Opinion & reviews

Editorials, critical reviews, analyses, commentaries, and viewpoints on the contemporary art world.

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Corinne Rondeau defends Andres Serrano's Piss Christ against censorship opinion-review
In a text published on artpress.com, philosopher Corinne Rondeau analyzes the vandalism of Andres Serrano's "Piss Christ" at the Collection Lambert in Avignon on April 17, 2011.…
Artists Appeal to French President to Reinstate Olivier Kaeppelin at Palais de Tokyo opinion-review
An open letter addressed to French President Nicolas Sarkozy has been issued by Les Irascibles2, a group of 850 individuals including artists, historians, critics, museum…
Joseph Kosuth's Conceptual Work 'Titled (Art as Idea as Idea)' Featured in Exhibition opinion-review
Joseph Kosuth's 1968 piece 'Titled (Art as Idea as Idea)' was displayed in an exhibition, consisting of ten mounted photographs each measuring 48 by 48 inches. The work was…
Joseph Kosuth's 1998 neon work Ulysses, 18 Titles and Hours featured in exhibition opinion-review
Joseph Kosuth's 1998 artwork Ulysses, 18 Titles and Hours, composed of neon and transformers, was installed in an exhibition reviewed on artcritical. The review was posted on May…
Ai Weiwei Detained in China Amid Artist's Political Activism and Western Support opinion-review
Ai Weiwei is currently held without communication in China's prison system, facing charges related to economic crimes, which many view as a form of retaliation for his outspoken…
Exhibition featuring Cordy Ryma, E.J. Hauser, Matthew Deleget and Tisch Abelow reviewed on artcritical opinion-review
An exhibition review was published on April 23, 2011, discussing works by Cordy Ryma, E.J. Hauser, Matthew Deleget, and Tisch Abelow. The review appeared on artcritical, a…
Lady Gaga's Warholian Transformation: Pop Star as Contemporary Art Virus opinion-review
This article explores how Lady Gaga has drawn inspiration from the aesthetics of Andy Warhol, suggesting that her career reflects Warhol's before/after concept. In 2007, Gaga,…
Jacques Henric Reviews Two Books on Love: Grimaldi's Metamorphoses and Pachet's Sans Amour opinion-review
In a feuilleton for artpress, Jacques Henric reviews two recent French publications exploring the nature of love: Nicolas Grimaldi's "Métamorphoses de l'amour" (Grasset) and…
Cincinnati's Contemporary Art Scene Debated Amid Recent Exhibitions opinion-review
Cincinnati's arts community has shifted since the 1990 obscenity trial over Robert Mapplethorpe's The Perfect Moment at the Contemporary Arts Center, though critic Jerry Stein…
Art Press Releases Reveal Industry's Contradictory Embrace of Anti-Establishment Rhetoric opinion-review
A recent look into press releases from Chelsea galleries shows that many exhibits are pushing the boundaries of traditional art. They often use phrases like “challenges our…
May Review Panel to Discuss Four New York Exhibitions at National Academy opinion-review
On May 6, 2011, the final session of artcritical's Review Panel for the season will take place at the National Academy in New York. The discussion will focus on four specific…
Susanna Heller's Architectural Paintings Featured in artcritical Review opinion-review
Susanna Heller's work was examined in a review published on artcritical.com. The article focused on her paintings depicting architectural structures, specifically scaffolds and…
Robert Rauschenberg's Gagosian exhibition and Hiroko Ikegami's book examine his global impact and inclusive art-making opinion-review
The Gagosian Gallery in New York City hosted an exhibition of Robert Rauschenberg's work from October 29, 2010, to January 15, 2011. This showcase featured pieces such as Untitled…
Drawing Now Paris and the Enduring Appeal of Contemporary Drawing opinion-review
In his editorial for artpress, Richard Leydier explores the increasing fascination with contemporary drawing, particularly evident during the April art fairs in Paris: Drawing Now…
The Artist as a Man of the World: Allan Kaprow's Anti-Bohemian Manifesto Revisited opinion-review
A review of the persistent romantic clichés surrounding the life of the artist, from Puccini's La Bohème (1896) to Jonathan Larson's Rent (1996), where AIDS replaced tuberculosis…
Laurie Simmons Featured in March 2011 Review Panel Discussion opinion-review
Laurie Simmons was discussed during a review panel in March 2011. The panel occurred on March 4, 2011, as documented by artcritical. The discussion focused on Simmons' artistic…
Krzysztof Wodiczko's Veterans Project Installation Featured in 2011 Review opinion-review
Krzysztof Wodiczko presented his installation 'Out of Here: The Veterans Project' from 2009 to 2011. The work was documented in an installation shot provided by Galerie Lelong. A…
Ellen Phelan's 2006 painting 'Tulips in Foyer' featured in artcritical review opinion-review
Ellen Phelan created the oil painting 'Tulips in Foyer' in 2006, measuring 39 3/4 by 57 1/2 inches on linen. The work was posted on artcritical on March 15, 2011, at 9:25 AM.…
DVD Review of Alexander Medvedkin's 1934 Soviet Film 'Happiness' in ARTMargins Online opinion-review
A DVD review of Alexander Medvedkin's 1934 film 'Happiness' was published on ARTMargins Online in March 2011. The 95-minute film, produced by Moskombinat and Vostokfilm Mosfil'm,…
David Hammons' Controversial Abstract Paintings at L&M Arts Draw Mixed Critical Reception opinion-review
David Hammons presented a solo exhibition at L&M Arts from January 26 to March 4, 2011, located at 45 East 78 Street in New York City. The show featured abstract paintings…
