2WBTkR/s1600/Renoir%E2%80%99s+Baigneuse-been+de-sexed+by+restorers_before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigVVTiHEhSnvsjdhtcBGfLYXHBwTqujBjE3zJ8WR1mll5pMOyBkf9DJPlfgInq0hZZDDrJcVnILbZ1N-9Uz2msnLsmHBAqNiZBE1w7ISp4bWs3s9iAZ_x-Xk2lnoG0C2WBTkR/s320/Renoir%E2%80%99s+Baigneuse-been+de-sexed+by+restorers_before.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOb64LmK57CGOCGttZUM3B6i3NJ4OJOwsGJ-xroYPJYzUF1-NJUIbQHL1Myp5ru5wMnE_AT4em5O2dDNHkJwqry19paxHR9uBJSRX2rWkJn7G4NW7y57EpyTeUbVePDwoqrn04/s1600/Renoir%E2%80%99s+Baigneuse-been+de-sexed+by+restorers_after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; display: inline !important; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOb64LmK57CGOCGttZUM3B6i3NJ4OJOwsGJ-xroYPJYzUF1-NJUIbQHL1Myp5ru5wMnE_AT4em5O2dDNHkJwqry19paxHR9uBJSRX2rWkJn7G4NW7y57EpyTeUbVePDwoqrn04/s320/Renoir%E2%80%99s+Baigneuse-been+de-sexed+by+restorers_after.jpg" width="198" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="min-height: 1px; padding: 0px;">
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">Artwatch, a group which questions art-restoration methods, fears the painting was markedly altered from its 19th-century state. Shadowing at the base of the young woman’s naked back seemed to have been lost. Brush strokes were, apparently, lost or reduced.</span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">'The painting was thinner, smoother, more anodyne than in early photographs,’ says Artwatch’s Michael Daley. ‘It used to have a sense of the struggle Renoir had painting it. For me, it is now less sexy, less of a real female body.’</span></blockquote>
<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2173231/Baigneuse-auction-A-pale-imitation-Renoir-masterpiece.html" target="_blank">Read it all</a>.<br />
</div>
</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-82280682359332597752012-07-16T05:49:00.000-07:002012-07-16T06:28:06.927-07:00Some reflections and lessons painfully learnt in the interregnum<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYAOp0Guf3aPLS3ARbiNyBa8d268PkwCY32XrRg2Cu1WfMwAVya4KufY3sc141Po5hEJY3jxYrBPcBxktW-quz71-z0ETUIJLZzR2lBsOUQP14PiaRh0XDiG2MQSZ2Q9w0m_q/s1600/Gustave+Dor%C3%A9+-+Grim+Reaper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHYAOp0Guf3aPLS3ARbiNyBa8d268PkwCY32XrRg2Cu1WfMwAVya4KufY3sc141Po5hEJY3jxYrBPcBxktW-quz71-z0ETUIJLZzR2lBsOUQP14PiaRh0XDiG2MQSZ2Q9w0m_q/s320/Gustave+Dor%C3%A9+-+Grim+Reaper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Dear readers,<br />
due to a personal tragedy and its aftermath there has been an unexpectedly long interruption in services here.<br />
<br />
Past few months have often found my mind involuntarily meandering on such deadends as the meaning and purpose of death, on the widely held belief in some sort of life after it, on the purpose of life or lack therof and other such futilities.<br />
<br />
Why are we born and to what end we die? While both life and death may be entirely puposeless, yet it is human to pine for a reason of existence of self other than being a chance occurrence.<br />
<br />
It is human to reflect on being human. And it is human to struggle with scanty and pitiful answers one comes up with. The feebler minds are not able to cope with this struggle and turn to the sedative("opium" according to Marx) of religion with its ready made and seductive myths. Those who know better (or rather, know that we don't know much better- agnostics or atheists like myself) are tormented by questions that seemingly cannot ever be resolved. Not by philisophers or saints or prophets or even by modern scientists with their giant particle-colliders and Theory of Everything.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWqBl7Kw_dPij8R1me8Qq8jkkdYQKcpbNCsFuClgSxoyM9UNZPjS_DNxmRwHl0s_6GzUa1Xlx22gCCqJ0ZT6VGTEOAefxHcJ6mJvE0QoJKTaNbIAfQb6cBqjo-Pb8gc5ME_TR/s1600/Gustave+Dor%C3%A9+-+Death+Depicted+as+the+Grim+Reaper+on+Top+of+the+World+from+an+edition+of+Poe's+The+Raven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWqBl7Kw_dPij8R1me8Qq8jkkdYQKcpbNCsFuClgSxoyM9UNZPjS_DNxmRwHl0s_6GzUa1Xlx22gCCqJ0ZT6VGTEOAefxHcJ6mJvE0QoJKTaNbIAfQb6cBqjo-Pb8gc5ME_TR/s400/Gustave+Dor%C3%A9+-+Death+Depicted+as+the+Grim+Reaper+on+Top+of+the+World+from+an+edition+of+Poe's+The+Raven.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gustave Doré</b> - <i>Death Depicted as the Grim Reaper on Top of the World</i> from an edition of Poe's The Raven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We know that we don't know- but, heck, it is so hard to let it go at that! Therein lies the torment. While we may fashion a purpose conciously(to write a novel, become a millionaire, become the preident) or by default(to raise a family, make a career, somehow pass through life without trouble), there is that almost subconcious and constant vexation, like the background radiation of soul - is there something more? Are we born to some cosmic purpose, to some greater calling that we, in our helpless inadequacy, are unble to grasp and fulfill? We live and sure, we will die -but is that all?<br />
<br />
If there was God and if one could face Him -one would ask:<br />
"Anything else, my Lord?"<br />
<br />
It may be, of course, meaningless to seek a meaning - my mind accepts this despite its resistance; yet it also feels almost a pity on the thought of it being so.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyDWd__ikD_72Pxfew6JIlXX1WX75oCZZ0hhUBE6qaPG7OI9z-JYaZAs15NKtfJjirwe0GZVdisMKv-dve1MHFxIagsw61mVGYsdOSj1j-500tAMQa2KJruvkqCqVndln0Bdu/s1600/Gustave+Dor%C3%A9-Dante+Alighieri_+Inferno_+Plate+22_(Canto+VII_Hoarders+and+Wasters).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyDWd__ikD_72Pxfew6JIlXX1WX75oCZZ0hhUBE6qaPG7OI9z-JYaZAs15NKtfJjirwe0GZVdisMKv-dve1MHFxIagsw61mVGYsdOSj1j-500tAMQa2KJruvkqCqVndln0Bdu/s640/Gustave+Dor%C3%A9-Dante+Alighieri_+Inferno_+Plate+22_(Canto+VII_Hoarders+and+Wasters).jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Is it all futile?<br />Gustave Doré</b>- <i>Hoarders and Wasters</i>
<br />
Dante Alighieri's Inferno <br />
Plate 22</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
To veer off, among my other forced ponderings was to question the many common assumptions and presumptions-<br />
No, death and taxes are not inevitable!<br />
<br />
I am optimist that science shall one day make us immortal. The thought will horrify the huamnity-hating environmentalists, no doubt. But these pestilential specimens will be long dead by the time immortality arrives- otherwise imagine the horror of an undying Al Gore or the never ending scourge of an immortal Rajendra Pachauri! And no there shall be no shortage of space -imagine all the millions and billions of planets waiting for us.<br />
<br />
Living forever may be hundreds or thousands of years away - but life without taxes is possible right now. It is a tragedy of humankind not to be able to live with each other without forced servitude(which is what taxes are). But I shall write much more on this later at the <span style="background-color: white;"><b><a href="http://www.libertynewscentral.com/" target="_blank">Liberty News Central</a></b>.</span><br />
<br />
There were also some painful lessons I learnt in recent months. Painful and surprising despite my natural cynicism and despite the fact that I anticipated most of what happened. One lesson is that your close ones in their greed of pelf and property will stab you in the back with nary a thought. Brother will deceive brother and sister will twist the knife. Another lesson is that the one doing the stabbing will loudly proclaim himself the victim. Such are the ways of the world.<br />
<br />
I might blog on this later.<br />
<br />
<br />
So dear readers, I am glad to be back and will continue to blog, all my troubles and travails permitting. And a warm thank you to those who wrote in to ask after me. Your mail comforted me in some dark times. Thanks.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Crossposted at-<br />
<b><a href="http://www.libertynewscentral.com/2012/07/some-reflections-and-lessons-painfully.html" target="_blank">Liberty News Central</a></b></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-3536030321454079252012-01-11T18:48:00.000-08:002012-01-11T18:49:11.579-08:00Explanation found for Leonardo Da Vinci's tree rule?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-leonardo-da-vinci-tree.html">PhysOrg</a>-<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
More than 500 years ago, Leonardo da Vinci observed <b>a particular relationship between the size of a tree’s trunk and the size of its branches</b>. Specifically, the combined cross-sectional areas of a tree’s daughter branches are equal to the cross-sectional area of the mother branch. However, da Vinci didn’t know why tree branching followed this rule, and few explanations have been proposed since then. But now in a new study, physicist Christophe Eloy from Aix-Marseille University in Aix-en-Provence, France, has shown that this tree structure may be optimal for enabling trees to resist wind-induced stresses.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
