Brian Belott.
- As part of the “Berlin Leuchtet” light art festival, the collective RE:SORB decided to project a giant talking Hitler face, Blade-Runner-geisha-billboard style, onto the side of a building. Apparently people were so freaked out a man actually called the police. [RT]
- And in other “insane dictators/questionable A.V. decisions” news, the Assad regime is trying to lure tourists to Aleppo with video ads featuring the Game of Thrones theme song. You would think the Syrian government would want to distance itself from references to a drawn-out, convoluted civil war with a byzantine cast of characters no one can follow featuring Medieval-style religious cults, beheadings, and rape. I’m not sure how many tourists this tactic is going to lure. Maybe Gary Johnson? [CNN]
- “I believe that our world is very open to clowns: [Jeff] Koons is a clown. [Mike] Kelley’s a clown. Duchamp is a clown. Joe Bradley is a clown.” Brian Belott on absurdism. The artist has lit his hair on fire for YouTube and glued rocks to a calculator. There’s also an anecdote in here that explains why perishable paintings are a kinda terrible idea. [ARTnews]
- The huge Denver International Airport is pretty weird, in part because it’s full of creepy public art about the apocalypse and mosaics of genetically modified STD viruses. This has lead to plenty of conspiracy theories involving underground bunkers, the New World Order, and aliens. Rather than attempt PR damage control, Heather Kaufman, the airport’s director of Arts and Public Events, is embracing the airport’s bizarre reputation and hosting a series of screenings, exhibitions, and other events inspired by DIA conspiracy theories. This is the coolest public art story ever. [Westword]
- A British reality tv show might have just uncovered a forgotten Raphael. [artnet News]
- Matt Furie, the guy who first created “Pepe the Frog,” discusses the character’s origins and how it feels to have your artwork become “the new swastika.” Man, the internet is terrible. [The Creators Project]
- Galeria Millan’s new annex in São Paulo is so cool. The gallery’s facade comprises just sliding doors, so the white-box exhibition spaces open to the street and a small courtyard. [Dezeen]
- Isaac Kaplan looks at actions before-and-after earthquakes in Haiti, Italy, and beyond in regards to preserving cultural heritage such as art and architecture. [Artsy]
