Comments on: Adam Neate: A New Understanding http://blog.vandalog.com/2009/10/adam-neate-review/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=adam-neate-review Just another street art blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: RJ http://blog.vandalog.com/2009/10/adam-neate-review/comment-page-1/#comment-7854 RJ Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:52:08 +0000 http://blog.vandalog.com/?p=4205#comment-7854 Yeah the Jesus installation was great. I hope to see more pieces like that from Adam. Yeah the Jesus installation was great. I hope to see more pieces like that from Adam.

]]> By: Stef http://blog.vandalog.com/2009/10/adam-neate-review/comment-page-1/#comment-7847 Stef Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:49:25 +0000 http://blog.vandalog.com/?p=4205#comment-7847 This show has to be seen to be believed! For me the Jesus installation has propelled him onto another level. This show has to be seen to be believed!
For me the Jesus installation has propelled him onto another level.

]]> By: Alison http://blog.vandalog.com/2009/10/adam-neate-review/comment-page-1/#comment-7835 Alison Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:20:13 +0000 http://blog.vandalog.com/?p=4205#comment-7835 Interesting review of the show, with some thought-provoking ideas. My comments aren't based on a viewing of the show - I've had to make do with seeing the work online so far, sadly. But to me, one of the most interesting things about the works is how they seem to be referencing a different range of artists from his previous work: I look at the 'downstairs' images and I think of artists like Otto Dix or Tamara de Lempicka - the composition, the elegant lines, the vague sense of decadence evoked in the figures and groups. The 'upstairs' images make me think of Francis Bacon: intensely interesting to see how Bacon's portraits could be evoked by such different techniques. Your evocation of Warhol is well-said; I hadn't initially seen that, but you are bang-on. As for the limitations in the poses and expressions, yes, that's probably correct, and it would be interesting to see Neate expand his range in that respect. But I also wonder - I saw the video interview with him in which he speaks of having had a bit of a breakdown recently: perhaps the 'sad eye' and the drooping head really do come out of a compulsive view upon the world and of himself...? Would art collectors like these works? Yes, I think you're right, they would. Neate seems like Parla in many respects, moving into the world of 'fine art' rather than 'street art'. I wonder if the fact that they are both represented by Elms Lesters has anything to do with this - for all that the gallery champions street art (and they ahve been very effective in doing so) they seem to do so within a very elegant, fine-art frame (for eg, all those gorgeous limited edition books), without any of the grit or grime of the street! Anyway, thanks for the posting on the show... Interesting review of the show, with some thought-provoking ideas. My comments aren’t based on a viewing of the show – I’ve had to make do with seeing the work online so far, sadly. But to me, one of the most interesting things about the works is how they seem to be referencing a different range of artists from his previous work: I look at the ‘downstairs’ images and I think of artists like Otto Dix or Tamara de Lempicka – the composition, the elegant lines, the vague sense of decadence evoked in the figures and groups. The ‘upstairs’ images make me think of Francis Bacon: intensely interesting to see how Bacon’s portraits could be evoked by such different techniques. Your evocation of Warhol is well-said; I hadn’t initially seen that, but you are bang-on. As for the limitations in the poses and expressions, yes, that’s probably correct, and it would be interesting to see Neate expand his range in that respect. But I also wonder – I saw the video interview with him in which he speaks of having had a bit of a breakdown recently: perhaps the ‘sad eye’ and the drooping head really do come out of a compulsive view upon the world and of himself…?
Would art collectors like these works? Yes, I think you’re right, they would. Neate seems like Parla in many respects, moving into the world of ‘fine art’ rather than ‘street art’. I wonder if the fact that they are both represented by Elms Lesters has anything to do with this – for all that the gallery champions street art (and they ahve been very effective in doing so) they seem to do so within a very elegant, fine-art frame (for eg, all those gorgeous limited edition books), without any of the grit or grime of the street!
Anyway, thanks for the posting on the show…

