ART REVIEW :::: KATE MARSHALL - DIRTY PRETTY PAINTINGS

Current mood: GLASS
Category: GLASS Art and Photography

Right...

I can't talk about music all day everyday, and because I've seen an art show, tonight I'm gonna write about that instead.

So, I would have to admit in the first instance that I'm not a big fan of art. I love pictures and visual displays, but in general I find the artworld to be mostly full of shit. I don't like the way it's set up. I don't like the original being the one and only, and I hate the elitism and stupid money banality of what art has become...

I do however love to wander around art galleries and look at both the occasional piece of good art and the people - people meaning mostly the women.

Perhaps I have some kind of arty girl fetish, but i swear the women in galleries are never less than stunning. Art lovers have so much finesse, and dress and poise, colour, and intelligence - a vacancy and a concentration that's hugely attractive.

Yes boss, I remember going to the Tate gallery in the first month I was in London almost 5 years ago to the day and thinking if i can just find a way to swan around art galleries all day long and think great thoughts whilst following beautiful women i will have succeded in London..

I didn't think it possible to avoid full time work and do this, but i've more or less managed it and each time i take in art I tend to get overwhelmed.


Anyway, I found out about this show via a flyer ina coffee shop on the other side of town. The coffee shop (that'll remain nameless), is run by a Southern Italian with a strange look in his eye. It's a cold light blue look that says KILLER..

Yes, if there was ever a man who made me believe he's killed a man or several men it's this guy. Of course he more than likely hasn't, but a few long lost mafioso have turned up around those parts of late and i wouldn't be at all surprised if Mr Coffee is another one hiding out, waiting for the dust to settle before returning to the old country to resume his rounds..

Nevermind that anyway...this was the show - well some of it...


Dirty Pretty Paintings
The Premier London Solo Show of Kate Marshall, BA Hons Fine Art

Favouring acrylic and charcoal on board, Kate's primarily figurative work "flirts between painting and drawing". Her self-consciously decorative pieces address the ironies and contradictions of "high" and "low" art and depictions of the sexualized female image in popular culture, in particular the fetishization of the twee and the increasing kitsch value of pornography. Her inspiration comes from images of women "culled from a glossy magazine, a fairy tale, historic art and literature, trash culture, ancient myth and coffee table erotica." The evening of Thursday 21st June will be interspersed with live art performances in a peepshow style 'exhibitionism' booth.

Overall, I would have to say I liked it...

It was sexy, it was cheerful. There was none of the seriousness which begrudges so much art of these days. It was light and bright, feminine and happy.

But all this so, I couldn't help but feel I needed more - more depth and strength and more work on show than there was. And when the artist (looking stunningly beautiful in a red and black dress) knocked off a LIVE picture in aroundabout 20 minutes which was more elaborate than what was on display for £2500 I felt this even more..

No matter what clever pretext you put to it, a sketch is a sketch is a sketch. Artists have always done sketches and now it seems a collection of sketches is enough to make a money spinning show...

I know this was the stated point ("flirts between painting and drawing"), but I took all these images in, in next to no time and then concentrated on the free beer and watching the folk and the wind and the industrial estate out of the window...

Well, the wind was lively, the industrial estate quiet and the crowd your usual art crowd: Beautiful misfit girls, neat and clever looking boys and moneyed buyers hot in from a hard days figure fucking in the city.

I should imagine some of the later came with a whole bunch of hot cash and no real idea other than that art is a good and fashionable place to invest just now and sexy pictures look good on a wall...

Furthermore, I'm sure some went home with lighter pockets than they arrived with and good on Kate for relieving them of it to fund her Devonshire idyll. If it works then why not do it and fuck the critics.

So, there we go...

