Contemporary Art « Arrested Motion

Category Archives: Contemporary Art

BLM / Releases: KAWS – “TAKE” Figures

Posted by sleepboy, June 8, 2020

Tomorrow (July 9th) at 12 noon EST, KAWS will be releasing a new set of vinyl figures modeled after another combination of his Companion and BFF characters. Entitled TAKE, the three iterations are smaller versions of the sculpture introduced at his London exhibition last year (covered). A portion of the proceeds (goal of $250,000) will be split among Black Lives Matter and Color Of Change. Because of this added fundraising component, the NY-based artist has also added a few pieces from his personal inventory as well […]

BLM: Haroshi x HUF

Posted by sleepboy, June 7, 2020

Unfortunately, the looting that happened in Los Angeles did not leave artwork unscathed in certain locations. The iconic Haroshi (featured) middle finger sculpture that stood as the centerpiece at the HUF store since 2015 was damaged in the chaos of that weekend. The piece created from skateboard decks, as is the usual practice by the Japanese artist, has always stood as symbol of “fuck you” – a FU to “oppressors, to injustice, to violence, to racism, to authority, to inequality, and to anyone or anything working […]

Showing: Shawn Huckins – “Fool’s Errand” @ K Contemporary

Posted by sleepboy, June 7, 2020

This weekend in Denver at K Contemporary, an exhibition from Shawn Huckins (featured) opened that focuses on “our relationships with the past and how it affects our current state of the world and our place in it.” Continuing his practice of altering historical paintings (but without the overlaid text he is known for), the new body of work instead juxtaposes Roman sculpture over classic 18th century American paintings as a preemptive warning of a failed society. Take a look at more photos from the show below… Discuss Shawn […]

Jammie Holmes – “George Floyd” Public Sky Banner Demonstration

Posted by sleepboy, June 5, 2020

Last weekend, Jammie Holmes initiated an art demonstration (with support from Library Street Collective) in five cities in the United States (Detroit, Miami, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York) that flew banners with George Floyd’s last words across the skies. With this highly visible and powerful presentation, the artist’s form of protest was meant to bring people together in their shared incense at the inhumane treatment of American citizens. He further explains – “With this demonstration, I hope that people across the United States will use […]

David Choe – “Transform Hate 2 Love Using Art”

Posted by sleepboy, June 5, 2020

Grappling with PTSD from the current state of the world and his experiences from the riots of 1992, David Choe (featured) recently shared a series of new works on his instagram. Using abstract expressionism as a form of therapy and catharsis, the artist who grew up in Los Angeles channeled his pain and anger into gestural pieces that featured fighting opponents which he turned upside down and transformed into kissing faces. Watch the video for more details and to get a glimpse of his state of mind. […]

Releases: Daniel Arsham – “PIKACHU Editions”

Posted by sleepboy, April 20, 2020

Alongside the Chinese exclusive WHITE CRYSTALIZED PIKACHU (available through the Archive Editions WeChat Mini-program), Daniel Arsham will also be releasing BLUE CRYSTALIZED PIKACHU on his website on April 24th (12 Noon Eastern Time) These editions are the first inklings of the New York-based artist’s collaboration with the Pokémon company and the animators from their studio. Hand-sculpted and casted in resin and aluminum oxide, the blue version will be produced in a run of 500 and includes a Arsham Editions holographic label verifying its edition number and authenticity. As a […]

Releases: Audrey Kawasaki Coloring Pages

Posted by sleepboy, April 20, 2020

For all the kids (and adults) staying safe at home, Audrey Kawasaki (interviewed) has released a new coloring page that you can download for free and print out. You can see the process video of how she created the image on iPad Procreate on her Instagram here. This new offering joins her first coloring page from a few weeks back. Please make sure to tag her @audkawa so the she can see your finished page. Discuss Audrey Kawasaki here.

Releases: James Jean – “The Editor – Cutaway” Print

Posted by sleepboy, April 19, 2020

On April 21st (10 AM Japan Time), James Jean (interviewed) will be releasing a stunning new print through Adachi Hanga with proceeds going towards the institute’s mission of preserving of the traditional art of Japanese woodcut printing techniques by training young artisans and holding workshops. Entitled The Editor – Cutaway and priced at 100,000 yen (framed) and 80,000 yen (unframed), the edition (limited to 100) is the fourth collaboration between the American artist and Adachi Hanga and is the result of a detail intensive process utilizing 8 hand carved wood […]

Showing: Carlos Ramirez – “A Faster Hallelujah” @ Thinkspace

Posted by sleepboy, April 9, 2020

Galleries are off limits at the moment – so you will have to be satisfied with photos from the current show at Thinkspace by Carlos Ramirez. Formerly half of the artistic duo from Coachella, the Date Farmers, Ramirez continues in the vein of their former work with a series of paintings, mixed media pieces, and sculptures created from found objects scavenged from various desert locales. A Faster Hallelujah features works that deal with social and political issues of the working class, a raw blend of influences from his Mexican-American experience, Catholic symbolism, elements from the natural world […]

Showing: Mark Whalen – “Gentle Reminders” @ Over The Influence (Hong Kong)

Posted by sleepboy, April 8, 2020

Currently at the Over The Influence’s Hong Kong space, Mark Whalen (featured) has a show on view featuring 10 new sculptural works and a series of wall–hung reliefs. Gentle Reminders is a followup to the gallery’s show with the American artist at their Los Angeles space last year (covered) and continues his totemic sculptural works. Along with his signature stacks of heads, body parts, and everyday objects, the installation of of the new body of work also includes handwritten post-it notes that give insight into the studio process. Discuss Mark […]