]]> By: RJ http://blog.vandalog.com/2009/10/adam-neate-review/comment-page-1/#comment-7829 RJ Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:18:12 +0000 http://blog.vandalog.com/?p=4205#comment-7829 Thanks Steven. Although I'm American, living in London has definitely given me a London-centric view of art. It surprises me that Americans don't like Matt Small, Herakut or Adam Neate. I think they are all very talented and couldn't disagree with you more. But your view seems pretty typical common in America. Matt and Adam have never shown in the USA, and Herakut is definitely more popular over here. Maybe it's a cultural thing, or maybe just hype. I think Neate definitely does more than paint the same thing over and over. His 3d pieces made of cardboard are one example of how he changes up his work, and he has made great scenes with the 3d cardboard like The Arrest (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24552058@N07/2500450405/) which is much more than a simple portrait. Thanks Steven. Although I’m American, living in London has definitely given me a London-centric view of art.

It surprises me that Americans don’t like Matt Small, Herakut or Adam Neate. I think they are all very talented and couldn’t disagree with you more. But your view seems pretty typical common in America. Matt and Adam have never shown in the USA, and Herakut is definitely more popular over here. Maybe it’s a cultural thing, or maybe just hype.

I think Neate definitely does more than paint the same thing over and over. His 3d pieces made of cardboard are one example of how he changes up his work, and he has made great scenes with the 3d cardboard like The Arrest (http://www.flickr.com/photos/24552058@N07/2500450405/) which is much more than a simple portrait.

]]> By: Steven Shandy http://blog.vandalog.com/2009/10/adam-neate-review/comment-page-1/#comment-7819 Steven Shandy Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:21:08 +0000 http://blog.vandalog.com/?p=4205#comment-7819 Its interesting to read this blog, because I think you you're in touch with that distinctly English(London?) taste that sort of baffles me. I've always thought Neates work was like the worst looking thing imaginable; but the idea to leave them in vast quantities all over a city for people to pick up, was interesting. So the idea required speed- speed= what it looked like. But I'm beginning to think there's a conscious race to the bottom? Like an attempt to claim all the rejected aesthetic ground? Sort of like LA "Lowbrow"; if anything "bad" exists, it must be worth something? I'd put Herakut, and Matt Small is this camp. All their work looks like things you see in a "craft market " in a 3rd world country, where the science of hooking a response from lowest common denominator tourists develops over the decades, and the same "paintings" get bigger eyes, bigger tears, more "raw" exciting splatters. And the same market in the US, would include gadgets like perspex and bendable wires to amp the "sincere" brushstrokes to "beyond" levels of "artistic" gesture. Or perhaps I'm completely wrong, that would be very cool. I used to think David Choe was the same as the above, like a professional wrestler - loudmouth & water bloated muscles, boasting fake moves, but I've recently taken to his sense of humor at least. Anyway, Neates actual art, I dunno, is it more than a signature? That profile line for the head, the "sad" eye, repeat. Its interesting to read this blog, because I think you you’re in touch with that distinctly English(London?) taste that sort of baffles me. I’ve always thought Neates work was like the worst looking thing imaginable; but the idea to leave them in vast quantities all over a city for people to pick up, was interesting. So the idea required speed- speed= what it looked like. But I’m beginning to think there’s a conscious race to the bottom? Like an attempt to claim all the rejected aesthetic ground? Sort of like LA “Lowbrow”; if anything “bad” exists, it must be worth something? I’d put Herakut, and Matt Small is this camp. All their work looks like things you see in a “craft market ” in a 3rd world country, where the science of hooking a response from lowest common denominator tourists develops over the decades, and the same “paintings” get bigger eyes, bigger tears, more “raw” exciting splatters. And the same market in the US, would include gadgets like perspex and bendable wires to amp the “sincere” brushstrokes to “beyond” levels of “artistic” gesture. Or perhaps I’m completely wrong, that would be very cool. I used to think David Choe was the same as the above, like a professional wrestler – loudmouth & water bloated muscles, boasting fake moves, but I’ve recently taken to his sense of humor at least. Anyway, Neates actual art, I dunno, is it more than a signature? That profile line for the head, the “sad” eye, repeat.

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