Hitler the Artist (and Drink His Wine), the Indian Damien Hirst, Filming the Sabine Women and the Problem of Ethnic Art
February 21st, 2007 by Menachem Wecker
What happens when seven artists gather in a SF Chronicle conference room to discuss ethnicity? Some great quotes, including two from Héctor Lugo: “Often people think of ethnicity as an essential concept. They don’t understand that it’s an evolving concept” and “The more complicated your message the more difficult it is to market it. So there’s this pressure to simplify your ideas. I believe that’s true for anybody, whether you’re Puerto Rican or Cuban or Jewish or whether you think of yourself as white.” [SF Chronicle]
Indian artist Subodh Gupta is called the “Damien Hirst of New Delhi”. His “A Very Hungry God” is one of his kitchen works: “a one-tonne skull crafted out of aluminium pots and pans.” [Guardian]
The Rape of the Sabine Women: The movie. [NY Times]
“Though it is tempting to think of him as illiterate, Hitler (click here if you want to buy his wine or sugar packets) could quote Schopenhauer from memory. His love of music was passionate, to the point where some believed that his admiration for Wagner was a sufficient reason in itself for dismissing that composer from musical history.” See my drawing above. [Slate, and see my Hitler’s Muse: Why Does Good Art Happen to Bad People?]
Hanna’s life is cool, but she can’t seem to find more Christian artists like herself. “I actually spend time researching and hunting and looking for these people and for the most part? I cannot find them.” She continues, “I know I’m not the only christian artist who paints something other than just warmly lit flower covered cottages. But it’s pretty hard to find people. We have no system. Maybe it’s because christian art isn’t like christian books or christian music. We have no blatent way of showing our faith through our art. You know, unless we paint angels and blble stories. But I believe that if you create something beautiful, that’s showing the glory of God. Just, beauty. That’s my message.” Her reflections are almost as good as her illustrations. [Hanna’s Life is Cool]