Art
The exhibition ‘Ugly Feelings’ reveals lesser spoken-about abject emotions
To see the works of artists from Francisco Goya to Francis Bacon throughout art history is to harness a grotesque aesthetic to unveil the darkest recesses of the human soul. Grotesque art, as a genre, serves as a unique channel for exploring and embracing hidden emotions. It thrives on distortion, exaggeration, and the uncanny, rendering visceral and often unsettling imagery. In doing so, grotesque art confronts the viewer with the uncomfortable, mirroring the ugly feelings within the human psyche. By engaging with the grotesque, both creators and audiences can navigate the labyrinthine terrain of their emotions, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of the complexity and richness of the human condition. In this symbiotic relationship between ugly feelings and grotesque art, the repulsive becomes beautiful in its honesty, providing a cathartic and enlightening experience for all involved.
The art exhibition Ugly Feelings, a collaboration with Village Unhu at Collega, Copenhagen, and curated by Lotte Løvholm (Collega) and Georgina Maxim (Village Unhu), epitomises the same collaborative sensitivity to emotions. The display, featuring works by Epheas Maposa and Nanna Starck, challenges societal norms of beauty and decorum, allowing a raw examination of the human experience. Over the years, Collega, as a centre, has presented exhibitions developed through collaboration with international artists and curators. The practice of co-curation is underlined as an effort to oversee the collective process of exhibition-making. Here, the acts of loaning and caring are seen as an extension of nourishment for the art-loving community. When the exhibition is community-led, it speaks to the larger cause of peripheral ideas of inclusivity. Maxim, in an interview with STIR, expounds, “Collaboration is the key feature of this exhibition, the coming together of a force, a movement, or indeed a collection of ideas and moments. What one aims for in such a movement is the ripple effect, starting surely from the centre and gaining much force to reach the ends of the bordering lines—picking things up and dropping other things as it continues in this movement.”
Recently, a vibrant array of potted flowers in various shapes and colors greeted visitors at the Chongqing Zoo, capturing the attention of everyone entering the zoo.
“I’ve been looking forward to this exhibition for a long time,” said Ms. Li, a local resident. “I heard there would be many exquisite floral arrangements and potted plants, so I rushed to bring my family here as soon as it opened. It’s a wonderful way to kick off the New Year and soak in some artistic atmosphere!”
Read more: https://www.cqnews.net/1/detail/1324322687267987456/app/content_1324322687267987456.html
Gabriel Martinez talks with Robert Boyd about Charles Burns, Gary Panter, and the art of underground comics.
“The publishing industry doesn’t work the way the art industry does. You have a royalty system. Whereas if you resell a painting, unless you’re in California, the artist doesn’t get anything.”
To play the podcast, click on the orange play button below. You can also find Glasstire on Apple Podcasts and on Spotify.
Read more: https://glasstire.com/2024/09/22/art-dirt-robert-boyd-on-the-art-of-underground-comics/
The Literature and Language Reading Room is what I would consider a semi-hidden gem amidst the physical spaces that make up UIUC’s massive and impressive library. Lined with massive windows and perimeter bookshelves, it’s difficult to physically miss. However, to gain the full aesthetic experience, one needs to linger. Understandably, this is a difficult task for a busy student. Trust me…I know. However, if you feel the time has finally come to check it out, I highly encourage you to drop in while the newest exhibit, Image + Verse: Poetry Inspired by Art, is still on display.
As both an art and poetry enthusiast, it felt like a dream come true to hear about the library’s collection being highlighted in this way. Two glass cases greeted me at the entrance, and I immediately spotted a few of my favorite collections bookmarked and propped open. Reading the familiar words in tandem with the art displays warmed my heart. The affection of the curator for art and poetry also seemed to be on full display. I couldn’t help but wonder more about their ideas and inspirations.
Read more: https://www.smilepolitely.com/arts/the-art-of-poetry-on-display-at-the-university-of-illinois/
