Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection, Videos documentaries1 Comment

Paula Rego – BBC video and Gompertz review of exhibition

27/06/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

Dame Paula Rego: Will Gompertz reviews Obedience and Defiance show in Milton Keynes. BBC News, Entertainment and Arts, June 2019 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-48616934?xtor=ES-211-%5B23633_PANUK_DIV_25_ART_PaulaRego_Over35_Mopup%5D-20190623-%5Bbbcnews_damepaularegowillgompertzreviewsobedienceandefianceshowinmiltonkeynes_news%5D I’ve just watched the BBC’s 2017 documentary, Secrets and Stories, on Rego (which is due to expire in twelve days from now but just in case of a reprieve, this is the link https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b08kz9qz/paula-rego-secrets-and-stories?xtor=ES-211-%5B23633_PANUK_DIV_25_ART_PaulaRego_Over35_Mopup%5D-20190623-%5Bbbctwo_paularegosecretsandstories_factualarts%5D) and found my first speculations about the deeper issues referred to in short biographies to be both justified and deepened. Being born in Portugal into a world in which fascism and repression – particularly of women – meant much of what was real in terms … Continue reading Paula Rego – BBC video and Gompertz review of exhibition

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection1 Comment

What’s it worth? The Banksy art dilemma

29/05/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

As an art trail survivor (with two more days to go I worry that might be fake news) out on a limb away from the centre of the action, I’m questioning again what it’s all about. There are two of us, we’re in a tent, and every time it breathes in, we throw ourselves at the collapsing exhibits to preserve their dignity. With just two venues in the village, we’re the Pluto of the town’s art trail/summer fair helio-centre and traffic is so light it may as well be helium. But there’s more to it than just distance, there’s display … Continue reading What’s it worth? The Banksy art dilemma

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Paula Rego

07/04/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I was pointed at Rego’s work by my Drawing tutor who seemed to know intuitively the kind of image I’d find interesting. I’d never heard of her but her Dancing Ostriches will stay with me for a long time. [As if it weren’t obvious, the drawing on the left is my attempt at a copy] From a 2016 BBC article accessed 07/04/19 These dancers are as far from Degas’ delicates as it’s possible to get, and although I have always liked his representations of ballet, they seem wispy and idealised next to Rego’s chunky, muscular, powerhouses of women. Not … Continue reading Paula Rego

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection1 Comment

Paula Rego

07/04/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I was pointed at Rego’s work by my Drawing tutor who seemed to know intuitively the kind of image I’d find interesting. I’d never heard of her but her Dancing Ostriches will stay with me for a long time. [As if it weren’t obvious, the drawing on the left is my attempt at a copy] These dancers are as far from Degas’ delicates as it’s possible to get, and although I have always liked his representations of ballet, they seem wispy and idealised next to Rego’s chunky, muscular, powerhouses of women. Not that Rego’s women are likely to turn up … Continue reading Paula Rego

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection3 Comments

Art and artists: building a vocabulary

06/04/2019 Suzanne Conboy-Hill

I have no background in art history and, despite an A level and a Foundation year under my belt, no useful knowledge of artists or how to discuss their work. This makes looking at art and commenting on it a dismally unrewarding activity at the best of times, but in an academic context I have nothing but parrot phrases which is no good at all. I’m in art rehab. My tutor is feeding me artists to look at and, critically, a reason to look; the way the edges blend, the spaces between things, the textures and volumes. My job is … Continue reading Art and artists: building a vocabulary

Art and artists: building a vocabulary, Research & Reflection1 Comment