ART


http://www.degreeart.com/newsite/artist.php?id=130

Currently listening : Philip Glass - Songs from Liquid Days By Philip Glass Release date: By 25 October, 1990

22:48 - 37 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

	Paloma Pirate	So you are going to love going to galleries with me and maryJane when we are in London. We are oh so artsy and intend to see some real, hardcore, art...:) Posted by Paloma Pirate on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:14 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Oh yes...I'll be leading from the front on that one... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:17 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Ms. De Vill	What is Art? And how do we determine the value of a piece of art? Very important questions that should not be forgotten if wandering around art galleries. With no offence to the artist, but since her art has failed to educate the viewer in every/any artistic manner, I do not think this adventure of yours was of any benefit to you. Just like music, art has to touch you, and it's got to reach to that 'personal' we talked about before. You will know you've seen Art when you stumble upon a piece that doesn't want to get out of your head. The art of Art is in the ability of an artist to reach out to people. Or let me make it less confusing: "We all can dance when we find music that we love." Posted by Ms. De Vill on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:31 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Yes...I found this all a bit too disposable. It had an erotic edge, but i felt it lacked power. I find most gallery art lacks power. The whole business is too contrived and feeble. Accidental art has much more strength these days.. Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:36 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Ms. De Vill	'Art is the disruption and recomposition of a harmony and therefore resides in the process itself and not in anyone's intentions' - V. Paldini There is nothing easier than going around pretending/hoping/wishing to be the next Fine Artist....let me make that Fine Artiste....it makes me really mad when I see how people will WASTE time pretending to be something they are not. Yes, a sketch is just a sketch if you fail to find anything else in it. But isn't it like everything these days? So many people seem to think they can write (I am not going to mention any names!), but when I read their pieces I am no smarter and I have not be made to think about anything. Not only are they wasting their time, but also mine. I prefer to keep it real myself, and work towards something that will hopefully make a difference to someone's life....I wonder how many fresh-out-of-college fine artists think about that. Don't mean to be evil.....just wish people would take more responsibility for what they do. Posted by Ms. De Vill on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 10:47 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Paloma Pirate	:) i could easily be one of those writers you refer to (though i'm not going to be so full of myself that i think i am). i never intend to make anyone smarter...just hope i can maybe tell a story or string some words together in an aesthetic way and i don't know if the world is any better or worse because of that. really, i write shit because i enjoy it and it makes me happ (it sounds so selfish when i put it this way) my blog here is just me playing around with very little effort...i really don't care if anyone reads it or not. pg: you should give up on music and write about art. That's where its at! Posted by Paloma Pirate on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 17:26 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Ms. De Vill	I am yet to go and read something of yours...but I doubt it- if you have enough honesty to come and write this, then I'm sure it's all just peachy:) Don't ever take me so seriously.....I never do!! Ew....PG just wanted some tough love!! Anything you write that has been reserached well can educate somebody....even if it's shit. Doesn't shit fall under the General Knowledge category?? ;) Posted by Ms. De Vill on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 00:54 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Yes, there are a lot of very average writers about - most of them in fact, but god only lets us have a few proper good ones per era.. I'm purely writing for pleasure and training at this point in time. I'm certainly not trying to do anything profound - That'll bleed out of me at some as yet undisclosed point in the future... I would say that the quest for endless profundity and depth whether it be in public or private is simply wanking and the art produced as a result is generally cold... Philosophy is chewing - it's not complete.. The profound finds you and not the other way around... The bottom line is that most artists/writers/musicians etc are thinking about a career and making money so they can do what they love to do, pay the bills, keep their partner quiet, and be adorred and admired for their wonderful contribution... