Van Doesburg and the International Avant-Garde @ Tate Modern

Arshile Gorky @ Tate Modern

I recently visited the Arshile Gorky exhibition at the Tate Modern and really didn't think much to it. Infact I have actually now visited it twice, the second time I thought I'd give it another go thinking that perhaps the Van Doesburg and the International Avant-Garde exhibition, which I did really enjoy, was detracting from my Gorky experience. However after a second visit it was confirmed, I really don't think much of Gorky. Many of his paintings felt overworked and the paint appeared sludgy which gave me the feeling that he really wasn't sure about what he was doing, and I felt that much of it was either very Picasso, Kandinsky or MIro-esque. I did however find that myself warming to his charcoal/pencil drawings, which seemed much more assertive.

I found it laughable that he really couldn't draw hands, in his paintings it appears as though he does attempt to paint them but then in an artistic rage he just washes over them with flesh coloured paint. Okay so I have to confess that hands are also a bit of a weak point with me, but then I'm not having my work showcased in the Tate Modern and charging £10 at the door! Going back to the hands thing, it did remind me of a hysterical extract in The Mary Whitehouse Experience Encyclopedia.

Nina Saunders

I had previously stumbled across Nina Saunders work on the internet, but I was very fortunate to view one of her pieces in the flesh after a recent visit to the Very Sanderson exhibition at the Fashion and Textiles museum. I love the dripping Dali effect given to these traditional pieces of furniture and taxidermy always gets a big thumbs up from me!

Jonny Briggs continued...

I've been manic over the last few months and as a result I've been neglecting my blog. I have however found myself revisiting Jonny Brigg's website and felt inspired to get back onto the blog.

I love the simplicity and playfulness of these images, especially the boy/dog