ART AFICIONADO

Sunday, May 18, 2025

Dance: Soft Cell - Tainted Love

Choreographer: Sejla Softic

via Diamonds Dance Vienna

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Cosplay is an Art: Wondercon 2025

via Justin Cosplay

Friday, May 16, 2025

MODELING: Ludmila

Model: Ludmila

Photographer/Videographer: Alex Galitsin

via Nude Art Russia

Thursday, May 15, 2025

Alison Jackson, born on May 15, 1960, in Hampshire, England, initially pursued a career outside the arts. It wasn't until the age of 30 that she began exploring her passion for art, enrolling in night classes while working as a receptionist. This newfound interest led her to attend Chelsea College of Art and Design, where she earned a BA in Fine Arts (Sculpture) between 1993 and 1997. She furthered her education with an MA in Fine Art Photography from the Royal College of Art in London, graduating in 1999.

Jackson is renowned for her provocative exploration of celebrity culture, creating convincingly realistic photographs, films, and sculptures that depict celebrities in private moments using cleverly styled lookalikes. Her work challenges perceptions of reality and questions the authenticity of images in media, blurring the lines between truth and fabrication.

Some of Jackson's most notable works include images of a Princess Diana lookalike with Dodi Al-Fayed and a mixed-race child, Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy in intimate settings, and satirical portrayals of Donald Trump in compromising situations. These works have been exhibited internationally in institutions such as the International Center of Photography in New York City and the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

Queen in the Loo in Regalia, 2016

Diana and Dodi

Trump Spray Tan

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.biennial.com/artists/alison-jackson

https://www.alisonjackson.com/about

https://www.candcgallery.com/artists/alison-jackson

https://www.xibtmagazine.com/2020/07/alison-jackson-beyond-the-truth

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/09/artist-alison-jackson-donald-trump

https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/02/meet-alison-jackson-the-controversial-british-artist-with-celebrity-culture-in-her-sights

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Trump's Center

In February, President Donald Trump executed a significant overhaul of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, by dismissing all 18 trustees appointed by former President Joe Biden and installed his own appointees, who subsequently elected Trump chairman of the board.

Trump justifies changes by criticizing the Center's programming, especially those he considers "woke." The reorganization has also sparked controversy within the arts community. For instance, several cast members of "Les Misérables" have announced plans to boycott a June 11 performance at the Kennedy Center, protesting Trump's involvement.

While conservatives might feel the Center is out of touch of American values and welcome changes as necessary in realigning its mission, critics argue that Trump's actions represent a politicization of the arts. This draws scary parallels to historical instances where authoritarian regimes exerted control over cultural institutions, e.g. Hitler's Nazi regime.

RANDOM WEDNESDAY: Girl accidentally strips herself

via BeKind

Tuesday, May 13, 2025

Louis Léopold Robert

Art Appreciation

Louis Léopold Robert was born on May 13, 1794, in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Neuchâtel, Switzerland. At sixteen, he moved to Paris to apprentice under engraver Jean Girardet. While training, Robert also attended Jacques-Louis David's studio, where he developed his painting skills.

The political changes of 1815, which restored Neuchâtel to Prussia, prevented him from competing for the prestigious Grand Prix due to his altered nationality. This setback led him to return to Switzerland before eventually relocating to Rome to pursue painting.

In Rome, Robert immersed himself in depicting Italian peasant life, focusing on the customs and attire of southern Italy. His works are characterized by detailed representations of everyday scenes, capturing the essence of Italian culture.

He aimed to create a series representing the four seasons through Italian life: "The Return from the Fête of the Madonna dell'Arco" (Spring), "The Arrival of the Reapers in the Pontine Marshes" (Summer), and "The Departure of Fishermen from the Adriatic" (Winter). The autumn piece remained incomplete.

Among Robert's notable works is "Brigand and His Wife in Prayer" (1824), portraying a brigand couple praying before a roadside cross in central Italy. This painting reflects Robert's fascination with the brigante subculture and their piety despite their criminality.

Another significant piece, "The Arrival of the Reapers in the Pontine Marshes" (1830), depicts laborers arriving for the harvest, capturing the vibrancy of Italian rural life. These works exemplify Robert's commitment to illustrating the dignity and traditions of Italian peasants.

Tragically, personal struggles, including an unrequited love for Princess Charlotte Napoléon Bonaparte, led Robert to take his own life on March 20, 1835, in Venice.

Brigand and his wife in prayer, 1824

The Arrival of the Reapers in the Pontine Marshes, 1831

Portrait of Charlotte Bonaparte, 1830