The rhetoric of art interpretation seems to have been frozen for the past century. Pushing the edge is still valued as an ideal, but not pushing it too much. “The image reservoir of art can be plumbed without artists having to be aware of betraying their actual mission, and the mere fact that they are still individual and autonomous is exactly what makes them interesting to industry.” – Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Category: visual
RATING ARTISTS
Who are today’s overrated artists? Underrated? “The terms can be harder to define than they might seem. Overrated according to whom? The critics? The collectors? Taste and fashion? “History sometimes has a different assessment of an artist than the market does. Sometimes it coincides, sometimes it doesn’t.” – ARTnews
THE GOOG IN RIO
It looks as though Rio will win out in the global Guggenheim sweepstakes to see who gets to host the next branch of the museum. “The museum’s most likely site is understood to be by Praça Maua, in Rio’s rundown dock area. A dramatic outcrop of rocks between the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches was initially touted but then discarded, as the Guggenheim wants such projects to regenerate urban areas.” – The Guardian
A QUESTION OF SCALE
First looks at the redesigned British Museum have focused on the clean lines and superhuman scale of the new Great Court. But the first exhibition in the new space is a diverse exploration of the human form. “’Human Image’ is perhaps an attempt to bring us down to earth again.” – The Guardian
ARCHITECTURE’S CHAMPION
For nearly four decades, Daniel Patrick Moynihan has been a champion of architecture in the US senate. “The secret is that, to Moynihan, aside from the gravest matters of war, peace, and social stability, other issues simply are not more important than the building and rebuilding of our cities.” Now that he’s retiring, who will take his place? – Metropolis
IMPORTANT TO WHOM?
Is there a problem with labeling London art auctions as “important British art”? The answer is yes if the work can’t live up to the billing. “Christie’s and Sotheby’s labelled their main London sales as ‘important,’ though the catalogues looked anything but that.” Buyers were accordingly cautious, and a succession of over-priced paintings went unsold. – The Telegraph (UK)
VERSAILLES RESTORATION
Last Christmas, storms roaring through France blew down 10,000 trees at Versailles. A year later much of the damage is repaired and the palace looks again to receive 10 million visitors this year. The restoration effort is an example of the way the running of Versailles is changing. – The Globe & Mail (Canada)
MUSEUM MAKEOVER
The British Museum’s major redesign, including its controversial centerpiece Great Court, will be unveiled to the public this week. – CNN
WHAT MUSEUMS WANT
What exactly do museums want today? New York’s fall schedule of shows at major museums is perplexing. “The lineup of fall shows suggests that museum professionals, driven by the desire to be financially secure, wildly popular or socially relevant, opt for one of two alternatives: exhibitions that look like upscale stores, or exhibitions that look like historical society displays.” – New York Times
THE NORTON SIMON WAKES UP
“Long known as a sleepy, essentially private enclave and only open four afternoons a week, the Simon has been transformed during the past year, since the grand opening of a celebrated $6.5-million renovation designed by architect Frank O. Gehry. Officials have extended its hours, expanded its outreach and upped its advertising budget. The payoff has been dramatic.” – Los Angeles Times