Cai Guo-Qiang, Fallen Blossoms: Explosion Project (2009), Philadelphia Art since the Mid-20th Century, Room 410. Photo courtesy the artist and Phaidon.
In this week’s roundup Yinka Shonibare MBE discusses post-Colonial Britain, John Baldessari talks about graffiti and street art, Barbara Kruger explores the game of chess, works by Barry McGee and Fred Wilson are at the center of controversies, and more.
- Yinka Shonibare MBE will talk about the history and cultural legacy of post-colonial Britain this week at The Human Rights Action Centre (London). This is part of Inviva’s Significant Voices program. The event will take place Wednesday, October 19, 6:30pm.
- Cai Guo-Qiang‘s work is part of The Art Museum, a unique collection of the world’s important and influential art works, curated by a team of over 100 global art experts, from Phaidon houses – in one place. This imaginary museum is actually a book.
- Barbara Kruger is exhibiting work at The World Chess Hall of Fame, a cultural venue that showcases art, history, science and sports through the lens of chess. Untitled (Do you feel comfortable losing?) is one of several pieces that demonstrate an integration of chess that goes beyond the visual, incorporating elements of play or strategy that invite the viewer to reflect on the game’s intricate operations. This show on view until February 12, 2012.
- Mark Dion‘s traveling artwork was unveiled last Wednesday by the Houston Arts Alliance (HAA) and Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP). The Buffalo Bayou Invasive Eradication Unit was installed to educate Houstonians on the need to exterminate invasive plant species along Buffalo Bayou. This emergency response vehicle will serve as a work station, laboratory, book mobile and beacon for public outreach in the battle against invasive plant species along the bayou.
- Ellen Gallagher and several other artists’ works are included in Print/Out at MoMA (NYC). This is a major survey of prints, books, multiples, and ephemera that examines the evolution of artistic practices related to the print medium over the last two decades. In addition to this work, individual artist projects will be on view throughout the galleries, including works by Julie Mehretu. This exhibition closes May 14, 2011.
- Alfredo Jaar and philosopher Simon Critchley discussed how images can conceal, expose or recreate the reality we inhabit. This conversation took place as part of a Mute magazine article, Between Baudrillard and the Cave: Alfredo Jaar and Simon Critchley in Conversation. This is the second installment of their dialogue.
- Barry McGee mistakenly tagged the wrong wall in Sydney, Australia. McGee had been funded to paint a wall as part of the Art & About festival that takes art out of the gallery setting and into the streets of Sydney. Backlash resulted when the city council backed the work against critics who claimed it had no artistic merit.
- John Baldessari and LA TImes art critic Christopher Knight discussed street art and graffiti, and their place in the overall cultural hierarchy. Baldessari talked about the culture of street art and its complicated relationship to the museum world in this video.
- Fred Wilson‘s artistic concept is at the center of controversy in Indianapolis. Indianapolis Cultural Trail commissioned Wilson to create the work which has spawned public meetings, talk-radio discussions and ongoing coverage from national bloggers. In his concept for the Cultural Trail, Wilson seized on an existing freed slave that’s at the base of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. The new figure would hold a brightly colored flag representing the African Diaspora.
- Tommy Hartung: On Stellar Rays is currently on view in New York City. Tommy Hartung‘s work addresses the “problem of achieving credible representations of violence in today’s highly saturated visual culture and the paradoxical failure of emancipatory ideologies to serve the interests of ordinary people.” This show closes December 23.
- Kalup Linzy recently showed some of his work, including All My Churen (2003) at Annin Arts (at Saatchi, London). The show also included Rising with James Franco (as Kalup & Franco):
[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uv9VVpgxpo#!]