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 12:05 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Ms. De Vill	We are all here to make some money! But taking a shit and putting a price tag on it isn't actually art..... Oh, and I wasn't talking about your writing...:) Posted by Ms. De Vill on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 12:27 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	As with anything the quality comes through in the long run.. We can all try and get away with producing inferior or poor work, but PR doesn't last long and shit gets found out over the course of time.. Myspace is loaded with shit bands who have 100,000 'friends' but they're still shit.. So would you say my writing as appears here? Has it made you smarter?? I was hoping I was getting some tough critique there!! People are being too nice!! Feel free to put the boot in if my work deserves it, or even just for the sake of a fight - that goes for everyone!! Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 12:45 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Ms. De Vill	uh....he wants some tough love now.... I have to say that this particular format (Myspace blog) is something I consider as taking a piss at most times. Or to make it even worse....I simply get bored after a while, so I don't come back. And yes, I am generalizing. I haven't read all of your entries, but what I have has not made me smarter. This particular subject you pursue isn't something that I ever tend to read about anyway...I know what I like (and we talked about this) and it's free from any prejudice. I also tend not to care about other's opinion in this matter. Shoot me. Not arrogant....I like to think I am just too busy normally (and now I am ill and in bed). So... In this crazy old world, you'd probably make yourself rich & famous if you were writing about those famous for being famous.... Posted by Ms. De Vill on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 13:05 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	I agree, blogs in general are very disposable and only really good for training and general fitness.. I objected to them on principle for a long time on the basis that if you're writing a diary it should be personal and private (at least until after your death) and if you're writing professionally you should send it out... Blogs sit in between the two... Alot of people read for a few days or weeks and then disappear - i assume they get bored... You have to keep them moving and try and bring in new people to a myspace page and/or blog or else it stagnates like my nuclear one has... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 13:24 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Ms. De Vill	Sorry, but that link seems to be dead. Keeping people interested and coming back is art, and a full-time job. And like with everything else- reserach is vital; you have to know your audience. There is no point in what you do if you constantly do the same thing and keep losing your readers and keep bringing in new ones....you need a loyal cohort, who will then spread the word. We all see so many neat and well written articles every day...we all read all these blogs when bored....but what really counts is a piece that will make you want to tell your friend about it....I think. Also, something new!! Give me something new, inspiring, though-provoking and controversial, but well researched to read, and I will be back for more. Amuse, question, inform....educate...make people want to get involved.... How's that for tough love? :) Posted by Ms. De Vill on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 15:10 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Very Good :+) I certainly have a tough core of readers of this blog who read most of the posts. At the moment this would probably be in the region of 50-75 of the 100 subscribers... I'm averaging aroundabout 150-200 reads per day this last 3 weeks and average roughly 6 comments per entry (this particular entry is headed for a personal best - maybe i should write more art).. The rest come and go... I pull off the odd brilliant, courageous and outrageous piece and i keep things pretty varried, but i still have a lot to learn without any question... I wont be satisfied till this is the top ranking blog... The link should have been http://www.myspace.com/48days Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 15:23 [Remove]

