Alfred Kubin at neue Gallery

I discovered a new really nice little museum. Neue Gallery New york , by central park, very german, with a conditorei where they serve a very nice apfelstoedel and swartzerwaldkuche. Classy german, friendly priced. Old Jewish german couples reading Die Zeit while nipping their mozart kugeln.


Alfred Kubin is a famous obscure artist. Very dark, very Austrian,1877- 1959. I have known his work for years, without really seeing it. It's one of those artists writers and other dark artists like. I was into that kind of stuff when I was 22-25 years; 19Century, symbolism, the devilish woman. etc.
He illustrate Poe and other dark matter..
But very likely I might never have seen his work for real.
Every drawing is tiny and looks like a etching. A etching someone has been working on for weeks by candle light. In the cold.
The images are sometimes really scary and horrible.
The show is great, but my verdict is that Kubin is not a very good artist. It's interesting, but not really good. First of all, it feels very dated to me. I don't get that feeling when I look at Goya, Redon, Rops, Bellmer, Ensor (he fits in this range but in their shadow) He's very scared with using colors. He does it in a few drawings and those are very nice. But it's a typical petit maitre. Does one thing good and doesn't dare to leave that. I don't feel a madness in his work. I think I often have this problem with these dark artists. Music, literature, etc. I seldom really truly
believe it.

One artists that can be rediscovred soon, here in NY, is Unica Zurn. Hans Bellmer's wife. Very good and at the drawing centre begining next year.

Matt Mullican at the Drawing Centre

First time I see a floor to ceiling PACKED show that remains very calm. Impressive...

the art of BABAR by Jean de Brunhoff

I grew up with it, so was excited to see some original work.
But; unfortunately; Quite disappointing..A few pencil sketches where more or less interesting. It's not the first time I see the original being less interesting then the final; The book.

J&L night at Aperture Gallery

Kaleisdoscopecyclope

Jack Chick

Jack Chick makes comics.
It's underground stuff, but religious right underground. I guess its his real name. Because it's just too weird.
If your lucky you can find them in public transportation. They're very small, people leave them around in the hope you will become a Jack Chick/Jesus Christ-follower.
I'm a Chick-follower.
They're good. Great drawings, a bit old fashioned but really funny and well drawn. And now also as a nice slide show;

DREAMS by Jim Shaw

Found the perfect bed reading book; This book was first published in 1995 and has now just been reprinted.
I saw a big show of Shaw a year ago at Metro Pictures and totally felt for his work.
He's been around for a long time, but not that well known. His work is very divers; always a slow career.
These dreams are from 87 - 95. But the drawings date from 93 - 95.
Like most dream art; To be taken in small doses.
3 or 4 Dali's I can enjoy. But a whole museum of Dali, becomes like a amusement Park. Makes me visual immune . That's also a bit my problem with the famous dutch dream drawer Paul Kleemann.
But here in this book, the simple texts by the artist guide you through his brain after-closing time. On the right side of the page the dream is written down in the very fragmented way dream are. On the other side of the page the visualisation of the dream in precise pencil.
A real joy to go from text to drawing and vise versa. Perfect artistbook. This book is cheap, rich , funny and thick.