Giogione (Choice of Alexandre Giquello)

The online world

In our new experience of the relationship between art and the internet, the online world has won. The sensation produced by the phone or computer screen almost always predominates over the sensation of the art itself meant to be displayed on screen. Paintings always look flat, as do sculptures, even when we can see them from different angles.

To dominate the screen

Aleijadinho (Choice of Angelo Oswaldo)

However, whenever we watch someone talking about art via the medium of a screen, it is the idea expressed by the person that dominates the screen. For as Leonardo wrote about drawing, art is a “cosa mentale”.The spirit takes over the medium. This is where things become wonderful: when it is between human beings.

Beautiful cerebral energy

Charles Darwin (choice of Jitish Kallat)

This is why, during these rather gloomy covidian times (there’s no time like the present to start inventing new words), for the readers of JBH Reports and for myself, I wanted to breathe some beautiful cerebral energy into our relationship to art, within the limits of public health regulations and the vast network of communications at humanity’s disposal today.

Open the virtual windows

Palo Uccello ( Choice of Daniel Buren)

Since our spheres of interest have been pathologically refocused onto only ourselves and our neighbours I have decided to throw open the virtual windows to invite people who I like , whether they are nearby or very far away, to talk about the crucial subject of “art that makes us feel good”.

Feeling more alive

Oscar Murillo ( Choice of Hélène N’Guyen Ban)

We have all, at one time or another, come away from an exhibition or experience of the visual arts feeling reassured, feeling more alive, or feeling as though we had a better understanding of things within us that had never been expressed. These are not commonplaces; they are profoundly intimate experiences.

Not representative

R & R Haerizadeh, H Rahmanian

I have therefore contacted forty or so people from around the world with greater or lesser success. This initiative was not meant to be representative in terms of sex, ethnicity, culture, or skin colour. In the short timeframe that they were given, each person responded in their own way, positively or negatively too, of course.

Feel good

Philippe Parreno (Choice of Samuel Keller)

The journey through the world of “art that makes us feel good” is very, very diverse. In certain cases, in certain parts of the world, it has dramatic tendencies and in others it verges on humour or the deliciously absurd. This exploration is divided into two episodes.

What about you?

What about you – what is the art that makes you feel good? You can send me video responses of a maximum of 2 minutes.

 

 

Daniel Buren, Artist, Paris

/ Machu Pichu XVTh Century. Paolo Uccello San Romano Battle. Circa 1456. 

Angelo Oswaldo. Mayor, Ouro Preto, Brasil

/ Aleijadinho in Conghonas do Campo. End of XVIIIe century

 

 

 

Ramin Haerizadeh, Rokni Haerizadeh, Hesam Rahmanian. Artists. Dubai.

/Quinoa Tah-Chin. 2020. 

(This special piece could be subtitled: work out with comfort food)

 

 

Simon Baker, Director, Maison Européenne de la photographie. Paris. London.

/Philip Guston (1913-1980)

 

 

Jitish Kallat, Artist, Mumbai.

/ Charles Darwin. Tree of life. 1837. 

 

 

Alexandre Giquello, Auctioneer, President Hôtel Drouot. Paris.

/Giorgione.  La Tempesta. 1506-1508 .

 

 

Khalil Joreige. Artist. Paris. Beirut.

/ The artists Etel Adnan and Simone Fattal.

(See here the report about Etel Adan and here the report about Etel Adnan and Simone Fattal speaking about the lockdown).

 

 

Helene N’Guyen Ban. Chocolate Factory owner. Collector. Paris. London.

/Oscar Murillo. Himalayan streamers. 2017. 

 

 

Samuel Keller . Director. Beyeler Foundation. Basel.

/Philippe Parreno. Water Lilies. 2012. 

 

 

Yuri Avvakumov, Architect. Moscow

/James Turrell. Twilight Arch. 1991

 

Luis Laplace. Architect. Paris. Buenos Aires

Paul McCarthy. Kitchen. 2001

 

Hans Ulrich Obrist. Director Serpentine galleries. London. 

Koo Jeong A. A Seven Stars. 2020. 

 

 

 

 

(Don’t forget to look here at the other part of  “Art that makes you feel good”).

 

 

 

 

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