Attila Pőcze and László Gergely Discuss Hungarian Photography Scene and Paris Photo Participation opinion-review
During a 2011 conversation, artist László Gergely and gallery owner Attila Pőcze explored their contributions to Hungary's photography landscape. In 1996, Pőcze established…
French Critics Debate Criteria and Independence in Contemporary Art opinion-review
In January 2011, artpress published a roundtable discussion featuring French art critics and curators, including Catherine Millet, Nicolas Bourriaud, Stéphanie Rivoire, Thomas…
Vik Muniz Photographs Catador Leader Tiao at Jardim Gramacho Landfill opinion-review
Vik Muniz, a Brazilian artist, photographed Tiao, a prominent figure among the catadores (waste pickers), at the Jardim Gramacho landfill close to Rio de Janeiro. This image was…
Vic Muniz Featured in Arthouse Films Production opinion-review
A film featuring artist Vic Muniz was reviewed on January 8, 2011. The production was associated with Arthouse Films, which provided courtesy materials for the review. The review…
Herzog's 'Bad Lieutenant' Transforms New Orleans into a Jungle opinion-review
In Werner Herzog's 2009 film 'Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans', the director subverts classic film noir tropes by depicting the post-Katrina city as a literal jungle.…
Artpress Debate: Has Contemporary Art's Success Come at a Price? opinion-review
In a discussion featured in artpress, critics Sinziana Ravini, Thomas Boutoux, Nicolas Bourriaud, Harry Bellet, Catherine Millet, and Richard Leydier reflect on the transformation…
Anna Boschetti's 'La Poésie partout' criticized for dogmatic view of Apollinaire opinion-review
Anna Boschetti's new essay 'La Poésie partout' (Seuil) is reviewed as a problematic contribution to avant-garde history. While it offers a competent monograph on Guillaume…
Thomas Crow on the State of Social Art History opinion-review
In an interview with Vivian Rehberg, Thomas Crow, director of the Getty Research Institute, discusses the evolution and current state of social art history. Crow, a pioneer of the…
Robert C. Morgan exhibition reviewed on artcritical in December 2010 opinion-review
An exhibition featuring work by Robert C. Morgan was documented on December 11, 2010. The presentation was reviewed by artcritical, an online publication powered by WordPress.…
Larry Poons' 1990 painting The Cry Room featured in exhibition review opinion-review
A review on artcritical from December 10, 2010, includes an installation shot of an exhibition featuring Larry Poons' 1990 painting The Cry Room. The artwork, measuring 87 by 79…
Critical Art's Contested Landscape in Hungary: Prizes, Debates, and the Avant-Garde's Legacy opinion-review
In Hungary, critical art navigates a challenging environment influenced by various legacies and award systems. The Greenbergian approach faced suppression in Budapest during the…
Manifesta 8 in Murcia and Cartagena Critiqued for Curatorial Disarray and Visual Monotony opinion-review
Manifesta 8, the contemporary art biennial in Europe, took place from October 9, 2010, to January 9, 2011, at 15 locations in Murcia and Cartagena, Spain. Curated by tranzit.org,…
Artpress editor decries shrinking space for art magazines at FIAC opinion-review
In a November 2010 editorial, artpress editor Richard Leydier criticizes the diminishing physical presence of art magazines at the FIAC art fair in Paris. He describes how during…
Street Art vs. Alternative Marketing: Ambiguity and Parasitic Reception opinion-review
The rise of alternative marketing, which uses non-traditional supports like street art, creates a confusing overlap between commercial and artistic practices. In Santiago, Chile,…
Guy Debord's Early Recordings Reveal a Radical Solitary Thinker opinion-review
A review of Guy Debord's early recordings and correspondence, published in artpress, examines the formative years of the Situationist International leader. The article contrasts…
Kristin Baker's Boston MFA Exhibition Critiqued Amid Local Abstract Art Scene opinion-review
Kristin Baker's exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, running from October 2, 2010, to March 27, 2011, features four large-scale paintings in the Community Arts and SMFA…
Pavel Lungin's 2009 Film 'Tsar' Examines Ivan the Terrible's Conflict with Orthodox Church opinion-review
Pavel Lungin's 2009 film 'Tsar' centers on Tsar Ivan the Terrible's 1568 conflict with Metropolitan Filipp, exploring themes of state power versus religious authority. The film…
2010 Los Angeles Film Festival shifts focus to Eastern European cinema with five reviewed features opinion-review
Under the leadership of artistic director David Ansen, the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival took place from June 17 to 27 in downtown Los Angeles, spotlighting international films…
Thomas Nozkowski's Pace Gallery exhibition criticized for pairing paintings with after-drawings opinion-review
From October 22 to December 4, 2010, The Pace Gallery in New York City showcased an exhibition by Thomas Nozkowski, featuring 18 oil paintings on paper alongside drawings. At 66…
Julie Mehretu's Goldman Sachs Mural Critiqued as Failed Public Art Commission opinion-review
Julie Mehretu's mural created for Goldman Sachs in 2010, located at 200 West Street in Manhattan, has come under fire for its lack of effectiveness as public art, primarily due to…

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