According to the 'young investigator' <b><a href="http://www.jyi.org/research/re.php?id=3474">Rizwan Aratsu</a></b> -<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I tested ten species of trees in the vicinity of Princeton, New Jersey, to see if they do indeed adhere to the rule of conservation as asserted by the Italian master and those who followed him. Based on my review of the literature, I expected to find that trees would either conserve area or not depending on the porosity of their wood to water. To my surprise,<b> I found that all ten species conserve cross-sectional area in approximately the same way despite large differences in porosity</b>. In particular, their twigs roughly doubled in cross-sectional area across each branching while their larger branches approximated area-preservation, as Leonardo had predicted. Rather than precisely preserving area, the trees actually tended to increase in area ever so slightly as I moved from trunk to twig tips.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>From Da Vinci's notebook- </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IJb-EI2UlWDHPIysHNrRGg_7xheJ8zfD0mmJ6pC4nmZ9sLLlT6ZKGYSFj6AiMryJnFJ82FNLWYvEcaQKXK-hqSu_QL9YT52nqoNxFJvh7j9fV9jGhb25GrexJkGNSBI5MIsy/s1600/Leonardo+da+Vinci%2527s+tree+rule_Leonardos+notebook_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IJb-EI2UlWDHPIysHNrRGg_7xheJ8zfD0mmJ6pC4nmZ9sLLlT6ZKGYSFj6AiMryJnFJ82FNLWYvEcaQKXK-hqSu_QL9YT52nqoNxFJvh7j9fV9jGhb25GrexJkGNSBI5MIsy/s1600/Leonardo+da+Vinci%2527s+tree+rule_Leonardos+notebook_2.jpg" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O3zUsk9WYzOLIR7WzC4Tyj4chvNSRcx7NSD6bnyBXk-GW7EVKaRDFlxir4vrWr9lO7mCAzQyUIAW1TdNsQFrbYoa_w9L-CiwAUZNfNcCxPXZk62JOqH3IcCJxIn2QTGVUSyd/s1600/Leonardo+da+Vinci%2527s+tree+rule_Leonardo%2527s+notebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4O3zUsk9WYzOLIR7WzC4Tyj4chvNSRcx7NSD6bnyBXk-GW7EVKaRDFlxir4vrWr9lO7mCAzQyUIAW1TdNsQFrbYoa_w9L-CiwAUZNfNcCxPXZk62JOqH3IcCJxIn2QTGVUSyd/s1600/Leonardo+da+Vinci%2527s+tree+rule_Leonardo%2527s+notebook.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>In his notebook, Leonardo da Vinci made this sketch depicting the branching pattern of trees. He depicted that the total thickness of branches along each of the arcs would equal the thickness of the trunk. Source- <i>Rizwan Aratsu</i></b></span></span>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Wind -the new explanation? </b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQXNftWx0KKHhc0ogshQIrK8sSkTCs2SF9BZcXIGOgbYhL9KMzfVoNclTIhoDWsz1RFCKTVV77PMPN-Kcrb1qVw_sXKiD5n2uAO7lPoNwYpXmVm7HSP6IxhEKZr3zaTRzl98r0Q/s1600/Leonardo+da+Vinci%2527s+tree+rule.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQXNftWx0KKHhc0ogshQIrK8sSkTCs2SF9BZcXIGOgbYhL9KMzfVoNclTIhoDWsz1RFCKTVV77PMPN-Kcrb1qVw_sXKiD5n2uAO7lPoNwYpXmVm7HSP6IxhEKZr3zaTRzl98r0Q/s400/Leonardo+da+Vinci%2527s+tree+rule.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b>(Left) A model of tree branching. (Middle) A tree skeleton with all branches having the same thickness. (Right) The same tree with branch diameters calculated from a model accounting for wind-induced stress, which closely follows Leonardo’s rule. Source -Physics.org</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></strong></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-leonardo-da-vinci-tree.html">PhysOrg</a>-
<br />
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></strong><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Eloy has proposed that Leonardo’s rule is a consequence of trees adapting their growth to optimally resist wind-induced stresses. It’s well-known that plants can alter their growth patterns in response to mechanical sensation, such as wind. The phenomenon, called “thigmomorphogenesis,” means that wind can influence the trunk and branch diameters of a tree as its growing. The underlying cellular mechanisms of this phenomenon are largely unknown.</blockquote>
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></strong><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></strong><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Sans; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></strong></div>
<div>
Interestingly the extent of applicability of the Da Vinci's tree rule so far only extends to 10 species-</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
“Actually, Leonardo’s rule has not been assessed for that many species,” Eloy said. “So far, it seems to be hold for about 10 species. The problem is that it takes a lot of time to measure a single tree, which has thousands of branches, and the data are usually very scattered. Besides, some species clearly do not satisfy Leonardo's rule, such as baobabs, koas, and most bushes.”</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
I wonder if <b><a href="http://www.jyi.org/research/re.php?id=3474">Rizwan Aratsu</a>'s </b>sample of 10/10 has any species in common with the 10 mentioned by Eloy above.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
</div>
</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-25946360822996336002012-01-10T13:44:00.000-08:002012-01-10T13:46:10.241-08:00Liberalism killing the joy of reading comics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<b>Is Liberalism Killing Comics?</b><br />
So asks <b><a href="http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Is-Liberalism-Killing-Comics">Albert Arthur</a>, </b>piqued by<b> </b><b><a href="http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/01/05/how-liberalism-may-be-hurting-comic-book-sales-by-darin-wagner/">Darin Wagner</a>'s</b> protest piece -<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You pick up a superhero comic book featuring a childhood favorite of yours, hoping to reignite some of that magic you felt way back when and you see that the opening sequence in the comic deals with an oil rig disaster. You immediately and disappointingly know what’s going to be said, either by your childhood favorite or by some other character given credibility within the story. You turn the page, and sure enough, your childhood favorite grumbles about his/her country’s dependency on oil or how inherently dangerous oil drilling is to the environment and how it’s not worth it or simply mutters to him-or-herself briefly about the evils of corporate America. That’s when you put the comic back on the shelf and your local retailer loses a sale. (Sound familiar? Brightest Day #5 contained a similar scenario featuring Aquaman.) </blockquote>
<br />
Moi aussi, me loves comics too, and like Arthur and Darin, I'm a bit hesitant too to start one only to find a story smashed by leftist shibboleths.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span><br />
<b><a href="http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Is-Liberalism-Killing-Comics">Albert Arthur</a>-</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Does everyone remember how last spring Superman declared he was going to renounce his US citizenship? </span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHHR6csr5hLcXI2pXAXH1XpCY8JF2HzMLDJxe11RYgLKtDPlmXIoLDyguH6k20RDb4s2-fWeETIqBjt_3mWl4023Eg-FP5OKk8zS9wHc6y24HspUezTs2g6WuBxHSIAYADBnZ/s1600/superman+renounces+citizenship+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzHHR6csr5hLcXI2pXAXH1XpCY8JF2HzMLDJxe11RYgLKtDPlmXIoLDyguH6k20RDb4s2-fWeETIqBjt_3mWl4023Eg-FP5OKk8zS9wHc6y24HspUezTs2g6WuBxHSIAYADBnZ/s400/superman+renounces+citizenship+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superman renounces US citizenship</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I think that when Superman "non-violently" protests the mullahs, then goes to the UN to renounce his US citizenship, it's pretty left wing from start to finish.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
And, really, non-violent protest? It's not so courageous when you're bullet proof, by the way. And if Superman is "non-violently protesting" while the Basij is killing people in the streets? Kind of pathetic. Hello, super speed and aforementioned bullet proofness? And why is he going to the UN to make this announcement? Seeing the UN as anything other than a joke is obviously liberal. </blockquote>
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<br />
Since liberals (leftists) misunderstand everything, their flawed worldview despoils the very elemental pleasure of snuggling up with a comic. Their view of conservatives-<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
You pick up another comic book featuring a superhero team you used to really enjoy and there’s a member on the team who shares a lot of the same socio-political views you do, but he doesn’t articulate them very well (by design, you can tell) and gets everything wrong (again, by design) and you realize that he’s the “team jackass” precisely because he is supposed to represent you. (Another Brightest Day example of this; issue #7 where Steve Ditko creation Hawk says he wrecked a restaurant’s juke box because it was playing a Dixie Chicks song. Hawk was created to represent conservatism during the Vietnam War era, but today he’s apparently a reckless caveman who doesn’t understand the very conservative idea of private property rights.) So you put that comic book back on the shelf and if you haven’t walked out by now, you’re sure to get at least three more experiences like these before finding a superhero comic that is, at best, not very political.</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
