Massive Links: Remedial Surfing Edition!

by Art Fag City on January 25, 2008 · 35 comments Events

beecroft.jpg

Vanessa Beecroft, White Madonna with Twins, 2006, Digital c-print, Galleria Lia Rumma

Time to play a little catch up around here. A few news points I’ve missed over the last couple of days as a result of various freelance jobs:

  • Think the art entries on Wikipedia suck? You should. The Art Wikimarathon seeks to correct this problem on January 26th by collecting a bunch of art volunteers to pull an all nighters fixing a few of those write ups. Via Facebook and MTAA
  • Art Star and the Sudanese Twins a film capturing Vanessa Beecroft’s fascination with herself and Sudanese orphans, lets the artist hang herself says Vulture. A rather large quote below:

Beecroft says her adoption [of the twins] will be “not just fetishization of the blacks. It will be a beginning of a relationship with that country.” The film documents the significant gap between Beecroft’s theory and her actions.

Upon her arrival in the Sudan, Beecroft hurries to set up a photo shoot, hiding the cameras from the orphanage’s sisters, calling the babies “these poor creatures.” Which baby should she photograph? “Either one or the other,” she says, “it doesn't matter.”

Repeatedly, Beecroft claims that she “loves this culture” — but, in the film's most disturbing scene, sisters from the orphanage try to stop her from stripping the children nude inside their abbey for an elaborate photo shoot. Beecroft refuses, complains, starts shooting again, and eventually loses a physical confrontation with one of the sisters, who takes the children away from her, furious that Beecroft is stripping children naked inside a church. “Christ, these people,” Beecroft moans, as she barricades herself inside, pushing a pew up against the door to keep the sisters out of their own abbey.

Um, ew! Beecroft shames the fine art profession with her racist and self involved behavior.

{ 34 comments }

Paul Pincus January 25, 2008 at 8:21 pm

I think Vanessa’s work is beautiful.

Paul Pincus January 25, 2008 at 8:21 pm

I think Vanessa’s work is beautiful.

Paul Pincus January 25, 2008 at 8:21 pm

I think Vanessa’s work is beautiful.

Paul Pincus January 25, 2008 at 3:21 pm

I think Vanessa’s work is beautiful.

Paul Pincus January 25, 2008 at 8:25 pm

How does this behavior make her a racist?

Paul Pincus January 25, 2008 at 8:25 pm

How does this behavior make her a racist?

Paul Pincus January 25, 2008 at 8:25 pm

How does this behavior make her a racist?

Paul Pincus January 25, 2008 at 3:25 pm

How does this behavior make her a racist?

O January 26, 2008 at 3:37 pm

I saw some of those huge photos at the last Armory show and was completely repulsed by them, not even knowing the details (the things she said in the documentary). What I got from the images was VB setting herself up as a glorious, pure, white Madonna figure giving nourishment to these tiny black unfortunate creatures. It was definitely icky. There was a profile of her in the New Yorker a few years back that portrayed her as a monstrous egotist, almost a sociopath. In it she admitted to physically abusing her husband (or boyfriend, can’t remember which). Also, she made it clear that she just stumbled on the idea of putting naked women on display, just as a sort of experiment in shock value or novelty, and then enjoyed the attention it got, so just kept repeating it. I think she’s a nutcase, not a deep thinker or serious, purposeful artist.

O January 26, 2008 at 3:37 pm

I saw some of those huge photos at the last Armory show and was completely repulsed by them, not even knowing the details (the things she said in the documentary). What I got from the images was VB setting herself up as a glorious, pure, white Madonna figure giving nourishment to these tiny black unfortunate creatures. It was definitely icky. There was a profile of her in the New Yorker a few years back that portrayed her as a monstrous egotist, almost a sociopath. In it she admitted to physically abusing her husband (or boyfriend, can’t remember which). Also, she made it clear that she just stumbled on the idea of putting naked women on display, just as a sort of experiment in shock value or novelty, and then enjoyed the attention it got, so just kept repeating it. I think she’s a nutcase, not a deep thinker or serious, purposeful artist.

