Remodernism

Article: Art World Price Fixing

Richard Bledsoe Articles, Commentary, Establishment, Quotes, Remodernism

BEN LEWIS: Who Put the “Con” in Contemporary Art?

From a few years, but a good description of some of the dubious practices that fuel the contemporary art market. I do not agree with his observation suggesting regulation is needed (why is more statist intervention the solution for everything?), but more transparency would help.

The money quote:  “The art world is dirty, corrupt and immoral, and, if there was a name for such a crime, these people would be charged with perverting the course of art history.”

The art world makes a good microcosm of the real world. A small group of a new aristocracy of the well connected use their influence to line their pockets, their offerings devoid of any real achievement or quality. This is the era of the fall of the “experts.” They’ve squandered their credibility with the terrible results of their schemes and actions.

Remodernism removes power from the hands of corrupt, self-serving elites, and gives it back to the people.

Video: Sears Presents The Vincent Price Collection of Art

Richard Bledsoe Commentary, Culture War, History, Remodernism, Video

A sales training film from the 1960s

An amazing piece of art history: when Vincent Price sold art through Sears Roebuck.

Fine art was made available across the United States; over 50,000 pieces were sold. The idea that art could be popular with a general middle class audience is lost in this era of elitist art attitudes.

Remodernism is bringing art back to the people-all people. As it should be.

 

Commentary: Historical Perspective

Richard Bledsoe Commentary, Culture War, Establishment, History, Optimism, Remodernism, Richard Bledsoe, Stuckism, Video
I recently posted this on Facebook, attached to a video of Stuckism founder Charles Thomson discussing art history (see video here)
Remodernism founder Charles Thomson discusses the changes happening in the art world, which is of course a harbinger for changes happening in society in general. This is a time of the failure of the “experts.”
The self-absorbed post modern/conceptual art bias of the cultural industries has created a contemporary art bubble, where essentially valueless works exist to pander to creative class shibboleths.
Valuelessness doesn’t refer to price-it means there is no intrinsic human worth in the artifice that is passed off as art all around us. It explains why visual art is so marginalized in our current culture-what the “experts” present fail to fulfill the human need for art. They attempt to substitute an intellectual approximation of art. And no one outside of their echo chamber is interested.
But this is why I’m optimistic about the future of art. The monopoly of thought is being broken. Individuals are creating and promoting work that does not cater to the establishment expectations for art, and does not rely on the official channels of distribution. We don’t need or want their approval-they’ve been dead wrong for decades.
The current culture of nihlism, aloofness, and conformity encouraged by elitists cannot endure historical perspective. Remodernism presents the alternative of positive creation.

Video: How Stuckism Got Its Name

Richard Bledsoe Commentary, Culture War, Establishment, Genres, History, Remodernism, Stuckism, Video

Remodernism grew out of a painterly art movement called Stuckism.

Like many art movements, the name of Stuckism grew out of an attempted criticism.

The Stuckists have generated much attention and controversy by their willingness to tackle art world dogma and celebrity worship. Stuckism is a much more recognizable “brand name” in the insular world of art, compared to the more generalized term of Remodernism.

Both movements were founded by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson, artists of great vision and integrity. They were able to precisely articulate the failings of establishment art, and suggest constructive alternatives.

Genres: Symbolism

Richard Bledsoe Commentary, Genres, History, Influences, Remodernism, Richard Bledsoe

An overview of Symbolist Art

Before I found a contemporary guiding philosophy in Remodernism, I recognized in my work shared concerns with the Symbolist painters of the late 1800s-early 1900s.

The spiritual aspects of light, darkness and color. Acceptance of gods, monsters and the grotesque as worthy explorations for art. A mystical sense of purpose. Deep order. Intense emotions. All these elements continue in my work.

Remodernism as a force of integration of all previous eras of modern art supports my continued explorations.

Influences: Henri Rousseau

Richard Bledsoe Commentary, History, Influences, Quotes, Remodernism

The works of Henri Rousseau

“…by re-introducing the values of the imaginary into the art of his period, he went beyond one of the needs of his time – and ours.”

–from Henrirousseau.net

A prototype for the Remodernist artist. Rousseau cultivated his own idiosyncratic vision into playful and profound statements on reality.

Michele and I were extremely fortunate to see a Rousseau retrospective in Washington DC. We could get right up close to all the works, see the little details and flaws (you can always tell a painter in a museum. They are the ones looking at the paintings from 3 inches away). The paintings were so simple yet powerful.