Archive for the 'R.I.P.' Category
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
R.I.P. Rammellzee (1960-2010)
(Image: Kostas Seremetis)
We are sad to report the death of pioneering graffiti, hip-hop, visual and performance artist, the one and only Rammellzee. Check out Fast Company’s profile and the tribute below, sent out today by our friends at Anonymous Gallery:
New York artist and performer Rammellzee (born in 1960 in Queens, New York) is credited with being one of the inventors of graffiti art as we know it. Through writing, drawing and painting on subway cars in spray paint and felt-tip pen in the late ‘70s, he became interested in the symbolic value of letters. Rammellzee named his style “Gothic Futurism,” describing the battle between letters and their symbolic warfare against any standardizations enforced by the rules of the alphabet. When his style of writing became more mainstream in the world of graffiti, Rammellzee built his letters into flying armored vehicles, bursting forth with a style and philosophy all his own that he termed “Ikonoklast Panzerism”
He has continued to explore these ideas through a variety of media ever since, from the paintings that in 1988 Gerrit Henry described in Art In America as having “a Star-Wars-via-Jackson-Pollock look” to the legendary hip-hop single “Beat Bop” that was produced by the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, and became not just one of the most collectible hip hop releases ever, but a model for generations of witty and experimental musicians.
In 1982, he appeared in the seminal hip hop documentary Wildstyle by Charlie Ahearn. Rammellzee has shown in galleries and museums throughout the world including P.S. 1 in New York and performed in his iconic self-designed masks and costumes at the 2005 Venice Biennale. His work is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, however Ramm always contended his highest achievements could be viewed from the train yards…
Friday, June 11th, 2010
R.I.P. Sigmar Polke
(Image: Thomas Kellner, via)
Sigmar Polke has passed away from complications of cancer. Polke’s inprint can be traced back to his contributions to the Capitalist Realism movement that helped to revitalize contemporary art practices in post-war Germany. Though often recognized for his contributions Pop Art, his work wildly swayed between the figurative cultural appropriations of that style and abstraction. Polke was 69.
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Shawn Mortensen 1966-2009 1YL
With Coachella crescendoing it’s almost exactly one year ago, we lost a tremendous talent and a wonderful person in photographer Shawn Mortensen. His phenomenal photos appeared in the finest publications and captured some of the most subtantive individuals of our generation. His portrait of Tupac Shakur was one of the rapper’s most definitive images. The middle-finder wielding Tupac with a joint in his other hand is still near the top of the all-time sales records for poster releases.
However, there’s a great many masterful portraits by Mortensen. His book Out Of Mind is the culmination of some of his best work. In one of Mortensen’s final artistic endeavors, he had returned to working with a Polariod format. Coming full-circle to a medium that had brought him into the field of photography, the polariod portraits that Mortensen produced in the last months of his life are very special among his impressive output.
Here we contrast the only two ‘double-signed’ polaroids that Mortensen ever produced – Keith Haring from 1989 and KAWS from 2009.
A portrait of KAWS appears in Out of Mind and Mortensen is known as publishing an edition of one for a private collector, as a gift. More on Mortensen from last year on Super Touch Art.
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Farewell, Josh.
Today, a friend lost his life in a scooter accident while driving across the Williamsburg Bridge, here in NYC. Word came in shortly after reading the day’s blog posts about the new Judith Supine piece on top of the bridge. Though not its intent, I can’t help but feel it’s an appropriate memorial to one of the nicest guys I can think of. Goodnight Josh Link- rest in peace and dreams. Our prayers are with your family.
Image: Wooster Collective/S. Duncan
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
Taschen Commemorates Julius Shulman
Julius Shulman – Pierre Koenig, Case Study House #22, from Taschen’s Shulman Portfolio (1999). Image: Taschen
After the passing of Julius Shulman last month, art book publisher, Benedikt Taschen, has published a fitting homage to the hugely influential photographer of Modernist architecture on the Taschen website:
“Julius Shulman was one of the greatest photographers and image makers of the 20th century. Even in a biblical age he was an inspiration for generations of admirers, fans and friends. His house was open for everyone and thousands of pilgrims from all over the world came to see him, the man who created the visual memory of Modernism. He was a generous, kind and caring human being with a memory sharp as the latest generation of computers, recalling every trip he made and every photograph he took. I loved this man and I was blessed to have him as my friend and as a TASCHEN artist.”
