I love Ling Chang. I've said it before and I'll probably say it again, and probably soon. I can't explain it. It probably can't be explained. Certainly I don't know her well enough to say something like that, but there I am, saying it. And it means this won't be an unbiased review of her show.
Of course none of my reviews are unbiased. I don't think unbiased reviews really exist. But in Ling's case it's going to be more unbiased than usual, I guess. I've noticed something interesting about me, though: People I like make art I like, and if I like the art, I like the artist. And the relationship is proportional: The more I like the artist, the more I like their art, and if I really don't like the art, whew, I can't stand the person who made it. This has even been tested sort of independently: There have been people I've met and sort of liked, then saw their art and didn't think it was very good; and then, as I got to know them, I found I didn't really like them at all. And then there are people like Tracy Helgeson, who I totally and unreservedly love, whose art I didn't really get to see for a long time, and when I did, it turned out I love it just as much as I love her.
There are a lot of possible explanations for this. Maybe I'm just incapable of separating my opinion of art from my opinions of people, and I fool myself into liking the art of people I like. Maybe there's some connection between the kind of art one makes and the kind of person one is. Maybe I'm an idiot.
I tend to think it's a combination of these.
Whatever the reason, the fact remains that I love Ling and so you have to think of that while you read this. Also, because we swapped e-mail while she was working on the pieces in the show, I have an idea of what she was getting at and what she wanted to include but couldn't because she didn't get everything done in time.
Ling Chang, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, installation view, 2008.
The show consists of a fanciful collection of rocks of all kinds. Strange crystalline amalgamations rub shoulders with delicate fans of minerals. Polyhedra loll around spiky stars. Colored layers ripple off into dark crevices. And everything is arranged almost as you'd see it in a museum exhibit or maybe a New Age crystal shop. But if you look more closely, you see that the stones aren't ones you've seen before. In fact -- they're not even stones. They're...something else.
It turns out the entire show is made of Crayola Model Magic, a light, airy foam-like modeling material, in some cases painted, other times left white. Ling really likes this stuff. I think it helps her to get her ideas across without being so fussy; Model Magic can't really be molded in extreme detail, so it's something of an impressionist medium. And the impression is excellent. Ling's faux finishes are good enough to hold up under anything but the most careful scrutiny. Encased in Realform's glass cube, it's easy to mistake the show for an actual sales display.
Ling Chang, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, installation view, 2008.
Ling Chang, The Curious Lore of Precious Stones, installation view, 2008.
My lovely wife Dawn, her new earrings, and me. Also, a lot of sweat from summer in New York.
I know this review is going up late and thus really close to the closing of Ling's show, but you could do so much worse than rush out to Williamsburg to see this. The coffee shop just to the left of Realform makes really good frappuccino, too. Just in case you don't love Ling as much as I do.
great insight about feeling for an artist and knowing them influencing one's relationship to their work. I think it does predispose one to like an artist's work when you like the artist. BUt I have often found that if the work wasn't good enough, it wore away the bias toward an artist that I liked. At best, I could come up with phrases like "going in the right direction", "promising as long as they keep working", etc. But ultimately, I have never been able to talk up work to others if the work itself was lacking (to my eyes).However, what I could do, seemed to be to enjoy the work and the small parts that showed promise andwere an extension of my biased relationship with that person....art in a secluded bubble....so to speak.Danonymous
Nice pic of you and your wife Chris. I am realy glad that the phrases Eric Gelber and Personal Crisis do not appear in this post. I have a different take on what the personal connection between the artist being reviewed and the reviewer should be. But I won't go into it now. I can only offer this counter-argument. You have stated online before that you "like me". But I am sure that you would not think much of my art. I base my opinion on the works of art that you have stated that you like. Ling's work does look great.
"I have a different take on what the personal connection between the artist being reviewed and the reviewer should be."Sorry that sentence should read:"I have a different take on whether or not an art critic should like or dislike the artist whose work they are reviewing."Sorry I should have read your entry more carefully the first time I read it.
