WARHOL: THE LAST DECADE

I had the privilege of seeing Andy Warhol: The Last Decade at the Modern in Fort Worth today, and it was unreal. The exhibit itself is very well-curated and expansive, with works ranging from his creepy Myths series to his provocative collaborations with Jean-Michel Basquiat ... the visual impact and scale of his last paintings overwhelmed and unnerved me:

Self-Portrait, 1978

Marilyn, 1979. Pale pink solar on black.

There were few Marilyns to be seen in the exhibit, but the pieces they did have were stunning. A variation on his inverted Marilyns (like the one above) was haunting, as it was black acrylic over black silkscreen ink, giving the iconic headshot a macabre twist (the actual image of was only visible from a specific angle).

Dracula, from Myths, 1981.

The Last Supper (detail),1986.

The piece above easily measures 20x40 feet ... totally massive, and engaging.

The Last Supper, 1986.

Don't miss Andy Warhol: the Last Decade, now at the Modern in Fort Worth.

JE T'AIME: NICOLA KUPERUS

Nicola Kuperus, to me, is the conssumate artist, and the ultimate "underground legend." Now, I don't take words lightly, but anyone already familiar with her work (either as one half of electro-punk pioneers, and purveyors of all things uncomfortable, ADULT., co-founder of the now-defunct Detroit record label Ersatz Audio, or in her other capacity as insanely skilled visual artist) will agree with me when I repeat: Nicola Kuperus is underground legend. ADULT. in itself has proved a potent outlet for Kuperus (for the uninitiated, click here), but her photgraphy is equally powerful:

Cover art for the ADULT. single "Nausea."

Cover art for the classic ADULT. album Anxiety Always.

Nicola's work with husband and bandmate Adam Lee Miller is certainly nothing to scoff at ... aside from recording and performing some of the most intense and enduring music I've ever heard, they have collaborated on a video/multimedia project entitled "Decampment," a silent film played with live instrumentation by the band, as well as the video trilogy "The Importance of Being Folk:"

ART POST: RICHARD COLMAN, PAPERRAD

I was reading the new issue of Nylon Guys when I came across a short feature on L.A.-based artist Richard Colman. His psychedelic paintings have that hyper-colored, nu-rave vibe that was so la mode back in 2004, but that didn't necessarily turn me off:

I started to think about video artist PAPERRAD, who I had the pleasure of seeing at what used to be And/Or Gallery in East Dallas a few years ago:

visit http://www.paperrad.org/ and http://www.richardcolmanart.com/

That last post reminded me of this faux "perfume ad" for Viktor & Rolf.

And these art pieces by Tom Sachs ...

(NSFW) CROTCH-VERTISING

One of my daily reads Fashionindie.com has compiled an array of eye-catching NSFW ad campaigns and editorial spreads, one of which includes a very revealing photo shoot with Jon Kortajarena! Click here and you're welcome.

JE T'AIME: MATTHEW BARNEY

So, I was having tea with a dear friend last night, and somehow the conversation turned to Matthew Barney. Known mostly for his ambitious work in film (and his now-defunct marriage to Bjork), Barney's work is captivating and well, kind of weird. I had the pleasure of seeing his last "film" Drawing Restraint 9 during a limited run in Dallas a few years ago and I'm still floored by his singular, inimitable style both behind and in front of a camera. I remember seeing a review of the film, a 3 hour meditation on Japan, whaling ships, bodily fluids, etc. (all without a stitch of dialogue), and reading something along the lines of "... If only Barney went commercial ... directing the next 2001: Space Odyssey." What a dream?! Watch a clip from Drawing Restraint 9 below: