Tag Archives: art

André Kertész, “On Reading”

for Barbara Gazin, Mark Alonzo & Raj Luthra Perhaps the strangest thing about the human condition is how one has to distance oneself from humanity in order to understand and appreciate it. The activity of reading can be emblematic of this distancing when it does not serve as its catalyst. Kertész’s photographic essay seems to …

May 7, 2013 – 10:35 pm | By ashok | Posted in media | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)

“No one can make or break you, but you:” An interview with Heather Bright of “Bright Lights”

Many of you know I help run a classical music blog and I’m not averse to raving about how awesome, say, Faure is. While looking for new music recently, I encountered “Bright Lights,” which makes excellent electronic, dance and house music: check them out at wearebrightlights. Heather Bright was willing to take time out of …

April 2, 2013 – 4:01 pm | By ashok | Posted in music | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Tantric Buddhist Statue from the Crow Collection in Dallas, Texas

The Tantric Buddhist statue pictured above (credit: Mark Alonzo) is sexual and symbolic. Saw it with Mark and Laura this past Wednesday when we made a trip to the Crow Collection. I don’t remember exactly when or what region it is from, but Mark took a beautiful picture that gleams. The Tantric statues on display …

February 2, 2013 – 4:45 am | By ashok | Posted in personal | Tagged , , , | Comments (2)

A Tale of Three NYC based artists

I have to stop rewriting this dissertation to bring you Jay-Z talking to an older woman named Ellen. One of the commentators mentioned that Ellen is Ellen Grossman, a contemporary artist. Her work is incredible: “Resurgence” has a great amount of detail and the variation in it is astounding. There are videos where she explains …

December 5, 2012 – 12:38 am | By ashok | Posted in media | Tagged | Comments (0)

Marcel Duchamp, “Hat rack”

“Hat rack” | Pictures of Duchamp’s Studio & Discussion of his Exhibitions Hat rack is one of Duchamp’s Ready-mades. The most famous of these I think is Fountain, which is a urinal ripped out of the wall. This is not the sort of “art” I typically appreciate. In fact, I’m pretty sure Duchamp was a …

May 3, 2012 – 3:20 am | By ashok | Posted in media | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Svenja Schmitt, “Gamer”

“Gamer” by PixieCold @ deviantart Good portraits tell a story. This one is no exception. The discolored eyes show preoccupation with whatever is visual; textured hair glows with the intensity of some of the better game graphics. Her head is afire. What, then, to make of the floral patterns all about? The messiness of the …

April 21, 2012 – 2:10 pm | By ashok | Posted in media, writing | Tagged , | Comments (2)

Jana Mihalkovicova-Lepejova, “Spring Song”

“Spring Song,” by jane-beata @ deviantart What some might dismiss as messy strands of hair have body, luster, curvature in their darkness. Darkness is the true mirror of light. The tilted head with its bright features might seem an afterthought; face is central to the whole yet its precise, simple definition seems too facile. It …

April 20, 2012 – 3:37 am | By ashok | Posted in media, writing | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Botticelli, “Venus and Mars”

Thanks to Ruthie for her insights. “Venus and Mars” (may take a while to download) | Wikipedia article So a male is almost boorish in his exhaustion after intercourse. There’s not much new there. What’s curious is her. She is staring at him, but I’d venture that gaze is more business than anything else. She’s …

August 10, 2011 – 3:47 am | By ashok | Posted in writing | Tagged | Comments (1)

See Paul’s Work

I know – I’m breaking my promise not to post. But a friend makes magnificent religious art and I thought all of you might want a look given the nature of this holiday season. He makes icons, which you can read a little about here: On Iconography Some of his work: Rublev’s Pupil on Flickr …

December 22, 2010 – 1:46 am | By ashok | Posted in media | Tagged | Comments (1)

Picasso, “Man with a Violin” and “Man with a Guitar”

Via the Philadelphia Museum of Art: Man with a Guitar | Man with a Violin I don’t know whether you can call Satie’s Gymnopédies Cubist (listen to Gymnopédie No. 1); his formal association with cubists seems to have happened later in his career. Nonetheless, a description of the Gymnopédies from Wikipedia in need of citations …

August 1, 2010 – 1:05 pm | By ashok | Posted in writing | Tagged | Comments (9)