La Biennale de Lyon, La Vie Moderne

Yuan Goang-Ming 袁廣鳴, Landscape of Energy, 2014; single-channel video, 7:30, edition of 5; image via La Biennale de Lyon
Yuan Goang-Ming 袁廣鳴, Landscape of Energy, 2014; single-channel video, 7:30, edition of 5; image via La Biennale de Lyon

La Biennale de Lyon was launched in 1991 and has become one of the largest contemporary art events in the world, with greater attendance and broader representation than Manifesta and the Whitney Biennal. For its 13th edition in 2015, the Biennale de Lyon brings together 60 artists from 28 countries to explore the theme of La Vie Moderne. Continue reading “La Biennale de Lyon, La Vie Moderne”

Power and Pathos at the Getty Museum

Torso of a Youth, “The Vani Torso,” 200–100 B.C. Bronze, 105 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm; Georgian National Museum, Vani Archaeological Museum-Reserve; Installation view of "Power and Pathos" at the Getty Museum, 2015; photo © codylee.co
Torso of a Youth, “The Vani Torso,” 200–100 BC; bronze, 105 cm x 45 cm x 25 cm; Georgian National Museum, Vani Archaeological Museum-Reserve; Installation view of “Power and Pathos” at the Getty Museum, 2015; photo © codylee.co

During the Hellenistic period – from the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC to the establishment of the Roman Empire in 31 BC – Greek power and cultural influence were at their peak throughout the Mediterranean and Macedonia. The vast empire was controlled by dozens of generals and rulers, and a new market for portraits was formed with the development of bronze as a primary artistic medium.

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Dismaland

Exterior view of Banksy's Dismaland, 2015; image via CNN
Exterior view of Banksy’s Dismaland, 2015; image via CNN

In Weston-super-Mare, England, an abandoned seaside resort has been transformed into a dystopian theme park. On August 20, following weeks of speculation, the artist Banksy announced a five-week contemporary art project called Dismaland Bemusement Park.

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Anish Kapoor at the Château de Versailles

Anish Kapoor, C-Curve, 2007; stainless steel; installation view at the Château de Versailles, 2015; photo courtesy of Kapoor Studio, Kamel Mennour, and Lisson Gallery, © Tadzio
Anish Kapoor, C-Curve, 2007; stainless steel; installation view at the Château de Versailles, 2015; photo courtesy of Kapoor Studio, Kamel Mennour, and Lisson Gallery, © Tadzio

From June 9 through November 1, the Château de Versailles presents an exhibition of sculptural works by Anish Kapoor. It is the eighth exhibition of contemporary works at Versailles since 2008, and coincides with the tercentenary of the death of Louis XIV.

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Yoko Ono: One Woman Show

Yoko Ono's advertisement published in the Village Voice, December 2, 1971; image via Artforum
Yoko Ono’s advertisement published in the Village Voice, December 2, 1971; image via Artforum

In 1971, Yoko Ono placed ads in the Village Voice and The New York Times announcing The Museum of Modern [F]art, her one-woman show at MoMA. The 100-page exhibition catalogue included an image of Yoko Ono in MoMA’s sculpture garden with a jar of flies, which were to be released into the city and then photographed as they buzzed across New York. Continue reading “Yoko Ono: One Woman Show”

Björk at MoMA

Björk, Biophilia dress, 2011; dress by Iris van Herpen; installation view at MoMA, 2015; photo by Timothy A. Clary / Getty Images
Björk, dress from Biophilia, 2011; dress by Iris van Herpen; installation view at MoMA, 2015; photo by Timothy A. Clary / Getty Images

From March 8 through June 7, the Museum of Modern Art presents a mid-career retrospective of work by Björk. The eponymous exhibition examines the Icelandic singer’s career with a custom-built pavilion and a specially developed augmented audio guide for an immersive visitor experience. Continue reading “Björk at MoMA”

My Generation: Young Chinese Artists

Chi Peng, Sprinting Forward
Chi Peng, Sprinting Forward, 2004; chromogenic print, 47-1/4 x 91-1/2 in; © Chi Peng, courtesy of the artist; photo courtesy of the Tampa Museum of Art

At the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, My Generation: Young Chinese Artists presents works by artists born in mainland China after 1976. They are products of China’s one-child policy and have grown up during a time of rapid urbanization, globalization, and cultural transition.

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Anila Quayyum Agha, Intersections

Anila Quayyum Agha, Intersections
Anila Quayyum Agha, Intersections (installation view, Grand Rapids Art Museum), 2014; image courtesy of Anila Quayyum Agha

In Michigan’s Grand Rapids Art Museum, Anila Quayyum Agha’s Intersections is installed after being named the winner of ArtPrize 2014. The installation consists of a light source inside a laser-cut wooden cube, casting shadows that evoke Islamic sacred spaces.

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