On the Web: May 2005 Archives
"You only have to imagine the dreariness of a world without art to know that it is a good thing. The problem is to explain how and why in terms that apply to all the arts." What Good Are the Arts? by John Carey, reviewed in The Times (of London.)
Tyler Green posted a cornucopia of links and extended commentary about Edward Burtynsky today, including a novel take on his work in the LA Times. Recently, Burtynsky's work has begun to be presented as directly and explicitly environmental message.
When my wife and I went to see his mid-career retrospective in Ottawa in 2003, I recall that Burtynsky explicitly disavowed this positioning of his work in video/text accompanying the show. However, as his profile rises (based purely on the amazing aethetics of this images) I suspect there is probably a temptation to draw a bigger meaning for the work (which is there implicitly, of course) and create a "Burtynsky brand". Which strikes me as unnecessary.
UPDATE: Chris Hoff at OC Art Blog is trying to decide which Burtynsky to buy. Of his three options, my vote.
Last month, photographer Brian Ulrich kicked off his own blog to complement his portfolio site. Brian's work centers around American retailing and consumerism (probably an oversimplification). In the course of his project work he's picked up amusing examples of "found" photography from some of today's highest profile art photographers. How ironic to find "spontaneous" examples of some of the most deliberate photographers's works.