and of capitalism-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It even extends outside of comics into animation. In the Justice League animated series episode “Paradise Lost,” Superman and Wonder Woman are investigating a shopping mall. Wonder Woman looks at the interior of the mall and likens it to a temple. Superman replies “Yes, for those who worship their credit cards.” Now, what are we supposed to make of this? Superman clearly doesn’t think very highly of shopping malls, at the very least. (This is odd considering that the character once symbolized something called “the American Way” of life, which was defined by, among other things, capitalism.)</blockquote>
Both examples by <b><a href="http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/01/05/how-liberalism-may-be-hurting-comic-book-sales-by-darin-wagner/">Darin Wagner</a>.</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
This is what leftists do. Like locusts they eat up everything good and leave a land- and a culture- devastated.<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: #5c5c5c; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 22px;"><br /></span><br />
Do read it all, <a href="http://ricochet.com/main-feed/Is-Liberalism-Killing-Comics">Arthur</a> and <a href="http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/01/05/how-liberalism-may-be-hurting-comic-book-sales-by-darin-wagner/">Wagner</a>.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-85192152219986444332011-11-19T10:14:00.000-08:002011-11-19T10:14:50.228-08:00The artist who went to prison now using celebrities as models to re-create world-famous masterpieces<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The very interesting -and not always happy- <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1351004/John-Myatt--The-art-forger-using-celebrities-models-create-world-famous-masterpieces.html">story</a> of <b>John Myatt</b>:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">John Myatt’s colourful life as a ‘convicted art forger made good’ has Hollywood movie written all over it. And the story of how, as an art teacher in Staffordshire, he was left to raise two children under the age of three when his wife left, and how he gave in to the lure of big money for faking the work of major artists, is in development by a major film studio. He’s not allowed to say which A-lister is in the frame to play him, but the brush strokes will be all his own. ‘I have been contracted to produce all the paintings for the film,’ says John, 65, and the subject of a six-part TV series in which he re-creates famous masterpieces using celebrities as sitters.</blockquote><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvV_qF7paSArzCBmVH4b2DK3KOZ2xnIh4f6BZK-nS1UEv96hsj9uOSq-dzvmitfewpUGd6D-wcdyoAiHa1SDwnjrv8CCz-GzEV9yQmUnrjWpAUC_1cPjHq7ZnHUnxwXZ5g9Fw/s1600/JULIA+BRADBURY+AS+VENUS+AT+A+MIRROR+BY+PETER+PAUL+RUBENS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvV_qF7paSArzCBmVH4b2DK3KOZ2xnIh4f6BZK-nS1UEv96hsj9uOSq-dzvmitfewpUGd6D-wcdyoAiHa1SDwnjrv8CCz-GzEV9yQmUnrjWpAUC_1cPjHq7ZnHUnxwXZ5g9Fw/s400/JULIA+BRADBURY+AS+VENUS+AT+A+MIRROR+BY+PETER+PAUL+RUBENS.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">JULIA BRADBURY AS VENUS AT A MIRROR BY PETER PAUL RUBENS</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nrIjH7svbrWWkOf7VqZZQgBGDIK-4QVXtvi4RlzA1c-NkH1j0jh_Y2xt3Z13-3OOnZen9wF2TSU9_JNrYM8TXp01BWAkgt3TPq1XoARUVp7wUvwytSSbJS7D4_MZ-yiHLz-g/s1600/STEPHEN+FRY+AS+POPE+INNOCENT+X++BY+DIEGO+VELAZQUEZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nrIjH7svbrWWkOf7VqZZQgBGDIK-4QVXtvi4RlzA1c-NkH1j0jh_Y2xt3Z13-3OOnZen9wF2TSU9_JNrYM8TXp01BWAkgt3TPq1XoARUVp7wUvwytSSbJS7D4_MZ-yiHLz-g/s400/STEPHEN+FRY+AS+POPE+INNOCENT+X++BY+DIEGO+VELAZQUEZ.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">STEPHEN FRY AS POPE INNOCENT X BY DIEGO VELAZQUEZ</td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">His career as ‘faker’ began in 1983 when he placed an ad in Private Eye offering ‘genuine fakes’ for £150 (these were not replicas but works that Chagall, Monet or Picasso et al might have painted ‘if they had had time’, as Myatt puts it). In 1986 a customer, John Drewe, rang him to say that one of his works (in the style of Cubist painter Albert Gleizes) had been valued by Sotheby’s at £25,000, and asked if he wanted half the money. The offer was too good to resist and the pair went on to pass off 200 more fakes over seven years. Both were convicted of fraud and received jail sentences.</blockquote><div><br />
</div><div>Read it all <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1351004/John-Myatt--The-art-forger-using-celebrities-models-create-world-famous-masterpieces.html">here</a>.</div></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-33831803919868728132011-11-18T05:44:00.000-08:002011-11-18T05:59:09.059-08:00Art du jour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AxH0N6Rz8-mJt_WO5mOJQUmvJYB9Lt6NtzW_pzhmu66eqcfJacXLxFAxBMPGz_qrTFXKjR2YIX0aVqUssZaraQGw1pJDZO_9i7zlyK0g-TCdJBPKHQ13LuI6xowgPnaMkNj3/s1600/Alex_+Jean-Marie+Chapman_thmb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-AxH0N6Rz8-mJt_WO5mOJQUmvJYB9Lt6NtzW_pzhmu66eqcfJacXLxFAxBMPGz_qrTFXKjR2YIX0aVqUssZaraQGw1pJDZO_9i7zlyK0g-TCdJBPKHQ13LuI6xowgPnaMkNj3/s1600/Alex_+Jean-Marie+Chapman_thmb.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Alex</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">20 x 24"</div><div style="text-align: center;">Oil on Canvas </div><div style="text-align: center;">by </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.jeanmarieportraits.com/alex.htm">Jean-Marie Chapman</a></b></div><div><br />
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</div><div>Sweet kid!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYHIQG9eIEWoMQFKwu1at-BKpzPRA14B9p6SLwHEpef2SMa606e3WSNvD9Gk1rUu0bVI80owT3h53mQj0nc3s_RRuf7FGbeBtK2G_3FtoeBh_JlgENvJkJdMkgNkDhjUpaOmX/s1600/Jean+Marie+Chapman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYHIQG9eIEWoMQFKwu1at-BKpzPRA14B9p6SLwHEpef2SMa606e3WSNvD9Gk1rUu0bVI80owT3h53mQj0nc3s_RRuf7FGbeBtK2G_3FtoeBh_JlgENvJkJdMkgNkDhjUpaOmX/s1600/Jean+Marie+Chapman.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Jean-Marie Chapman</b> <i>au travail</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Sweet artist!</span></div><br />
</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-32864324939617793562011-11-16T20:11:00.000-08:002011-11-16T20:12:59.516-08:00Why study perspective?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzMTT111J0eYEhbBQDN0s2jH-7Zs_SCGQR_ZrqrKYVgYVtyEx5YjIuUIumbipJoxqGnR39LWdrn0Re-KaS9gNNTmmGzfF_lg5GrT-0zVU3hqh4Q45A4fOTSxZo1_uILELYyLS/s1600/%25E2%2580%2598The+School+of+Athens%25E2%2580%2599%252C+by+Raphael.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzMTT111J0eYEhbBQDN0s2jH-7Zs_SCGQR_ZrqrKYVgYVtyEx5YjIuUIumbipJoxqGnR39LWdrn0Re-KaS9gNNTmmGzfF_lg5GrT-0zVU3hqh4Q45A4fOTSxZo1_uILELYyLS/s400/%25E2%2580%2598The+School+of+Athens%25E2%2580%2599%252C+by+Raphael.jpg" width="530" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b><i>The School of Athens</i></b><br />
by </span><b style="font-size: medium;">Raphael</b><br />
<b style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>G.A.Storey</b> explains in his 1910 book <i>The Theory and Practice of Perspective</i> the importance of studying perspective-<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<blockquote><b>THE NECESSITY OF THE STUDY OF PERSPECTIVE TO PAINTERS, SCULPTORS, AND ARCHITECTS</b><br />
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<b>Leonardo da Vinci</b> tells us in his celebrated Treatise on Painting that the young artist should first of all learn perspective, that is to say, he should first of all learn that he has to depict on a flat surface objects which are in relief or distant one from the other; for this is the simple art of painting.Objects appear smaller at a distance than near to us, so by drawing them thus we give depth to our canvas. The outline of a ball is a mere flat circle,but with proper shading we make it appear round, and this is the perspective of light and shade.<br />
<br />
‘The next thing to be considered is the effect of the atmosphere and light. If two figures are in the same coloured dress, and are standing one behind the other, then they should be of slightly different tone, so as to separate them. And in like manner, according to the distance of the mountains in a landscape and the greater or less density of the air, so do we depict space between them, not only making them smaller in outline,<br />
but less distinct.’<br />
<br />
<b>Sir Edwin Landseer</b> used to say that in looking at a figure in a picture he liked to feel that he could walk round it, and this exactly expresses the impression that the true art of painting should make upon the spectator.<br />
<br />