O January 26, 2008 at 3:37 pm

I saw some of those huge photos at the last Armory show and was completely repulsed by them, not even knowing the details (the things she said in the documentary). What I got from the images was VB setting herself up as a glorious, pure, white Madonna figure giving nourishment to these tiny black unfortunate creatures. It was definitely icky. There was a profile of her in the New Yorker a few years back that portrayed her as a monstrous egotist, almost a sociopath. In it she admitted to physically abusing her husband (or boyfriend, can’t remember which). Also, she made it clear that she just stumbled on the idea of putting naked women on display, just as a sort of experiment in shock value or novelty, and then enjoyed the attention it got, so just kept repeating it. I think she’s a nutcase, not a deep thinker or serious, purposeful artist.

O January 26, 2008 at 10:37 am

I saw some of those huge photos at the last Armory show and was completely repulsed by them, not even knowing the details (the things she said in the documentary). What I got from the images was VB setting herself up as a glorious, pure, white Madonna figure giving nourishment to these tiny black unfortunate creatures. It was definitely icky. There was a profile of her in the New Yorker a few years back that portrayed her as a monstrous egotist, almost a sociopath. In it she admitted to physically abusing her husband (or boyfriend, can’t remember which). Also, she made it clear that she just stumbled on the idea of putting naked women on display, just as a sort of experiment in shock value or novelty, and then enjoyed the attention it got, so just kept repeating it. I think she’s a nutcase, not a deep thinker or serious, purposeful artist.

Paul Pincus January 26, 2008 at 8:54 pm

Vanessa is a very serious person. Vanessa is also a very serious artist. I think it’s pointless to defend work that clearly speaks for itself. In fact, I think it’s pointless to defend ART!

Paul Pincus January 26, 2008 at 8:54 pm

Vanessa is a very serious person. Vanessa is also a very serious artist. I think it’s pointless to defend work that clearly speaks for itself. In fact, I think it’s pointless to defend ART!

Paul Pincus January 26, 2008 at 8:54 pm

Vanessa is a very serious person. Vanessa is also a very serious artist. I think it’s pointless to defend work that clearly speaks for itself. In fact, I think it’s pointless to defend ART!

Paul Pincus January 26, 2008 at 3:54 pm

Vanessa is a very serious person. Vanessa is also a very serious artist. I think it’s pointless to defend work that clearly speaks for itself. In fact, I think it’s pointless to defend ART!

amory blaine January 28, 2008 at 4:38 am

Indeed, I too make it a point not to defend anything in all caps as it seems to do a fine job standing up for itself. And as for it speaking for itself, I think many people would agree, though not quite in the manner you imply PP. It speaks about self-involvement, money, fashion, cultural tourism, an colonial appropriation. And not in a good way. And not at length. And neither in depth.

amory blaine January 28, 2008 at 4:38 am

Indeed, I too make it a point not to defend anything in all caps as it seems to do a fine job standing up for itself. And as for it speaking for itself, I think many people would agree, though not quite in the manner you imply PP. It speaks about self-involvement, money, fashion, cultural tourism, an colonial appropriation. And not in a good way. And not at length. And neither in depth.

amory blaine January 28, 2008 at 4:38 am

Indeed, I too make it a point not to defend anything in all caps as it seems to do a fine job standing up for itself. And as for it speaking for itself, I think many people would agree, though not quite in the manner you imply PP. It speaks about self-involvement, money, fashion, cultural tourism, an colonial appropriation. And not in a good way. And not at length. And neither in depth.

amory blaine January 27, 2008 at 11:38 pm

Indeed, I too make it a point not to defend anything in all caps as it seems to do a fine job standing up for itself. And as for it speaking for itself, I think many people would agree, though not quite in the manner you imply PP. It speaks about self-involvement, money, fashion, cultural tourism, an colonial appropriation. And not in a good way. And not at length. And neither in depth.

Paul Pincus January 28, 2008 at 11:20 pm

Not ALL of us are against “self-involvement, money, fashion, cultural tourism, an colonial appropriation”…I expected SO much more from “a wealthy and attractive Princeton University student who dabbles in literature!”

Are you as handsome and egocentric as your namesake? I hope so! : )

ps Vanessa is a sweetheart

Paul Pincus January 28, 2008 at 11:20 pm

Not ALL of us are against “self-involvement, money, fashion, cultural tourism, an colonial appropriation”…I expected SO much more from “a wealthy and attractive Princeton University student who dabbles in literature!”

