2.3.12

feature art | mark ryden

ever since art history 101 i've been inadvertently drawn to artists who's work has a facade of "nice" juxtaposed by a serious "creepiness" factor. the best non art example i can give of this is lily allen's deer dress.

the first artist i came across with work like this was remedios varos, a mexican surrealist who paints beautiful silent women standing in canoes over lakes of lava, or sewing the earth's mantle from a tower high above the world. 

i'm also fascinated by the work of shary boyle, who creates simultaneously beautiful and grotesque porcelain figurines. similar to the ones your grandmother keeps on the mantle and yet...entirely not the same!

finally - the exhibition i came across featuring helen eady. essentially they are a pastel selection of cute little animals - in flagrante delicto.

these works by mark ryden are equally as fascinating! but let me tell you this - i have chosen the four paintings below simply because i liked the colour story - they are however the least "offensive" of his entire online ouevre.

*what do you think of the artwork i've mentioned today? disgusting, or diamond in the rough? whimsical, or wack?






*i think it was actually art history 100 but that's not as catchy...

10 comments:

  1. I like them! I wouldn't necessarily hang this sort of art on my wall, but I love looking at in and thinking about what it's saying!

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  2. Anonymous2.3.12

    Whimsical to slightly twisted which for me, it works and makes me smile! I think the fourth image was ahead of its time as perhaps it may have spawned the well publicized wardrobe of Lady Gaga of recent! I also noticed no tip jar for Jesus from the 3 attentative bar flies (angels). Thats just the way my brain works. Love Dad

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    1. very insightful dad - and i think you might be right about the lady gaga dress! but who really copied who?

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  3. these are weird but i am fascinated.

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  4. fascinating stuff! i just love the way you write and the descriptive way you carry on these images through your perfectly appropriate words. makes me want to go back to school and study with great teachers who introduce such whimsical, arousing and sometimes perplexing pieces. thanks for sharing your finds and thank you for all the really lovely comments too. so kind!!! xo ♥

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    1. hey lynn,

      thanks for stopping by - your comments are so genuine, i love it! i'm so very happy that i switched from history to art history half through my first year of university. i've never regretted it because art is so gosh darned inspiring!

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  5. as a vegetarian the last one is gross! but i like the others lol

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    1. yes, but look at all the vegetation Around her! lol

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  6. i love these! they kind of remind me of those garbage-pail kids cards from when i was little but way more sophisticated and interesting.

    also, agree about the lady gaga dress. ;)

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    1. thank-you for your comment! (tee hee)

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thanks for your comment, i love hearing your thoughts!