There is another observation of Leonardo’s that it is well I should here transcribe; he says: ‘Many are desirous of learning to draw, and are very fond of it, who are notwithstanding void of a proper disposition for it. This may be known by their want of perseverance; like boys who draw everything ina hurry, never finishing or shadowing.’ This shows they do not care for their work, and all instruction is thrown away upon them. At the present time there is too much of this ‘everything in a hurry’, and beginning in this way leads only to failure and disappointment. These observations apply equally to perspective as to drawing and painting.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, this study is too often neglected by our painters, some of them even complacently confessing their ignorance of it; while the ordinary student either turns from it with distaste, or only endures going through it with a view to passing an examination, little thinking of what value it will be to him in working out his pictures. Whether the manner of teaching perspective is the cause of this dislike for it, I cannot say; but certainly most of our English books on the subject are anything but attractive.<br />
<br />
All the great masters of painting have also been masters of perspective, for they knew that without it, it would be impossible to carry out their grand compositions. In many cases they were even inspired by it in choosing their subjects. When one looks at those sunny interiors, those corridors and courtyards by <b>De Hooghe</b>, with their figures far off and near, one feels that their charm consists greatly in their perspective, as well as in their light and tone and colour. Or if we study those Venetian masterpieces by <b>Paul Veronese, Titian, Tintoretto</b>, and others, we become convinced that it was through their knowledge of perspective that they gave such space and grandeur to their canvases.</blockquote><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlWhqaeDUt3pu88RHlfN7sEAjf6wEr_g2bN5OXbb8CI1DdZa6KBoAMjYKqxMngcNBYKij0joMgHCj3oRZt4gSIr1EW5Q-uEX5EmGpAYvr9JBlQKoOEZAmC9CZGuJYZZXvaMpX/s1600/marriage_at_cana_Paul+Veronese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlWhqaeDUt3pu88RHlfN7sEAjf6wEr_g2bN5OXbb8CI1DdZa6KBoAMjYKqxMngcNBYKij0joMgHCj3oRZt4gSIr1EW5Q-uEX5EmGpAYvr9JBlQKoOEZAmC9CZGuJYZZXvaMpX/s400/marriage_at_cana_Paul+Veronese.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Marriage at Cana/ Wedding-feast at Cana</span></b></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">by</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paul Veronese</span></b></td></tr>
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<blockquote>I need not name all the great artists who have shown their interest and delight in this study, both by writing about it and practising it, such as <b>Albert Dürer</b> and others, but I cannot leave out our own <b>Turner</b>, who was one of the greatest masters in this respect that ever lived; though in his case we can only judge of the results of his knowledge as shown in his pictures, for although he was Professor of Perspective at the Royal Academy in 1807 —over a hundred years ago—and took great pains with the diagrams he prepared to illustrate his lectures, they seemed to the students to be full of confusion and obscurity; nor am I aware that any record of them remains, although they must have contained some valuable teaching, had their author possessed the art of conveying it.<br />
<br />
However, we are here chiefly concerned with the necessity of this study, and of the necessity of starting our work with it.<br />
<br />
Before undertaking a large composition of figures, such as the ‘<b>Wedding-feast at Cana</b>’, by Paul Veronese, or ‘<b>The School of Athens</b>’, by <b>Raphael</b>, the artist should set out his floors, his walls, his colonnades, his balconies, his steps, & so that he may know where to place his personages, and to measure their different sizes according to their distances; indeed, he must make his stage and his scenery before he introduces his actors. He can then proceed with his composition, arrange his groups and the accessories with ease, and above all with correctness. But I have noticed that some of our cleverest painters will arrange their figures to please the eye, and when fairly advanced with their work will call in an expert, to (as they call it) put in their perspective for them, but as it does not form part of their original composition, it involves all sorts of difficulties and vexatious alterings and rubbings out, and even then is not always satisfactory. For the expert may not be an artist, nor in sympathy with the picture, hence there will be a want of unity in it; whereas the whole thing, to be in harmony, should be the conception of one mind, and the perspective as much a part of the composition as the figures.<br />
<br />
If a ceiling has to be painted with figures floating or flying in the air, or sitting high above us, then our perspective must take a different form, and the point of sight will be above our heads instead of on the horizon; nor can these difficulties be overcome without an adequate knowledge of the science, which will enable us to work out for ourselves any new problems of this kind that we may have to solve.<br />
<br />
Then again, with a view to giving different effects or impressions in this decorative work, we must know where to place the horizon and the points of sight, for several of the latter are sometimes required when dealing with large surfaces such as the painting of walls, or stage scenery, or panoramas depicted on a cylindrical canvas and viewed from the centre thereof, where a fresh point of sight is required at every twelve or sixteen feet.<br />
<br />
Without a true knowledge of perspective, none of these things can be done. The artist should study them in the great compositions of the masters, by analysing their pictures and seeing how and for what reasons they applied their knowledge. <b>Rubens</b> put low horizons to most of his large figure- subjects, as in <b>‘The Descent from the Cross’</b>, which not only gave grandeur to his designs, but, seeing they were to be placed above the eye, gave a more natural appearance to his figures. The Venetians often put the horizon almost on a level with the base of the picture or edge of the frame, and sometimes even below it; as in ‘<b>The Family of Darius at the Feet of Alexander</b>’, by Paul Veronese, and ‘<b>The Origin of the “Via Lactea</b>”’, by Tintoretto, both in our National Gallery. But in order to do all these things, the artist in designing his work must have the knowledge of perspective at his fingers' ends, and only the details, which are often tedious, should he leave to an assistant to work out for him.</blockquote><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlLsHnfoNUCx5VyetJ9jZYAh0cDUBziu3MRCyHSQSc99cWyOovfILHB2qI1sDsmcBBbPq6jUM8XQLlDkdEtcRqzIJtKp-dSA0sPgePRdmZwf2RKMxSs5I3oHUi-FKMrF1VlTI/s1600/The+Family+of+Darius+before+Alexander_paul+veronese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGlLsHnfoNUCx5VyetJ9jZYAh0cDUBziu3MRCyHSQSc99cWyOovfILHB2qI1sDsmcBBbPq6jUM8XQLlDkdEtcRqzIJtKp-dSA0sPgePRdmZwf2RKMxSs5I3oHUi-FKMrF1VlTI/s400/The+Family+of+Darius+before+Alexander_paul+veronese.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Family of Darius before Alexander</span></i><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1565-7 </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">by</span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paolo Veronese</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Origin of the “Via Lactea”’ / </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">The Origin of the Milky Way</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> 1575-1580</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">by<br />
<b>Tintoretto</b></span></td></tr>
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<blockquote>We must remember that the line of the horizon should be as nearly as possible on a level with the eye, as it is in nature; and yet one of thecommonest mistakes in our exhibitions is the bad placing of this line. We see dozens of examples of it, where in full-length portraits and other large pictures intended to be seen from below, the horizon is placed high up in the canvas instead of low down; the consequence is that compositions so treated not only lose in grandeur and truth, but appear to be toppling over, or give the impression of smallness rather than bigness. Indeed, they look like small pictures enlarged, which is a very different thing from a large design. So that, in order to see them properly, we should mount a ladder to get upon a level with their horizon line (see Fig. 66, double-page illustration).<br />
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We have here spoken in a general way of the importance of this study to painters, but we shall see that it is of almost equal importance to the sculptor and the architect.<br />
<br />
A sculptor student at the Academy, who was making his drawings rather carelessly, asked me of what use perspective was to a sculptor. ‘In the first place,’ I said, ‘to reason out apparently difficult problems, and to find how easy they become, will improve your mind; and in the second, if you have to do monumental work, it will teach you the exact size to make your figures according to the height they are to be placed, and also the boldness with which they should be treated to give them their full effect.’ He at once acknowledged that I was right, proved himself an efficient pupil, and took much interest in his work.<br />
<br />
