Photography/Painting

I have been reading a book of Collected Writings of Gerhard Richter, which I highly recommend to those interested in his art and painting in general. Specifically it's Richter's insight into the nature of images which is very interesting to me. Also his writing style is very lucid and purposefully (I think) avoids over-intellectualization.


Consequently, several artists whose work touches on photography caught my eye. Maria Serebriakova and Matt Saunders, both of whom live and work in Berlin.

Serebriakova's work, quoting her bio from Zeno-X Gallery, "deals with the intrinsic and ontological problems of art. She envisages art as a communicative structure, able to surpass the restrictions of language. Following Wittgenstein, she sees art competent to express what one cannot describe with words."








This bit is from a press-release for one of Matt Saunder's shows: "In his paintings, drawings, photographs and short films, Saunders investigates the private histories and public personas of avant-garde cinema. His references take on a collective resonance where film is an experience parallel to living, ever aging and ever immediate." Saunders actually paints his own negatives and uses them to make photographic enlargements. The results are a mix between the fragility of hand-drawn pictures and the perceived authenticity of photography.

Ian Davis

Ian Davis's first solo museum exhibition is currently up at the Kemper (Crossroads) Museum in Kansas City. We've gone back to see it like four times now. His craft is remarkable: the tiniest of details are painted with the tiniest of brushstrokes, on a remarkably smooth surface.

The feeling of paranoia created by these images of masses in white labcoats or business suits is striking. Masses in his paintings observe, or simply inhibit a space, without action. The spaces seem otherwise empty, souless...whether he's depicting a airfield, the senate floor, or even a museum.

Davis is represented by Leslie Tonkonow Projects in New York, and his show "Faith in the Future" will remain in view at the Kemper till June 19th.

Christa Donner

Christa Donner uses large scale installation, public projects, and sometimes sculptural works on paper to address issues related to the body and body image, and the relationship of the outer and inner self. Christa also fosters a passion for zines as a venue for dialogue and collaboration. Christa is based in Chicago and currently teaches at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Herb and Dorothy

Check out this trailer for a documentary about Herb and Dorothy Vogul, New Yorks most adorable and unlikely art collectors. I'll admit it, I'm not much into documentary film...but this couple and their insatiable consumption of art just made me smile.

You can see this on in full on Netflix, or check it out at your local independant video store.