GOTHIC ART AGAIN
Richard Taylor
}>Speaking of Gothic painting and such...
}The most gothic artist working today is the photographer Joel Peter Witkins.
}I remember being at one of his shows at the San Francisco MOMA several years
}ago where people would actually shudder and turn away from the pictures.
}People could not deal with these images and would vocally protest to anyone
}nearby. I've never been at an art event where people were so obviously
}affected by what was hanging on the walls. What's it like? Black and white
}photos with corpes posed, crucified monkeys, old men pounding nails up their
}nose with a hammer, Catholic S&M, decapitated winos French kissing, aborted
}fetuses held by Modonna (not the singer) with tit clamps. There is a heavy
}19th century feel to the pictures, like something found hidden in an old
}house.
This only remotely resembles my idea of what gothic art should be.
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__r.taylor___________________________________________________________________
Anyone have an idea what gothic art should be?
Ba...@flyaway.com
(Richard Taylor) wrote:
>
> Anyone have an idea what gothic art should be?
++++++++++My stuff!
Ah- who knows for sure. But I would say that something along the
writings of Horace Walpole would be a good place to start- he tries to
define 'Gothick' art, literature and architecture. In my opinion, I believe
that 'gothic' necessitates a sort of ~cryptic mystery~; not a blatant stab.
Say the difference between Keats or Shelley, and Cannibal Corpse. But then
again, this is only MY opinion, and I really don't care to jump back into
that muck-covered pool of subjectivity vs. objectivity.
-Proserpina
P.s. I am using a strange computer for the holiday, so ignore whatever
adress or name that sould accompany this post.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++"ALL I WANT IS TO MAKE A KILLING." -The Damned++++++++++++++++++
++++Apostles of
Affliction/Proserpina+...@duckmail.uoregon.edu++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rosenberg
: Scott Edward_Alexander, :SCOTT_EDWAR...@CUP.PORTAL.COM...
: }>Speaking of Gothic painting and such...
: }The most gothic artist working today is the photographer Joel Peter Witkins.
: }I remember being at one of his shows at the San Francisco MOMA several years
: }ago where people would actually shudder and turn away from the pictures.
: }People could not deal with these images and would vocally protest to anyone
: }nearby. I've never been at an art event where people were so obviously
: }affected by what was hanging on the walls. What's it like? Black and white
: }photos with corpes posed, crucified monkeys, old men pounding nails up their
: }nose with a hammer, Catholic S&M, decapitated winos French kissing, aborted
: }fetuses held by Modonna (not the singer) with tit clamps. There is a heavy
I personally don't think Witkin's art is goth. More of an industrial/
post-holocaust vision I think. And although that's related to goth, (i.e.
morbidity, dark vision, etc.), I see goth art as being more romanticized
morbidity, than in-your-face revolting shock value. It's a subtle difference,
I know. But it's there. I think Andres Serrano's work is quite goth as
far as photography goes. He sort of romanticizes really kitch christian
paraphenalia, but in a cynical way. (most of you have probably seen or heard
of "Piss Christ" - right? - there's a lot more good stuff where that came from)
I like both artists a lot, but their work appeals to two different sides
of me. Ah well. Just my opinion.
Erika
katrin
that he attempts to see beauty even in the most grotesque, morose,
seemingly abnormal things or people, some live ones, even. tho his work is
shocking, i don't think his aim is merely to shock or repulse people,
but rather to question standards of beauty. maybe. that seems somewhat
gothic to me. i'm thinking of the elephant man and frankenstein.