	MollyCoddle	Nice enough sketches - but it's only on a par with what you'd see in A Level life-drawing classes up and down the country. Maybe her parents, or a gay uncle, knew the 'right people.' I'm more moved by that socks and sandals combo. Posted by MollyCoddle on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:48 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	As I understand it, Tracey Emins show at the Venice Bienale is mostly sketches... One of the things I find hard with art is undertsanding why you can have 200 people do more or less the same thing and one will make £10,000 a pic and the other £10... It strikes me as an even more sheep like business than music. You buy into the idea that one person is AN ARTIST and the others aren't. It's essentially a con trick... Sure if they're the first to do it or they do it with particular new and definitive style... Duchamp doing his Urinal was one thing - a joke and nothing more, and since then everyone else has simply repeated that one mans idea (that you can put anythning in a gallery) again and again and again... I only find Jokes to be funny the first time... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 08:48 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Madeleine	art is really a waste of time, the idea of the artist is dated its just a joe job like everything else, but the thing is theres usually no money in it and you do it cause you want to/have to/have no choice but to the urinal was good but its become through repetition a bit like a bad joke at the pub okay the first time really tedious the second. art boys are generally overly serious and art girls are well art school can be a rich kids finishing school, the sandals, by the way, paired with socks are terrific Posted by Madeleine on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 14:04 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Madeleine: You talk an asburd ammount of sense... Art school is very much a rich finishing school. The number of toffs at the one i attended was well out of proportion to the total ammount of toffs in the UK, and i hear it's very much worse at the London art schools, particularly places like Chelsea and the Royal Academy... Everytime i go to a gallery, i decide i'm going to be an artist: It's the life of a complete dosser. Benefit cheating doley scum have nothing on artists... Thing is I don't have the front to put my inner child in various material forms in a gallery and expect people to do anything other than laugh out loud... Jesus, I can front out a lot of scams, but I would die laughing if I ever found myself saying 'Yes, this is my bed - a snip at £3m don't you think???" That's what I liked about Duchamp. He WAS having a laugh...Sarah Lucas is having a laugh, I don't mind her...And at least Kate Marshall was being sexy in both person and in her pics And yes - the sandals/socks combi is probably my finest fashion moment to date. I will be releasing a limited print run of that photo. Each print will be signed by the artist and will cost £250... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 14:33 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Madeleine	the whole thing is ego, like blogs, like writing, like film making. flim flam of the first order. but does that make it any less worth doing? well yes and no. hedging i know.there's no reason to make stuff and foist it on other people and then again theres no reason not to. i cant remember how many times i have been to an art show that is wanky. dont get me wrong i like duchamp and yes sarah lucas out of all that YBA mob is perhaps the only one who is not taking herself too seriously. tracey emin is a total tosser of the you go girl variety. and why not sell the sandal pics give it a red hot go.and if kate marshall is making sexy stuff then good luck to her. the pics look like nice sketches, the art blah at the beginning was universally wonderfully artspeakingly bad, but i love that stuff think it would be a good gig to write it. Posted by Madeleine on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 02:28 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Well exactly. It is all ego and there's no good reason to do it other than that it makes sense to the person doing it.. Yes I love writing art bollocks and most art shows are shit, but there's always something that stands out. As with books and records for every 50 piles of crap there's something decent.. Comcepts comcepts concepts I wish more artists would paint and draw.... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 08:43 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	The title of my work will be: Feet Beer No1 Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 14:45 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Paloma Pirate	nowadays, i think, as my good buddy andy warhol put it: "art is what you can get away with" Posted by Paloma Pirate on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:49 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	So Warhol's your friend as well?? I spent 3 years at art college and Warhol struck me as being the only really important artist of the last 40 years. He predicted the celebrity fascination, he promoted The Velvet Underground, his video work is exceptional (It's the begining, middle and end of video work as far as I'm conerned) his paintings had power... He really knew how to work did Warhol... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 09:04 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Paloma Pirate	i talk to him all the time. he gives me good advice. i have been infatuated with him since i was a small child. i saw him on tv, long before i knew anything about him and connected with something...then the fucker croaked. Posted by Paloma Pirate on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 17:20 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Excellent: We can sit and watch my entire collection of Warhol films in October.. I've got about 10 of them Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 17:24 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Paloma Pirate	that will be an excellent way to pass some time!!!! Posted by Paloma Pirate on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 17:27 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Paloma Pirate	Molly Coddle took the words out of my mouth...i am just dying to ask: what is going on with the socks and sandals? Posted by Paloma Pirate on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:50 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	I'm setting a new trend and what better place to start it than at an art show in east London... Trust your Uncle Pauly : Socks and sandals are very soon gonna be the height of fashion... Remember where you saw it first!! Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 01:58 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	MOG	Your too slow, my mate was wearing socks and sandals on Sat night and he said the same thing. I've got a pair of crocs myself the best thing you'll ever put on your feet. Posted by MOG on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 16:48 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Germans have been wearing socks and sandals since the begining of time... The problem for both Germans and your mate is that neither were wearing them at a trendy East London Art Gallery - I was... Therefore I am the originator of the trend....:+) Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 17:10 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	Paloma Pirate	i am going to have to insist that you wear appropriate shoes when you give us the tour... Posted by Paloma Pirate on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 02:04 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	By October you'll be begging me to wear sandals and socks because they'll have become so fashionable and you'll know that i started the fashion and the street cred on offer will be massive and very alluring... I doubt i will wear them then though, on account of it most likely being pissing it down with cold rain... I like to look scruffy for art galleries as a general rule, so i'll probably opt for my scuffed, steel toe capped shoes.. Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 02:08 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	MOG	Those sketches are crap. Iv'e seen better on the backs of toilet doors. But artsy Girls! Yeah! I'm totally with you on that. Posted by MOG on Friday, June 22, 2007 at 16:41 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	Artsy girls are the tits.... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Saturday, June 23, 2007 at 23:25 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...	But they are such fucking hard work...... Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 00:06 [Remove] [Reply to this]

	MOG	Indeed! I think that's why I like em! Posted by MOG on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 08:25 [Remove] [Reply to this]

The Paul Giovanni Music Blog...

You're a masochist!!!! Posted by The Paul Giovanni Music Blog... on Sunday, June 24, 2007 at 08:35 [Remove] [Reply to this]