Swab: Cutting Edge or Weeping sore?

Sun, May 13 2007

Swab 07, the first edition of Barcelona's Contemporary Art Fair – and the only one with the misfortune of being named after "an absorbent pad used in surgery" – ends today. "There is a sweeter way to experience an Art Fair" it declares-threatens on the bizarrely overpriced small catalogue (€19.90).

Besides the title clanger, there were some to-be-expected teething problems – or foot-shooting episodes – not least a lack of 'mission statement' about what niche in galleries or art works was being showcased (mostly unconvincing painting?), and a press department that seemingly does not read e-mail.

The crowning pratfall (you can never mix in too many metaphors it seems) is left to the 'Swab in Barcelona' catalogue text wherein we read a gushing comparison of the fair to ... a festering death-ridden cannibal shipwreck: "Swab presents itself this year rather like Théodore Géricault's 'Raft of the Medusa', which recognises the hectic confusion in the present day art market, at the same time embarking upon the event with sufficient vigor and optimism to position itself literally on the raft's elevate vertex, creating hope for the living, Barcelona's revival presented in a showcase of all this city's incredible works, literally on the pinnacle of the art market." Quite. Let's see which of the 42 galleries hang on for next time.

Latitudes have just finished editing UOVO Issue#14

Tue, May 8 2007

We have just finished editing UOVO Issue#14 titled (GREEN) 'Ecology, Luxury and Degradation'. The magazine will be launched in Art Basel's Art Lobby section on June 17th am (exact time TBC - will let you know!).

In the meantime, have a look at issue 13 which was just launched in Berlin.

Art Basel, Ecology, edited by Latitudes, editorial, latitudes, The Bookmakers Ed., UOVO

Pablo Helguera's "Manual of Contemporary Art"

Tue, May 8 2007

'The Pablo Helguera's Manual of Contemporary Art Style' offers an ironic, insightful, and humorous look at the inner social workings of the contemporary art scene, while functioning at the same time as an accurate and useful etiquette manual for understanding the intricate professional dynamics that take place in the art community today.

El libro fue originalmente publicado en Español ('Manual de estilo del arte contemporáneo') por Tumbona Ediciones. The English edition is published under the Books in Translation series of Jorge Pinto Books Inc.

Everyone should read it! It even includes a diagram of the ideal choreography for an artist at an opening; a 'Chart of Sentimental Relationships' (i.e. artist with artist = acceptable, curator with museum director = problematic; artist with art dealer = unacceptable) and a memorable glossary describing:

"Gesamtkunstwerk: Any project by Matthew Barney, or any art project with a budget of 5 million dollars or more."

or

"Public Art: Cultural tradition consisting of commissioning artwork that would take as much space as possible in an urban environment, so that they can be restored and preserved by future generations."

About the writer: Pablo Helguera (English) or here in Spanish

Contemporary Art, Pablo Helguera, publications, recommendation

Sharjah Biennial (y Latitudes) en El País

Sat, Apr 21 2007

Reseña de la Sharjah Biennial 8 por Ángela Molina publicado en el suplemento Babelia de El País: ‘Una mentira cómoda’, 21 Abril 2007, pp.16-17.

2007, review, Reviews, Sharjah Biennial 8, symposium, United Arab Emirates, Ángela Molina

Articulo sobre 'Rendición Extraordinaria' en ABCD por Arnau Puig

Sat, Apr 21 2007

2007, Barcelona, Carsten Höller, Christopher Knowles, Extraordinary Rendition, Josephine Meckseper, Mariana Castillo Deball, Natascha Sadr Haghighian, NoguerasBlanchard, Roman Ondák, Wilfredo Prieto

Sharjah Biennial opening on Artforum Diary

Mon, Apr 16 2007

Rafal Niemojewski wrote on the opening of the Sharjah Biennial 7 on Artforum Diary. Read the full account here.

Sharjah Biennial 8, symposium, United Arab Emirates

Exhibition 'Weather Report: Art & Climate Change'

Fri, Apr 13 2007

SEPTEMBER 14 - DECEMBER 21, 2007
Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art

"Weather Report: Art and Climate Change is an exhibition curated by internationally renowned critic, art historian, and writer Lucy R. Lippard. It is presented in collaboration with EcoArts. This exhibit partners the art and scientific communities to create a visual dialogue surrounding climate change. Historically, visual arts play a central role in attracting, inspiring, educating and motivating audiences. Weather Report: Art and Climate Change will exhibit artwork, in the museum and our partnering venues, and in outdoor site specific locations throughout Boulder, that will activate personal and public change."

More here.

climate change, Ecology, Lucy Lippard

Spot the typo!

Thu, Apr 12 2007

2007, architecture, Dubai, newspapers, Sharjah Biennial 8

Sharjah Biennial 8 - part 3

Mon, Apr 9 2007

Pictures from our excursion/roving seminar to Dubai Pivot Fields, Ras Al Khor wetlands (bird list below); and Al Khan, an abandoned village in Sharjah and the basis of Lara Almárcegui's UNESCO-prize-winning project for the Biennial. Participants: Michaela Crimmin, Max Andrews, Mariana Cánepa Luna, Mark Nash, Sarah Rich, Susi Platt, Stephanie Smith, Lara Almarcegui, Ignasi Aballí, Gulnara Kasmamlieva, Muratbek Kjoumakliev,Tea Mäpikää. Bird guiding: Clive Temple.

Sharjah Biennial 8 (2007): 'seminar on wheels'

Birds we saw during the excursion:

Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)

Western Reef-egret (Egretta gularis)
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)
Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
Eurasian Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
Greater Spotted Eagle (Aquila clanga)
Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)
Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
Little Plover (Charadrius dubius)
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellus leucurus)
Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)
Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
Laughing Dove (Streptopelia senegalensis)
Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)
Pallid Swift (Apus pallidus)
Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis)
Eurasian Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
House Martin (Delichon urbica)
Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Citrine Wagtail (Motacilla citreola)
Blue-headed Wagtail [sp] (Motacilla flava)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
White-cheeked Bulbul (Pycnonotus leucogenys)
Red-vented Bulbul (Pycnonotus cafer)
Purple Sunbird (Nectarinia asiatica)
House Crow (Corvus splendens)
Asian Pied Starling (Sturnus contra)
Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
Bank Myna (Acridotheres ginginianus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Indian Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica)

Lara Almarcegui, Sharjah Biennial 8, symposium, United Arab Emirates

Sharjah Biennial 8 - part 2

Mon, Apr 9 2007

Further documentation pictures from the Symposium, which we conceived and developed in collaboration with the RSA and the American University of Sharjah.

All images: Latitudes | www.lttds.org

Sharjah Biennial 8, symposium, United Arab Emirates

Longitudes