Can't lie, we were in a serious "mood" when we caught this showing.
We were feeling bratty due to some meetings that had gone nowhere and were probably not in the best headspace to take in what Melamid was trying to do with this show. It... it was a great show...
*howeverrrr
It's just that, well, we remember the heavy handed "People's Choice" series of (Vitaly)Komar & Melamid from high school. We were "meh" about it.
*a) we were young, b) at that age, if we wanted our socialist realism diverted in any way, we wanted it done by Malevich.
So, when we heard this show was coming to NYC in January and that it was a solo exhibition by Alex Melamid only, AND that he was doing these life-sized portraits of hip hop greats? We were so there. But it just fell short for us somehow...
Firstly, these portraits were supposed to portray a series of "hip-hop icons... the wealthiest and most influential individuals of our time" with this roster:
Russell Simmons
Easy Mo Bee
Snoop
MC Duke
Kanye West
Reverend Run
Whoo Kid
Lil Jon
Marc Ecko
50 Cent
Common
L.T. Hutton
Don "Magic" Juanuhhhhhmm...
Yes, according to Melamid (or rather his music video director son "Dan the Man" Melamid, who facilitated the introductions for his father) Don "Magic" Juan is a hip hop icon.
*....'kay.
Secondly, the portraits were done in the impressionist style, heavy heavy on the Monet brush stroke to the point where it seemed more cliche than testimonial. Again, we got the intent: these are men whose lives are larger than life - the portraits are life sized, these men are celebrities - the portraits are grandiose, and in the style of 19th century royal portraiture, these men are ambitious and pioneering - the portraits are rendered in the technique of old masters. But, it could all just as easily be construed as cheesy mall art once you throw a pimp into the mix.
*jussayin'.
It is still worth checking out...
[ *yli ]
Photo Source: antiquesandthearts.com
"Don Magic Juan"
Alex Melamid 2005
oil on canvas
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