Michael Klein and his wife, Nelida, have recently returned from a trip to Madrid where they secured a rare interview with artist Antonio López García for the next installment of American Painting Video Magazine. López García, whom in 1986 critic Robert Hughes declared as "the greatest realist artist alive," has remained relatively unknown to the American public, but among American realist painters, who met the Spaniard through the 1992 documentary Quince Tree of the Sun, he has become an icon. This interview, conducted in López García's native language by Klein himself, promises a perspective not seen elsewhere, as this discourse will not be overseen by a reporter, but by a fellow-artist. The full interview should be available early in 2011.
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The Studio of Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, Madrid, Spain
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The Fall 2010 issue of APVM is available for download now. For less than the price of two lattes from Starbucks ($10), subscribers receive approximately two hours of art-related content which they can save and watch over and over again. Included in the fall installment are visits with the Hudson River Fellowship, Californian artist Joseph Todorovitch, and Spanish artist Amaya Gurpide; demos by Jacob Collins, Jeffrey Larson, and Christopher Pugliese; Peter Trippi's interview with Semyon Mikhailovsky, director of the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts, Russia; the panel discussion from the Hard Times exhibit recently held at the Salmagundi Club, New York City; and DVD reviews, by yours truly, of both Ignat Ignatov: Journey of an Artist and The Waichulis Studio's Drawing Clinic: First Steps.
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American Painting Video Magazine's Mission Statement
(including directions for purchasing and downloading past issues)
American Painting Video Magazine's Mission Statement
(including directions for purchasing and downloading past issues)
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7 comments:
We've recently discussed some of Antonio Lopez Garcia's work in class. According to my teacher, he is by far, the most important European contemporary painter of today. By saying this, he speaks against the current living "trends" in the European art world.
I've only seen pictures of his work from books until now, but I'm really looking forward to see his work in real life one day.
I especially appreciate his subject matter (the simple everyday things we tend to overlook and take for granted, but in a contemporary atmosphere) and the way he works... well... just phenomenally accurate!
Whats the name of that movie Garcia was in?
The documentary about López García was El sol de membrillo (1992), but it has gone by different names outside of Spain, including Quince Tree of the Sun and Dream of Light. You can download it at a few different sites on the web. Unfortunately, it wasn't released in a DVD format compatible with our region's players. I believe it can still be purchased on VHS though.
I have tremendous respect for Garcia. He doesn't believe in the 'formula' being enough. The work doesn't stop at technique: "..the starting point is the representation of everyday life, and what is close to you. But what is created becomes about many things, known and unknown."
Each work speaks to him differently...some take time, some come together more quickly. "..all the layers I have created give the painting a weight, a character that corresponds to the language of my work.." Again, no formula!
He isn't spending his time repeating the themes and techniques of our master realist teachers of the past, but is taking those tools forward into his OWN language. One that is unique, powerful and contemporary.
A true Modern Master. We have much to learn from him. Thank you Matthew for sharing the info.
ps. Glad to see Michael Klein is finally included a woman in his series..(had to mention it:)
El Sol Del Membrillo can be viewed on youtube with english subtitles here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnTQHf1E74c
It's cut in 10min19sec parts but as it is a playlist it will automatically proceed onto the next part each time.
I saw it yesterday for the first time and... well... I've never met the man nor have I seen any of his paintings in real life yet, but with this movie, he has left a very deep impression on me already.
I'm really looking forward to this video. Garcia's work has so much appeal for me for just the reasons he discusses, but also for the way it grabs me visually and viscerally. It is direct and indirect, forecful and subtle, with unusual (personally resonant and un-formulaic) subject matter, and with a wonderful (to my eye) range of color.
And I hope to see more of a balance of male and female artists included in he video series, if indeed the intent is to feature artists of the highest quality.
Kate Lehman has also appeared in APVM. I think issue #4 will be entirely Antonio López, but I am sure more women will be appearing in future issues. Michael is all about the quality of the artwork, with no concerns of sex, race, age, or nationality influencing his opinions about the finished work.
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