Art News: Eight Huge Art Stories Around the World
We’ve searched far and wide to bring you the biggest stories in art news. Read on for the stories currently shaking up the art world on a local, national and global scale.
Spencer Tunick wants your naked body
Melbourne’s latest major art project by Spencer Tunick will involve hundreds of nude figures all arranged on Melbourne’s iconic Chapel Street. Tunick is looking for brave Melbournians of all shapes, nationalities, colours and genders to complete his temporary site-specific installation. The artist’s intention is to transform a chosen site and to document it with photography and video, all whilst challenging traditionally held views on nudity and privacy.
Participants each get a limited edition print of the photograph and also get the opportunity to be involved in this winter festival (hopefully without becoming too cold!).
Provocaré will take place across the Chapel Street precinct from July 5-15.
Are you brave enough to get involved?
Via Time Out.
Spencer Tunick’s 2012 photograph at Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich. Source: Time Out.
New exhibition from Australia’s photography sensations
For the first time in seven years, Australia’s renowned photographer Bill Henson will be exhibiting at Tolarno Galleries, from the 3rd of May to the 2nd of June.
Henson’s most iconic photographs feature bare human figures which often reference classical paintings from the 18th century, with an added element of mystery through his work in light and shadow. Henson also focuses on moody architectural landscapes, and some of these pieces will also be on show at the exhibition. Overall, Henson’s work offers the viewer an invitation to become lost within the beauty of his masterpieces.
Henson’s photograph, Untitled LS SH97 N24 2011/12. Source: Tolarno Galleries.
What!? Modigliani artwork sells for $157.2m
In an exciting article of art news, Amedeo Modigliani’s Nu Couché (sur le côté gauche), painted over a century ago, is now the most valuable painting ever sold at Sotheby’s, having gone for $157 million. It is the largest work created from the Italian modernist master, and the artwork itself is recognised as one of the greatest works from the artist’s infamous series of nude figures. In fact, when the paintings were unveiled in 1917, they were considered so scandalous that police demanded the exhibition be shut down immediately. Via The Guardian.
The painting itself; Nu couché (sur le côté gauche) by Modigliani. Source: The Guardian.
LEGO Cherry Blossom tree breaks records!
Today, in LEGOLAND Japan, stands a Cherry Blossom tree made from over 800,00 LEGO bricks. At 14 feet and 3,340kg, the tree holds the Guinness World Record for the largest LEGO brick cherry blossom tree. It was carefully designed in the Czech Republic and then assembled in Japan just in time for the Nagoya-based theme park’s first anniversary. After more than 6,700 hours of labour the theme park was able to truly celebrate its birthday in style! Via My Modern Met.
The incredible LEGO Cherry Blossom. Source: My Modern Met.
James Bugg takes $50,00 for the Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize
In other art news, photographer James Bugg has taken out first prize, valued at $50,000, in the 2018 Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize.
The Moran Contemporary Photographic Prize was established in 2007 and encourages Australian contemporary photography to flourish. The decision was finalised at Juniper Hall in Paddington, the home of the Moran Arts Foundation.
This year’s participants were asked to interpret a theme of ‘Contemporary Life in Australia,’ exploring average Australian’s day-to-day lives. Bugg’s winning piece, depicting a man within surburbia, Bugg beautifully captures life on the fringes of Australian society. Via Art Guide.
James’s winning piece, Zach. Source: Art Guide.
Do you have a spare $115 Million for a Picasso painting?
This week, the private art collection of David Rockefeller raised over $646m at an estate auction in New York.
Rockefeller was the last surviving grandson of Standard Oil founder John D Rockefeller when he died in March 2017 at the age of 101. His wife of 50 years, Peggy, had died 22 years prior in 1996.
Over the course of their marriage the couple amassed a huge collection of art, furniture, ceramics, statuary and decor. The collection also included items that had been passed down from previous Rockefeller generations.
Artists featured in the collection included Paul Gauguin and Henri Matisse. Among the works of art was Pablo Picasso’s 1905 painting ‘Young Girl with a Flower Basket’ from his infamous rose period. The auction was branded as a once in a generation chance for collectors to purchase some of the world’s most significant pieces. Via The Guardian.
Gallery assistants with the Picasso painting Young Girl with a Flower Basket. Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPA. Source: The Guardian.
The NGV celebrates its 50th birthday!
The National Gallery of Victoria is celebrating its 50th birthday by re-exhibiting its first ever exhibition from 1968.
The Field was the NGV’S first ever exhibition of 74 works by 40 artists who practiced hard-edge, geometric and flat abstraction, many of which were radical for that time. This re-staging reminds a new generation of the exhibition’s impact and significance to Australian art history. Although 12 of the artworks included could never be found, the NGV has also commissioned a number of artists to create new works for the exhibition.
The Field Revisited is on now 27th of April- 26th of August 2018. Via Time Out.
Installation shot of The Field the first time around, fifty years ago. Source: Time Out.