Are you as handsome and egocentric as your namesake? I hope so! : )

ps Vanessa is a sweetheart

Paul Pincus January 28, 2008 at 11:20 pm

Not ALL of us are against “self-involvement, money, fashion, cultural tourism, an colonial appropriation”…I expected SO much more from “a wealthy and attractive Princeton University student who dabbles in literature!”

Are you as handsome and egocentric as your namesake? I hope so! : )

ps Vanessa is a sweetheart

Paul Pincus January 28, 2008 at 6:20 pm

Not ALL of us are against “self-involvement, money, fashion, cultural tourism, an colonial appropriation”…I expected SO much more from “a wealthy and attractive Princeton University student who dabbles in literature!”

Are you as handsome and egocentric as your namesake? I hope so! : )

ps Vanessa is a sweetheart

amory blaine January 29, 2008 at 11:15 pm

I never implied that anyone but myself, for whom I speak (my name not appearing in death-defying all caps), was against self-involvement, et-cetera. I’m certain that it is all the rage and that the switchboard operators are working themselves silly trying to patch all the calls coming in to Deitch Projects begging satisfaction for the gaping holes in lives that can and must only be filled with fluffy, nutty, nougatty nonsense. It is applied with a heat gun, pliers, night-vision goggles, and a masonry trowel. You are covered in it like cloven hoofed beasts and are quite happy little boys and girls.

You outnumber me, and even still if I include my friends, and it’s no surprise. So you get the good table in the Lunchroom. As always. I could care less, perhaps, but I seriously doubt it’s worth the effort.

Keep your hands to yourself.

amory blaine January 29, 2008 at 11:15 pm

I never implied that anyone but myself, for whom I speak (my name not appearing in death-defying all caps), was against self-involvement, et-cetera. I’m certain that it is all the rage and that the switchboard operators are working themselves silly trying to patch all the calls coming in to Deitch Projects begging satisfaction for the gaping holes in lives that can and must only be filled with fluffy, nutty, nougatty nonsense. It is applied with a heat gun, pliers, night-vision goggles, and a masonry trowel. You are covered in it like cloven hoofed beasts and are quite happy little boys and girls.

You outnumber me, and even still if I include my friends, and it’s no surprise. So you get the good table in the Lunchroom. As always. I could care less, perhaps, but I seriously doubt it’s worth the effort.

Keep your hands to yourself.

amory blaine January 29, 2008 at 11:15 pm

I never implied that anyone but myself, for whom I speak (my name not appearing in death-defying all caps), was against self-involvement, et-cetera. I’m certain that it is all the rage and that the switchboard operators are working themselves silly trying to patch all the calls coming in to Deitch Projects begging satisfaction for the gaping holes in lives that can and must only be filled with fluffy, nutty, nougatty nonsense. It is applied with a heat gun, pliers, night-vision goggles, and a masonry trowel. You are covered in it like cloven hoofed beasts and are quite happy little boys and girls.

You outnumber me, and even still if I include my friends, and it’s no surprise. So you get the good table in the Lunchroom. As always. I could care less, perhaps, but I seriously doubt it’s worth the effort.

Keep your hands to yourself.

amory blaine January 29, 2008 at 6:15 pm

I never implied that anyone but myself, for whom I speak (my name not appearing in death-defying all caps), was against self-involvement, et-cetera. I’m certain that it is all the rage and that the switchboard operators are working themselves silly trying to patch all the calls coming in to Deitch Projects begging satisfaction for the gaping holes in lives that can and must only be filled with fluffy, nutty, nougatty nonsense. It is applied with a heat gun, pliers, night-vision goggles, and a masonry trowel. You are covered in it like cloven hoofed beasts and are quite happy little boys and girls.

You outnumber me, and even still if I include my friends, and it’s no surprise. So you get the good table in the Lunchroom. As always. I could care less, perhaps, but I seriously doubt it’s worth the effort.

Keep your hands to yourself.

Paul Pincus January 30, 2008 at 4:20 pm

YIKES!!!

Paul Pincus January 30, 2008 at 4:20 pm

YIKES!!!

Paul Pincus January 30, 2008 at 11:20 am

YIKES!!!

coco March 14, 2009 at 2:49 am

i guess Kanye West is her new baby

coco March 14, 2009 at 2:49 am

i guess Kanye West is her new baby

coco March 13, 2009 at 9:49 pm

i guess Kanye West is her new baby

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