I cannot help thinking that the reason our public monuments so often fail to impress us with any sense of grandeur is in a great measure owing to the neglect of the scientific study of perspective. As an illustration of what I mean, let the student look at a good engraving or photograph of the <b>Arch of Constantine</b> at Rome, or the <b>Tombs of the Medici</b>, by <b>Michelangelo</b>, in the sacristy of San Lorenzo at Florence. And then, for an example of a mistake in the placing of a colossal figure, let him turn to the <b>Tomb of Julius II</b> in San Pietro in Vinculis, Rome, and he will see that the figure of Moses, so grand in itself, not only loses much of its dignity by being placed on the ground instead of in the niche above it, but throws all the other figures out of proportion or harmony, and was quite contrary to Michelangelo’s intention. Indeed, this tomb, which was to have been the finest thing of its kind ever done, was really the tragedy of the great sculptor’s life.</blockquote><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WzWwhTPHkI3i9m2z0RrWIZtZkSqveDybufyFHn6jVFFxsP2Bm-B7ixm9VMAXpOV6kyKBWQfu2cL1QFsoPydDlpnxV0oCm7J2LKOUfAsRGNnMx9_Yp761dk6Kr2WG79NLDMMh/s1600/Arch+of+Constantine+at+Rome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WzWwhTPHkI3i9m2z0RrWIZtZkSqveDybufyFHn6jVFFxsP2Bm-B7ixm9VMAXpOV6kyKBWQfu2cL1QFsoPydDlpnxV0oCm7J2LKOUfAsRGNnMx9_Yp761dk6Kr2WG79NLDMMh/s400/Arch+of+Constantine+at+Rome.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Arch of Constantine at Rome</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnsFAHy1GJqX4tKKXAwj8bSYovQkVhQLagCJ0-eik0c3AuDNf6ln2cRr91c_tWOYstM2Uouj3O7tcIsRi2XfSsTO1y5-s2nAa1za0hWy8qSs9UiGpRABQKUQV_jWAio_W3ZUH/s1600/michelangelo-tomb-giuliano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAnsFAHy1GJqX4tKKXAwj8bSYovQkVhQLagCJ0-eik0c3AuDNf6ln2cRr91c_tWOYstM2Uouj3O7tcIsRi2XfSsTO1y5-s2nAa1za0hWy8qSs9UiGpRABQKUQV_jWAio_W3ZUH/s400/michelangelo-tomb-giuliano.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Tomb of Giuliano, with the female Night and the male Day</span></b><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tombs of the Medici, by Michelangelo, in the sacristy of San Lorenzo at Florence</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium;">The Tomb of Lorenzo, with the male Dusk and female Dawn</b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tombs of the Medici, by Michelangelo, in the sacristy of San Lorenzo at Florence<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Moses</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tomb of Julius II in San Pietro </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;"><b>Moses</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium;">Tomb of Julius II in San Pietro </div></td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">The same remarks apply in a great measure to the architect as to the sculptor. The old builders knew the value of a knowledge of perspective, and, as in the case of <b>Serlio, Vignola</b>, and others, prefaced their treatises on architecture with chapters on geometry and perspective. For it showed them how to give proper proportions to their buildings and the details thereof; how to give height and importance both to the interior and exterior; also to give the right sizes of windows, doorways, columns, vaults, and other parts, and the various heights they should make their towers, walls, arches, roofs, and so forth. One of the most beautiful examples of the application of this knowledge to architecture is the <b>Campanile of the Cathedral</b>, at Florence, built by <b>Giotto</b> and <b>Taddeo Gaddi</b>, who were painters as well as architects. Here it will be seen that the height of the windows is increased as they are placed higher up in the building, and the top windows or openings into the belfry are about six times the size of those in the lower story.</blockquote><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Giotto's Campanile of the Cathedral, at Florence</b></span></td></tr>
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But, heck, what is the point - given today's state of art, who gives a friggin' about perspective.Pays better to <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/3672425/Damien-Hirsts-cow-art-in-a-pickle.html">cut</a> a cow in pieces or <a href="http://whattheheckisart.blogspot.com/2007/03/cow-dung-is-washed-off-but-stink.html">shit</a> in a can.<br />
<br />
<br />
Buy Storey's book -<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=libert0d-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0486449076&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=C576D1&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
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<div><br />
</div></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-45329936929897182602011-11-16T16:17:00.000-08:002011-11-16T16:17:31.509-08:00Art du jour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGkV5jiigwtNmnolg4DOsAQJ4MzdCPVrgTChpiIgeehCwv9dsPooAc0pmcaflB8mcqHASyOJYPZzTBT2CA71VaJSpAPzHO9tw2uEl9UZ8FjayyGsl7IrSmZ85FimMdYUnUdyW/s1600/Damian_Loeb_Ghosts_I-IV_36inx36in_Oil_on_Linen_2010-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmGkV5jiigwtNmnolg4DOsAQJ4MzdCPVrgTChpiIgeehCwv9dsPooAc0pmcaflB8mcqHASyOJYPZzTBT2CA71VaJSpAPzHO9tw2uEl9UZ8FjayyGsl7IrSmZ85FimMdYUnUdyW/s400/Damian_Loeb_Ghosts_I-IV_36inx36in_Oil_on_Linen_2010-large.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"GHOSTS I-IV"</div><div style="text-align: center;">by </div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://www.damianloeb.com/art/VATUP/ghosts_I-IV-zoom.html">Damien Loeb</a></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">2010</div><div style="text-align: center;">OIL ON LINEN, 36" X 36"</div></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-85214174833006530852011-11-13T05:25:00.000-08:002011-11-13T05:28:13.168-08:00Running down civilization - it's what intellectuals do for a living<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b>Roger Sandall </b><a href="http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/Objects-101-7212">takes</a> on <b>Neil MacGregor</b>'s (Director of the British Museum since 2002) <i><a href="http://director%20of%20the%20british%20museum%20since%202002/">A History of the World in 100 Objects</a> </i>and it's premise of cultural equivalence between the primitive and advanced civilizations -<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<blockquote>Now, as whittling goes, you’d have to say it’s not bad. And, personally,<b> I like the palaeolithic—we all know that few walls in today’s commercial galleries look half as pretty as the walls of Chauvet Cave</b>. But here’s what bothers me: after language like this has been used to appraise an ancient piece of fretted bone, how are we going to talk about Donatello & co.? Or take the example of music. There are people in Australia who uphold the virtues of the didgeridoo, an unprepossessing hollow log with a smallish bore. Composers earnestly write passages for it in chamber works. <b>But again, if didgeridoos were really the equivalent of other wind instruments, and their monotonous woofling was written about in a way that exhausts the critical vocabulary of high musical esteem, what is there left to say about Mozart’s horn concertos?</b> Returning to that old piece of bone: Does Neil MacGregor actually believe that Donatello, and what used to be daringly called primitive art, are in some way culturally equivalent? Is that where the argument is leading?<br />
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<br />
<div class="ind">Also from long, long ago comes a rough stone chopper from Kenya, and we are told that “not only human beings but also human culture” began in Africa. As a beginning, this has its anthropological place. But the incessant reiteration of what becomes a wearing mantra seems odd, as is the statement that “every one of us is part of a huge African diaspora—we all have Africa in our <span class="char-style-override-2">dna</span> and all our culture began there.” <i>All</i> our culture? <b>Surely the thing about human culture is not how it began in the Stone Age; it is how it flourished afterward in several high civilizations around the world.</b> On the whole, it seems to me a rather good thing that our ancestors did walk out of Africa 60,000 years ago (I’m certainly glad my family did, and one notes that people continue to walk or run or swim or fly out of Africa if they can), but it is what their descendants produced afterwards in Europe, India, China, America, and elsewhere that is the truly significant human story.</div><br />
<div class="ind"><b>It’s almost as if MacGregor believes that no visitor should have his feelings hurt</b>. Or thinks that everyone should feel better afterwards, and that the British Museum will have failed in its therapeutic duty unless that outcome is secured.</div><div class="ind"><br />
</div></blockquote><blockquote><div class="ind">-- snip --<br />
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</div><div class="ind"></div><div class="ind">So is there anything new? Perhaps there is. When, in 1970, Kenneth Clark put the Apollo of the Belvedere alongside an African mask that had belonged to Roger Fry, he felt able to say: “I don’t think that there is any doubt that the Apollo embodies a higher state of civilization than the mask.” That was then. <b>Today, when Neil MacGregor rates the significance of Michelangelo, Donatello and Cellini alongside a collection of bronze plaques from Benin, he manages to insinuate that the bronzes prove that in the sixteenth century, “Europe and Africa were able to deal with each other on equal terms.”</b></div><div class="ind"><br />
