Pretty as a Swastika.

We mentioned some times ago the mysterious French band Glaciation… Well, the band plays with anonymity and pursues the tradition of some Black Metal bands to stay in the dark, and to never expose themselves.  Of course it excites curiosity… They hit something thanks to their aesthetic pilgrimage. Their unusual methods cause much ink to flow… 

All about this is very cleverly settled up. And we're not surprised to discover that behind this there is Metastazis. The Paris based design studio has been founded by Jean-Emmanuel Simoulin aka Valnoir. And even not much surprised to learn that Glaciation is Valnoir's own band (he played bass guitar before in The CNK). All makes sense. 

And finally, this great Waitan's poster we already talked about, is one of Metastazis' productions. 

But Valnoir has more than one sting to his bow. He gives lectures as a graphic designer (as in Ljubljana) and participates to art exhibition as an artist.

Valnoir photographed by William Lacalmontie for the Gewaltkunstwerk show.

At the moment, you'll have to go to Norway to notably see his work in an intriguing martial exhibition called GewaltKunstWerk, held at the Kristiansand Kunsthalle until 12/31.

The Gewaltkunstwerk's poster designed by Valnoir.... an homage to Pierre Pinoncelli ?

Exploring the notion of terrorism and giving to artists the status of soldiers, this show curated by Cornelius Jakhelln (who, apart of being a curator, is also a writer working on Nazi Jihad, and a musician in the band Sturmgeist) deals with violence, subversion and politics. It's a courageous and ambitious project even if the subject might be tendencious. That's great to let art as a free space and in the same time questioning some of the most taboo themes (notably thanks to the seminar about extremism in music). And moreover, It's always a pleasure to admire great works of art like Dennis Rudolph's utopian engravings (one of his painting is exhibited at the moment in Paris at the Olivier Robert Gallery) and Sindre Foss Sckanke's powerful paintings.

                         

The idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk is still a great fantasy for art. Some artists, by mixing art, music, and performances, are closed to the Wagnerian will. Valnoir proves that French artists have a voice, but maybe more convincing when concerning Black Metal.

Happy Artloween 2

Contemporary Art flirting with Halloween...

Friedrich Kunath Distance, 2012
Figure: Watercolor on aqua resin and styrofoam, telephone cable, cotton, imitation fruit
Base: Enamel on MDF © Friedrich Kunath

James Gordon, Stone the Bloody Crow, 2012

25 x 25 cm, French Paper

Nicolas Darrot, Muad'dib, 2012

Silicon elastomer, PLA.

Peter Kohler, Witching Hour, 2009

Ink and varnish on MDF

Haim Steinbach, Untitled (cabbage, pumpink, cabbage n°1), 1987

Mixeds media construction

Irena knezevic, The Oath, 2006, 

ceiling size light-box, dimensions variable

Luigi Presicce, Poker, 2005

Oil on canvas

Andrea Mastrovito, The last Man, 2012

works on paper

Saskia Edens, Make-up, 2008

video 18'11

Fastwurms

Nell, Some of the things I AM, 2011

 Image courtesy of Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery and © the artist

Andy Warhol, Witch, Myths Suite II.261, 1981
screen print acrylic

Blitzkrieg Bop-Art.

After working with Neil Young for the art cover of the album Americana in late june, Shepard Fairey works as a curator. He stages an exhibition of an unexpected artist : Dee Dee Ramone!
Dee Dee Ramone : A memorial exhibition will take place at the Subliminal Project Gallery (owned by Fairey!) in LA.
Even if the guitar bass player of the legendary Ramones started to paint just few years before he died, and even if he there is no real artistic value, it's always intriguing to discover these.
Ten years after he passed away, it remains something of his incredible intensity, his sense of humor and irony.
Too bad the title is a little bit solemn.

What happened to Cheap Monday?

Play to find the differences between:

the old logo:

 and the new logo:

of the Swedish brand.....
Not that easy, right?

Is it what we call a conversion.... to capitalism?

Considération inactuelle 8 : Arte, la télé qui vous allume.

1990 - 1994.

We do not know much stuff about the project Glaciation but it seems to be well thought out... Black metal was against commercialization but it seems that everything evolves. Crisis effect.  This band, for the release of their first album, dares to lure us with this brilliant teaser (great sense of embezzelment).

                     
Nobody will forget this release. Out Oct.12...

Lang-urous americana.

On September 1st, the Spring 1990 from the Grateful Dead has been released.  The 18 cd box limited to 9.000 copies (almost 200$) recounts a tour made in 6 different cities in Maryland. This release marks also a great collaboration with the prolific New York artist Wes Lang. After his show last June at the Half Gallery, he enjoys us with this great cover art. The circle is now complete as Wes Lang used to be a huge fan of the Dead. "The Gratefull Dead, for me, is America at its finest" as he said!

Acephalous.

This short film by the artist David Shrigley was originally made for his "brain activity" exhibition at the Hayward gallery, London. It reminds us that Rock music should always be related to the body whereas electronic music is related to the head.


Headless Drummer
animation (1mn, continuous loop), ed : 6 + 1AP

Waiting for the Sunn.

Sunn O))) at Hellfest 2012!

Roland Flexner, Untitled, 1992, oil on canvas, Diptych, 203 x 265 cm

Mathieu : lyrical sparks.

Georges Mathieu, one of the most important French painter, inventor of the Lyrical Abstraction just lost his final battle. In spite of his fame, he never had the success he deserved but he had his revenge upon the others, his revenge upon God as he wished to have. From esoterism to History, his work was freed from all the classical strangleholds but nevertheless deeply rich and intellectual. Born in Boulogne (sur mer) and dead in Boulogne (Billancourt), his royal career had to come to an end as he decided to stop painting few years ago. As a genius he gave new rules to Art. His death will probably be his last work of art because it will bring him back to life...

Painting (Peinture), 1952. Oil on canvas, 78 3/4 x 118 inches (200 x 299.7 cm). Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York