Hey there, guys. I'm never going to form a community here if I don't respond more often and in a timely fashion. But that's me, I guess.Eric, I don't know if I'd like you in person. I think I like you online but we do seem to talk across each other sometimes. So maybe it wouldn't work out. Maybe I should say I respect you, your thoughts, your opinions, your writing.Just because your art isn't like the art I've liked so far doesn't mean I won't like it. Remember I'm looking for that magic, and anything can carry it. Pollock's paintings aren't anything like what I usually like, either, but they have the magic.I seem to remember seeing some of your work somewhere on the Web and thinking "Uh oh." But then I thought that when I saw Tracy Helgeson's barns online, but when I held one in my hands -- WOW. I mean, I'd even formulated what I'd say when I didn't like her work, I was that sure I wouldn't like it. I was really, really wrong.That's why I sometimes pick shows with work I'm not sure I'll like. Just to see. I'm sometimes pleasantly surprised. Wait until I write up Jeffrey Beebe.Danny, I will always remember that at the opening of the Blogger Show, you told me, "You realize that isn't your best work, right?" Several people since then have told me you're insane. Well, what they said was, "That's Danny!" But I know what they meant.
As far as relationships between reviewers and reviewed: If I were being paid to do this, and if careers depended on my writing, then maybe it'd be a conflict of interest for me to write up my friends. And maybe I wouldn't do it. Since it's just a crappy-ass blog, I figure, what the heck. Also, I try to make my biases clear. I mean, I wrote that I love Ling. Never mind being a biased reviewer -- people want to know what my wife thinks about statements like that!(Answer: None of anyone's business, really, but just for the record, my wife understands me and how I am with friends.)
"I seem to remember seeing some of your work somewhere on the Web and thinking "Uh oh.""I don't like you.
Just kidding.
"I respect you, your thoughts, your opinions, your writing."Thank you for the compliment.
HI chris, Shocked to see 2 entries back to back. My heart skipped a beat and then took a long jump. What a treat. I guess I always hope to find a surprise ( like a chocolate on the pillow) and today I was rewarded.INsane or no, I always found the "normal" to be the most pathetic. The "normal" on a regular basis was as bad as "artist" on the art scene....that sense of "trying to be" to fit as a human or "trying to paint" to seem like an artist.What a burden.Happy every day plus a fourth of JulyDanny(By the way...how come I have to sign in as anonymous all the time and put my name at the end of the entry? Did the Blog People...the ones who eat the Loki....change things or am I just inept?)
I'm trying manfully to get back to writing. So far so good. I guess I'm feeling better mentally. The thing is, when my mood is good, most of the silly things don't bother me. Like, why are we here? What's the point? What's for dinner?I'd say you're inept, but that's just because I don't want to upset the Powers That Be, who clearly have something against you.
You know what, Eric? I can't find your work anywhere. I'm starting to think I imagined seeing it.
(Excellent!) Awww that's too bad. Let me look around for it and I will get back to you. Until then, just remember that you have no negative opinions about Eric Gelber's art. None at all.
I...like...no! I love...Eric...Gelber's art...I love it...love....
Boy, I missed all of this rapturous love for me AND my work over here.I remember once, Chris, before you saw my work, and after we got to know each other, that you said you were AFRAID to see my work. I knew it was because you already thought you wouldn't like it. I was ok with that, I actually thought that you wouldn't like it, a lot of people sure don't. And after all I don't like everybody's art either. But it does get a bit dicey when you like the person and don't like their work so much. I guess I can almost always find something to respect in their process so that helps.And I think you do that Chris. Or at least you try to. Eventually.And I am in agreement with Eric, glad there is no personal crisis in this post. But what about Eric? Maybe if you wrote more about him, we could both love him AND his work:)
Your the man Chris! Don't let me hog the limelight. This is your blog!
It should be You're not Your in the first sentence. I hang my head in shame.
I've tried to talk Eric into both a studio visit and a gallery slog through Chelsea. Nothing yet. And if he keeps making typos, there never will be. Even your ancestor spirits are ashamed, Eric!
My ancestors didn't give a shit about me when they were alive Chris. I just mowed the overgrown grass and weeds in front of my studio today. When I finish clearing away the green stuff I will finish tinkering with the studio and get working! I will probably get another assignment from the New York Sun this summer and I would love to do a gallery slog with you. I will let you know.