Art Movements

A friend of mine who is an artist and I often get into discussions about whether or not any new movements in art can really emerge after what was termed Modern Art. He is convinced it's impossible- that any new movement will largely be based on old ones or perhaps a combination of several past movements. I'm not so sure. While I see his point, I look to music as my guide. Is taking something old and making it new (remixing, borrowing or stealing ideas) really creating something new? I think so. There are times when the cover is better than the original, and the cover is, indeed, something new. Sure, there are elements of the past, but in the end it's something different.

By the way, if anyone hasn't seen the film Rip, I highly recommend it.

Let's actually talk about Girl Talk, AKA Greg Michael Gillis, the one who brought mash-ups into the spotlight. He basically takes pieces or samples of older songs and uses them to create new songs. Of course this stirs up controversy both in terms of ethics and actual lawsuits. Gillis believes that mainstream media wants to create controversy where none actually exists though. However, he admits to getting people a little riled up too. He states, "The name Girl Talk is a reference to many things -- products, magazines, books. It’s a pop culture phrase. The whole point of choosing the name early on was basically to just stir things up a little within the small scene I was operating from. I came from a more experimental background and there were some very overly serious, borderline academic type electronic musicians. I wanted to pick a name that they would be embarrassed to play with. You know Girl Talk sounded exactly the opposite of a man playing a laptop, so that’s what I chose." Most people would agree that remixes and mash-ups are different enough that they deserve a title that goes beyond merely stealing someone's idea. The reality is that remixes and mash-ups are now considered a new genre of music.

Girl Talk

In terms of art, the same thing is happening. Artists are creating new genres that combine old styles or take an old style one step further- Impressionistic Realism, Abstract Impressionism, Hyperrealism and Geometric Abstract Art are just a few examples.

At SmithKlein Gallery, we carry an exceptional cityscape artist who uses a technique that is unique, yet is still based off of older styles. Though there is no real term for it, we have started calling it Mosaic Impressionism.

 

London Night by Mark Lague

San Francisco Bus by Mark Lague

Up close, one can appreciate Mark's technique. The paintings look almost like something done in pointillism, but with cubes or blocks of paint instead of dots.

More about Mark Lague:


Inspired by the urban life, Mark Lague passionately paints visually intriguing cityscapes that exude a palpable energy.  From New York to Rome, he has the extraordinary ability to capture the very heart and soul of each and every city that he visits. Mark’s highly collectable oil paintings are a sharp contrast to the meticulous and detailed photo realist renderings he once did in pencil when he was starting his artistic career, but his hard work gave him a solid foundation in art technique.  His fresh new approach to painting takes a great deal of planning.  However, he is less concerned with fine detail and focuses more on capturing the energy and movement of his subjects, be it a lively city or quiet rainy street.  In fact, eliminating some of the detail in his work allows the viewer to become more engaged with the piece. 

Mark begins every painting with a value study in pencil.  He generally paints “alla prima” or all in one session, but in order to do so, he must first plan and sketch out his piece in pencil to establish the value pattern and to work out the format of the finished work.  “Painting directly and spontaneously, while maintaining control and accuracy,” is Mark’s basic philosophy when it comes to Plein Air painting.  Captivating and raw, Mark’s paintings show dazzling reflection and striking design like no other.  Mark Lague has been recognized and accepted into many prestigious juried exhibitions in both the United States and in Canada. He is considered one of the top cityscape artists of our time.

Hotel In Rome by Mark Lague