</div><div class="ind">Ah yes, now that reminds me—about those tusks. Inquiry confirms that they too are from the ancient West African city of Benin. You may read about them in a 1903 book by <b>H. Ling Roth</b> with the title <i><b>Great Benin: Its Customs, Art, and Horrors</b></i>. Not for the faint-hearted. And not perhaps what you’d want to build an identity around. But let the reader judge.</div></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(emphasis mine)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJihUEZ_riLfXOhs8sDIxEKJ45ivJnJQ-jvyOd5G5L8EpSiN6CZ9dUxVDaTw6GrEGqsqadgh20Hzswu6dTYRTQ1qoGagGiWZgWfEEzL-ZjOPF7EZJ3GAVoycRSbw5VQNwNxmN/s1600/head_in_sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJihUEZ_riLfXOhs8sDIxEKJ45ivJnJQ-jvyOd5G5L8EpSiN6CZ9dUxVDaTw6GrEGqsqadgh20Hzswu6dTYRTQ1qoGagGiWZgWfEEzL-ZjOPF7EZJ3GAVoycRSbw5VQNwNxmN/s320/head_in_sand.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The intellectuals' view of civilization</b></td></tr>
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Running down civilization - it's what the intellectuals and cultural elites do for a living.<br />
Do <a href="http://www.newcriterion.com/articles.cfm/Objects-101-7212">read</a> it all.<br />
<br />
<br />
Shop for the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0670022705/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=libert0d-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0670022705&adid=0Y3JS7AYGSM5409TRN7F">book</a>s-<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=C576D1&t=libert0d-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&asins=0670022705" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/0670022705/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=libert0d-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0670022705&adid=1JSGBS1ZXZ1AT8GPFVNY&&ref-refURL=">A History of the World in 100 Objects</a></b></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: normal;">Neil MacGregor</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><b><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=libert0d-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1428645357&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=C576D1&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgNCqntbjJcigiSDkZrFZeNv641V_58BGJ2clIJ9SFclDkqZFNWSUXGQ93MEMwdF6cRMcm0v1TlaAjjsD4KwBdcg1nmC1YPg1RnevBSYJw2qNa0XnN0qEq7lqB4ZpDpdlaRKq/s1600/Great+Benin_Its+Customs%252C+Art%252C+and+Horrors_Ling_cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQgNCqntbjJcigiSDkZrFZeNv641V_58BGJ2clIJ9SFclDkqZFNWSUXGQ93MEMwdF6cRMcm0v1TlaAjjsD4KwBdcg1nmC1YPg1RnevBSYJw2qNa0XnN0qEq7lqB4ZpDpdlaRKq/s1600/Great+Benin_Its+Customs%252C+Art%252C+and+Horrors_Ling_cover.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="tt" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1428645357/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=libert0d-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1428645357">GREAT BENIN, ITS CUSTOMS, ART AND HORRORS</a></div><div class="ta" style="color: #d1508a; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> H. Ling Roth</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-83030398323790713542011-11-13T03:22:00.001-08:002011-11-13T03:22:02.064-08:00Pointing out the frigging obvious<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This was said about journalists (by a commentator named <i>flydye45</i><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/11/james-okeefe-is-capitalizing-on-the-cult-of-journalistic-objectivity/248297/#"> here</a>) but it suits the art world to a T-<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">... you are parading around naked in public, wondering why small children are pointing out the obvious.</blockquote><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqiILnEBXnE81z97bhakBMWBXEOo8kfwfhpDEkkd5xDHTQPbTP18AhbFlGlKxLwgUWQHVcb84cjPxiExi9MdWXO-GMwVJwAWv5DWpsF65a_5V99oy0GpQMvt8ip0NPCX1UsBM/s1600/political-pictures-naked-british-guy-emperor-clothes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqiILnEBXnE81z97bhakBMWBXEOo8kfwfhpDEkkd5xDHTQPbTP18AhbFlGlKxLwgUWQHVcb84cjPxiExi9MdWXO-GMwVJwAWv5DWpsF65a_5V99oy0GpQMvt8ip0NPCX1UsBM/s400/political-pictures-naked-british-guy-emperor-clothes.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naked art world</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Yup, that is what we do here at the WHAT THE HECK IS ART? -<br />
Point out the frigging obvious.</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-73893278940367531542011-11-11T17:57:00.000-08:002011-11-11T17:57:02.412-08:00Art is rubbish, rubbish is art, so what's new?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Let me continue after I stop laughing-<br />
<br />
<blockquote>A cleaning woman at a museum in Dortmund who mistook a <b>Martin Kippenberger</b> sculpture for an unsightly mess has destroyed the valuable artwork beyond recognition.<br />
<br />
<br />
The cleaner at the city's Ostwall Museum went to work on the Kippenberger installation entitled "When It Starts Dripping From the Ceiling" which was <b>valued by insurers at €800,000 ($1.1 million)</b>, a museum spokeswoman said on Thursday.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSltlGk2LKfyJWe76-UCVHjoVnAWPukYtCQfldCYF09yt3AK6OBYcqCOVX_JhLo8aADEOmLV8SIOn8nezuyof6qpagdWzsAHtzvDxhyphenhyphenN3igTy8Nt-KVPNUWXebq4-rCTp20s6L/s1600/%25E2%2582%25AC800%252C000_junk_art_Martin+Kippenberger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSltlGk2LKfyJWe76-UCVHjoVnAWPukYtCQfldCYF09yt3AK6OBYcqCOVX_JhLo8aADEOmLV8SIOn8nezuyof6qpagdWzsAHtzvDxhyphenhyphenN3igTy8Nt-KVPNUWXebq4-rCTp20s6L/s320/%25E2%2582%25AC800%252C000_junk_art_Martin+Kippenberger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>€800,000 <strike>junk</strike> art by Martin Kippenberger</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>The late contemporary master had created a tower of wooden slats under which a rubber trough was placed with a thin beige layer of paint representing dried rain water. Taking it for an actual stain, the cleaner scrubbed the surface until it gleamed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>"It is now impossible to return it to its original state," the spokeswoman said, adding that the damage had been discovered late last month and that the work had been on loan to the museum from a private collector.<br />
<br />
<div></div></div></blockquote>Har, har, har!<br />
<br />
(Mis)taking rubbish for art, er I mean, art for rubbish comes naturally to us plebeians whose fine senses (if we have any) are not evolved to such sophistication that we can sniff out art from garbage. So these outrages happen again and again-<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Works of art not infrequently fall victim to zealous cleaners. In 1986, a "grease stain" by Joseph Beuys valued at around 400,000 euros was mopped away at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf, western Germany.</blockquote><div><br />
<br />
But seriously, what does it tell us about the people who value junk at $1.1 million? I'm curious, in a scientific way, to learn about their pathologies, how their brain is wired and if some connections have shorted. Has anybody put them on couch and analysed them? Fascinating subjects they would make for a modern Freud.<br />
<br />
A lot of art is junk, of course, and not just literally yet I'm cautiously optimist about the future of art. The reason is that the layperson is now not so much intimidated by the dense verbiage that is the official language of the art aristocracy. The obscurity of art-jargonese is purposeful - it is meant to shroud rather than to enlighten. What it hides is the fact that behind all those miles of barren, dark, verbose justifications lies not some brilliant masterpiece or a coruscating example of creativity but a diseased and shriveled and near dead but never dying freak. What used to be curiosities at traveling horror and freak shows is now mainstream art.<br />
<br />
But after a century long desultoriness, we are fighting back. We are not cowed down so easily. Sample the comments at <a href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/11/swept-away.php">this</a> post. Here are a few of them-<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a class="profileName" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=24626805" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jay Comeau</a><span class="fsm fwn fcg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> · <i class="star img sp_comments sx_comments_star" style="background-image: url(https://s-static.ak.facebook.com/rsrc.php/v1/yv/r/gALanm7_TWn.png); background-position: 0px -202px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 11px; width: 11px;"></i> Top Commenter · <a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/San-Diego-State-University/105454902822165" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">San Diego State University</a></span>"Value" in the rarified circles of modern art, has been determined by a decidedly insular tribe of elites that pick and choose "artists" that reflect , or at least, curtsy, to their pathetic view of their own supremacy. How delicious that the common sense of the proletariat deliver their comeuppance in such a simple way. And the response is , once again, blame the servants.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote><br />