Julius Shulman – Richard Nuetra, Singleton House, from Taschen’s Shulman Portfolio (1999). Image: Taschen
Shulman and Taschen’s friendship shines through in this video at the photographer’s Los Angeles home. With the artist now gone, perhaps the best way to remember him is through Taschen’s several invaluable publications, beginning with the now out of print Julius Shulman: Architecture and Its Photography (1998) and continuing with Modernism Rediscovered (2000), which was later expanded to the definitive 2007 three-volume edition. Continuing his commitment to the artist, in 1999 Taschen released a limited edition portfolio set, comprised of 12 different limited edition framed prints, each in an edition of 60, numbered, titled and signed by Shulman. While some are still available on the Taschen site, expect to see a spark in interest.
In 1998 Shulman received a lifetime achievement award from the International Center of Photography in New York. He died on July 15, 2009 at the age of 98.
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009
To Mourn or to Mock?
Image: Kazumi Asamura via Deitch Projects
A tribute to artist Dash Snow, who was found dead of a heroin overdose earlier this month, opens today at Deitch Projects’ Grand Street location. The open memorial includes works of art made by Snows’ friends in his memory, as well as pieces of the late artist’s own art, and invites the public to add their personal contributions during the run of the show.
Anyone who has followed the story knows just how many writters have been quick to praise Snow since his death. Charlie Finch took a moment to pen his own eulogy, which, in a typically bold fashion, presents a more cynical view of an artist that was often criticized during the short-lived span of his artistic output.
Dash It
by Charlie Finch via artnet
Goodbye Dash
Goodbye Snow
You weren’t around
To say hello
Long enough
To say goodbye
All your friends
Will wonder why
It took so long
For you to die
But anyway
You took the plunge
Leaving us
To sift the grunge
And wonder if
You ever were
A stack of garbage
Is your bier
And we are left
To weep and moan
But not for long
Since you are gone
Dash Snow – A Community Memorial runs till August 15 at Deitch Projects, 76 Grand Street, NYC. Admirers and friends are encouraged to bring flowers, artworks, or writings in memorial.
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
R.I.P. Dash Snow
Image: Mario Sorrenti/Muse Magazine via 84/85
Dash Snow, a rising star in the decadent downtown New York art scene, was found dead in the Lafayette House hotel on Monday night from an apparent heroin overdose. He was 27. Snow seemed on the verge of wider success and notoriety, with representation by Peres Projects, exhibition credits including the 2006 Whitney Biennial, Saatchi Gallery, and London Royal Academy, not to mention a notoriously candid cover story in New York Magazine. Snow is survived by his two year old daughter, Secret.
Rest in Peace.
More info at Gawker, NY Times, ArtInfo
Friday, June 26th, 2009
R.I.P. Michael Jackson
1958 – 2009. Dangerous (1991) album art by Mark Ryden.
Thursday, May 14th, 2009
Shawn Mortensen Tribute
Image: Undefeated
Undftd’s Billboard Project pays tribute to the late photographer, Shawn Mortensen, whose prolific contribution to the visual identity of fashion, advertising, and music industries will live on beyond his years. Mortensen passed away early last month at the age of 45. The billboard can be seen above Undftd’s Los Angeles store at 112.5 S. Labrea, Los Angeles, CA. We applaud them for this fitting tribute.
Friday, April 17th, 2009
Shawn Mortensen R.I.P.
Los Angeles, CA. 1965-2009.
It’s a very sad moment, having to say goodbye to a wonderful, tremendously talented person, let alone a friend. Shawn Mortensen is pictured here, dedicating one of his books to me at his home, just weeks ago. I had just acquired his polaroid of KAWS from the Honor Fraser opening for my collection. Such a brilliant photographer. He will be deeply missed. All our condolences to his family.