Sunday, July 3, 2016

New York - ARTFCITY tells it like it is



ARTFCITY is a NYC based site that, in their own words, creates and archives critical discourse, and commissions ambitious artist projects. Through a daily mix of blunt criticism, commentary and community-minded journalism, we add an unparalleled dosage of purposeful opinion to the contemporary art community. It's always a refreshing read where critical comment is the focus not just bland description.

Their endeavor brings to mind the late art critic Robert Hughes who was never afraid to knee-cap and eviscerate at will and routinely dispense tasty pearls of wisdom, such as - I have never been against new art as such; some of it is good, much is crap, most is somewhere in between. And - There is virtue in virtuosity, especially today, when it protects us from the tedious spectacle of ineptitude.

In ARTFCITY's latest mailing they rip into the opening show at ICP's new downtown location: 
ICP enters the 21st Century with a Bunch of Mirrors - For a prime example of ambitious curating standing in the way of excellent artwork, look no further than the convoluted mess of a show at the International Center for Photography’s brand new Bowery location. While I’m always up for seeing art that takes advantage of technology and addresses our weird wired world, this show is filled with wrong-headed assertions, painful hanging choices, and eyeball-straining design.

And the Berlin Biennale: An Act of Passive Compliance - I can... think of no better way, given the circumstances, to reinforce the popular perception that contemporary art has nothing to say about the world that surrounds it than by hiring the NYC-based fashion bloggers DIS to curate the ninth edition of the Berlin Biennale. I have rarely seen such a profound case of not giving the people what they want, of so many heads so far up so many assholes. Just walk away, Berlin. Go have a strong drink. Read a good mystery novel. Take too much MDMA and pee your slacks. Sit in an empty room and cry. Do anything but waste 26 Euros on the Berlin Biennale.

You can read the complete pieces HERE on the ARTFCITY website. 


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