<a class="profileName" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=550444346" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Thomas Wierzba</a><span class="fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"> · <a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/deputy-director-general/135546966476552" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Deputy director general</a> at <a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Vaccine-Institute-IVI-Seoul-Korea/208036579228797" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">International Vaccine Institute (IVI), Seoul, Korea</a></span>I think John Hinderaker missed the point in this posting. The cleaning lady was the artist and the removal of the sculpture a form of artistic self expression. We should all enjoy it.</blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" id="uvf8s4_34" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Reply</a> · <a class="uiBlingBox postBlingBox" href="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; bottom: 1px; color: #3b5998; cursor: text; display: inline-block; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;"><i class="img sp_comments sx_comments_like" style="background-image: url(https://s-static.ak.facebook.com/rsrc.php/v1/yv/r/gALanm7_TWn.png); background-position: -33px -170px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top; width: 15px;"></i><span class="text" style="line-height: 11px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">2</span></a> ·<br />
<form action="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" class="fbUpDownVoteAfterLogin" method="post" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><label class="uiLinkButton fbUpDownVoteAfterLoginOption" style="color: #666666; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle;"><input style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" type="submit" value="Like" /></label></form> · <a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/11/swept-away.php?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150521414354867_22880837_10150521788384867" rel="nofollow" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><abbr data-date="Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:57:23 -0700" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial;" title="Friday, November 4, 2011 at 12:57am">November 4 at 12:57am</abbr></a><a aria-hidden="true" class="UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_ENT_Image" href="http://www.facebook.com/patrick.j.cotton1" style="background-color: #ededed; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-right: 11px; text-decoration: none;" tabindex="-1" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="img" src="https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-ak-ash2/371458_1795614160_1600841983_q.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; height: 50px; width: 50px;" /></a><a class="profileName" href="http://www.facebook.com/patrick.j.cotton1" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"></a></blockquote><br />
<blockquote><a class="profileName" href="http://www.facebook.com/patrick.j.cotton1" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-size: 11px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Patrick J. Cotton</a><span class="fsm fwn fcg" style="color: grey; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal;"> · <a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Long-Lake-Minnesota/103811902990301" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Long Lake, Minnesota</a></span>Actually, John didn't miss that at all. He covered it in the main example.<br />
"Or, better yet, should the museum have billed the incident as politically charged performance art? After all, what could be more transgressive than a cleaning crew modifying bourgeois art while the museum’s wealthy patrons are asleep in their beds?"<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" id="uvf8s4_37" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Reply</a> ·<br />
<form action="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" class="fbUpDownVoteAfterLogin" method="post" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><label class="uiLinkButton fbUpDownVoteAfterLoginOption" style="color: #666666; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle;"><input style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" type="submit" value="Like" /></label></form> · <abbr data-date="Fri, 04 Nov 2011 10:52:07 -0700" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial;" title="Friday, November 4, 2011 at 10:52am">November 4 at 10:52am</abbr></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><br />
<a class="profileName" href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001445136261" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">David Bartel</a><span class="fsm fwn fcg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"> · <a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="http://www.facebook.com/UWMadison" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">University of Wisconsin-Madison</a></span>Looks like a half finished shoe rack that someone made out of paint stirring sticks you could buy from Home Depot. No loss here...<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" id="uvf8s4_41" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Reply</a> · <a class="uiBlingBox postBlingBox" href="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; bottom: 1px; color: #3b5998; cursor: text; display: inline-block; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; text-decoration: none;"><i class="img sp_comments sx_comments_like" style="background-image: url(https://s-static.ak.facebook.com/rsrc.php/v1/yv/r/gALanm7_TWn.png); background-position: -33px -170px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: inline-block; height: 13px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top; width: 15px;"></i><span class="text" style="line-height: 11px; vertical-align: text-bottom;">2</span></a> ·<br />
<form action="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" class="fbUpDownVoteAfterLogin" method="post" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><label class="uiLinkButton fbUpDownVoteAfterLoginOption" style="color: #666666; cursor: pointer; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: middle;"><input style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: top;" type="submit" value="Like" /></label></form> · <a class="uiLinkSubtle" href="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2011/11/swept-away.php?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150521414354867_22874498_10150521439949867" rel="nofollow" style="color: grey; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><abbr data-date="Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:06:27 -0700" style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: initial;" title="Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 6:06pm">November 3 at 6:06pm</abbr></a></blockquote><br />
<br />
Yup, we are catching on.<br />
<div class="postReplies fsm fwn fcg" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; color: grey; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; margin-top: 8px;"><div id="uvf8s4_33"><ul class="uiList fbFeedbackReplies" style="list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li class="objectListItem fbFeedbackPost fbFirstPartyPost uiListItem fbCommentReply uiListItem uiListVerticalItemBorder" id="fbc_10150521788384867_22889294_10150522375589867_reply" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(233, 233, 233); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; clear: both; display: block; padding-bottom: 0px !important; padding-top: 10px; position: relative;"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix UIImageBlock_Entity" style="zoom: 1;"><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_ENT_Content" style="display: table-cell; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; width: 10000px;"><div class="postContainer fsl fwb fcb" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; font-weight: bold;"><form action="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?api_key=154257474630565&channel_url=https%3A%2F%2Fs-static.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fconnect%2Fxd_proxy.php%3Fversion%3D3%23cb%3Df69723e48%26origin%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.powerlineblog.com%252Ff34a3075%26relation%3Dparent.parent%26transport%3Dpostmessage&href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2011%2F11%2Fswept-away.php&locale=en_US&numposts=15&sdk=joey&width=580#" class="closeButtonAfterLogin" method="post" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; visibility: hidden;"><label class="uiCloseButton" for="uvf8s4_38" style="background-image: url(https://s-static.ak.facebook.com/rsrc.php/v1/yA/r/4WSewcWboV8.png); background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #666666; cursor: pointer; display: inline-block; height: 15px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: 15px; zoom: 1;"><input id="uvf8s4_38" style="cursor: pointer; font-weight: normal; opacity: 0; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 18px; padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 18px; padding-top: 18px;" title="Report" type="submit" /></label></form></div></div></div></li>
</ul></div></div></div></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-20884663458480204422011-11-09T05:30:00.003-08:002011-11-10T10:00:48.747-08:00Updating to a new look (updated)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">WHAT THE HECK IS ART? is now undergong testing on a new, updated design.<br />
<br />
Things may look and work funny for a while.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Update-</b> cleared up a lot of niggles. Things seem to be working smoothly. If anybody notice anything do tell.<br />
And before I forget-<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b>WELCOME TO THE <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #b45f06;">NEW WHAT THE HECK IS ART?</span></i> !</b></div></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-59607177020572698902011-10-29T15:26:00.001-07:002011-10-29T15:26:59.940-07:00Living dead<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Not dead yet.<br />
Normal service to resume soon.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-25561591849188042652011-08-21T15:54:00.000-07:002011-08-21T15:54:09.397-07:00Pin-up art du jour<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekP7_XoPGm-OUUCVcKbbblxY1r5midj5VIAg-f2XFsQOZVq3z6IB6dqk8l8YMtyz4gZdf0Y4pSUGSZlmFg4YLyqr490Sy8jKjZglMIiljGw5EX4JiCPr-j_evMfIcurvUQy4C/s1600/pinup+by+Alberto+Vargas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekP7_XoPGm-OUUCVcKbbblxY1r5midj5VIAg-f2XFsQOZVq3z6IB6dqk8l8YMtyz4gZdf0Y4pSUGSZlmFg4YLyqr490Sy8jKjZglMIiljGw5EX4JiCPr-j_evMfIcurvUQy4C/s400/pinup+by+Alberto+Vargas.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>A pinup by Alberto Vargas</strong></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24626805.post-78282476674616488472011-06-03T16:17:00.000-07:002011-06-03T16:17:07.964-07:00Public prefers classic art over contemporary moronities<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">But we knew that already, no? That is why arty-sharty culture-vultures like to believe that what they peddle is 'high art'. That they have some kind of superior sensibility that allows them to perceive and grasp and savor the ineffable sublimity inherent in a pickled cow or an unmade bed.<br />
<br />
They <i>have</i> to believe it. Their world and their inflated but fragile self-esteem depends on it. Otherwise all that is left to them is ugly, banal(not a contradiction), mindless and worthless junk. And may I add - dreary, unsellable junk.<br />
<br />
From the <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365672/Modern-art-How-gallery-visitors-viewed-work-Damien-Hirst-Tracy-Emin-5-seconds.html">Mail Online</a>-<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>We set up that simple test. We spent a day sitting in front of four classic paintings, and the works of four famous contemporary British artists.<br />
<br />
We counted how many visitors stopped at each; for how long, on average, they spent looking at each work; what the longest examination was; and what sort of gallery visitor each work seemed to attract. <br />
<br />
<b>surprisingly, despite all the controversy, and the public promotion of new British artists, they did less well in this test than the 18th and 19th Century artists.</b></blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Yup, life is short. Who wants to waste a desultory second on this-<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> </span> <br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br />
</span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ImTsMigPGOhOsqknVsDJc_AaIvHrWTh7ltHB2kyqjOXqCHRj2F5ZCdsUHoS6TEX5mmpzKdoYBnUlMVJLWIvWIOJvVA4F6tqOsIdrb9qvfJJwLrCHAYXG9hlpZYPUwyYEfWR6/s1600/Damien+Hirst_Pickled+cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ImTsMigPGOhOsqknVsDJc_AaIvHrWTh7ltHB2kyqjOXqCHRj2F5ZCdsUHoS6TEX5mmpzKdoYBnUlMVJLWIvWIOJvVA4F6tqOsIdrb9qvfJJwLrCHAYXG9hlpZYPUwyYEfWR6/s320/Damien+Hirst_Pickled+cow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Damien Hirst</b>'s pickled cow</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
or on this-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzpr7PSUw2oIfu4eTZ5CxiMEvo2gfeVSsA4ysO2Lx2XOJijoTS8CEzVuO4so6Ak4BL3OLbsIWf1-yxKgrfdsiZnlaxeXHkCGDbKsc5x7TvynkV_efjkJnosmptiuGhyphenhyphen8pUwn6/s1600/Untitled+%2528Black+Bath%2529%252C+Rachel+Whiteread%252C+1996+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzpr7PSUw2oIfu4eTZ5CxiMEvo2gfeVSsA4ysO2Lx2XOJijoTS8CEzVuO4so6Ak4BL3OLbsIWf1-yxKgrfdsiZnlaxeXHkCGDbKsc5x7TvynkV_efjkJnosmptiuGhyphenhyphen8pUwn6/s320/Untitled+%2528Black+Bath%2529%252C+Rachel+Whiteread%252C+1996+.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Untitled (Black Bath)</i> by <b>Rachel Whiteread</b>, 1996 </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
when there is this stunning magnificence- <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcOeqvjsHQRRTnokz9mWg6znIU15lqRsS4kZBUGLJEWzGseYQmA1vrVmQzX7cSMnDuUFeOqZCRxMhn87O-VQyFWHrXv3pQSH_dB8F_1UZt5mZHR-pK3AYEhh2XG9ae1quc7eq/s1600/John_Everett_Millais_Ophelia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMcOeqvjsHQRRTnokz9mWg6znIU15lqRsS4kZBUGLJEWzGseYQmA1vrVmQzX7cSMnDuUFeOqZCRxMhn87O-VQyFWHrXv3pQSH_dB8F_1UZt5mZHR-pK3AYEhh2XG9ae1quc7eq/s400/John_Everett_Millais_Ophelia.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ophelia</i> by <b>John Everett Millais</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
and this utterly endearing charm to enrich your soul -<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXRwJm3Co8KK7uofWxP2YswG8iK1GHgL3BJhYmm8b7tB9srt8pqFtnTL_XYWARxVOFf_RKVPQGMSVEVIPSKnWlM7Y6dFl-9Hf53NVvjI8ZvwPJjCpt0iKQlp01_pejr2jQ7NI/s1600/Carnation%252C+Lily%252C+Lily%252C+Rose+by+John+Singer+Sargent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfXRwJm3Co8KK7uofWxP2YswG8iK1GHgL3BJhYmm8b7tB9srt8pqFtnTL_XYWARxVOFf_RKVPQGMSVEVIPSKnWlM7Y6dFl-9Hf53NVvjI8ZvwPJjCpt0iKQlp01_pejr2jQ7NI/s400/Carnation%252C+Lily%252C+Lily%252C+Rose+by+John+Singer+Sargent.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose</i> by <b>John Singer Sargent</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
More-<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The people we were observing were certainly keen on the visual arts. Nevertheless, <strong>it seemed as if they were not interested in, or open to the work of, some of our best-known contemporary artists.</strong><br />
<br />
Perhaps surprisingly,<strong> it was the familiar and traditional paintings that people devoted most of their time and attention to.</strong> <br />
<br />
It's clear why people spent more than two minutes on average in front of William Hogarth's The Roast Beef Of Old England. It's a complicated painting, with lots of small incidents and stories bursting out, 12 major figures and a really funny joke about a dead fish; it's also painted with wonderful bravura. <br />
<br />
<br />
Obviously, no one is going to understand it without spending a few minutes going over its details. <br />
The same might be true about<strong> Sir John Everett Millais's Ophelia, which was easily the most popular work when we visited.</strong> <br />
<br />
<br />
Three visitors spent as much as half an hour looking at this marvellous painting - try spending three minutes looking at a single image to realise how long that is.<br />
<br />
It's a very rich painting, deliberately specific in its botanical details surrounding the drowning Ophelia, as well as a beautifully direct one. <br />
<br />
<strong>On the whole, though, wherever we watched, visitors seemed more willing to devote between two and six minutes to the classic works, whether they be Whistler's translucent Thames study Nocturne: Blue And Silver or Sargent's Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose, which, a generation ago, was the most popular postcard sold by the Tate's shop. Why should this be?</strong> </blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
Yes, why?<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote>It might be that <strong>contemporary artists strive to make an impact rather than provide a complex emotional experience</strong>. It is shocking to see a dead sheep in an art gallery, but it's not something to go on looking at for half an hour. </blockquote><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
And it may be that there is not much else they know or can do. They are a one-trick pony and it's not a very endearing trick at that.<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br />
</span> <br />
Read it all <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365672/Modern-art-How-gallery-visitors-viewed-work-Damien-Hirst-Tracy-Emin-5-seconds.html">here</a>. <br />
<br />
</div>Gurmeethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13280972685660325099noreply@blogger.com2