The point of this blog is to provide an accessible, professional space to discuss contemporary art. There are lots of great blogs out there that look at art from a variety of points of view, but I wanted to start a space where the discussion was more grounded in the professional art world. Not in the sense of being exclusive–my goal is to be inclusive and welcoming–but in the sense that what interests me is bringing the concerns of the museum world into a larger discussion about art.

Well, I suppose it’s appropriate that this blog is my first post–it will be a space for me to figure out what exactly I want to do with it! I plan on writing posts about curating, contemporary artists, and museum policy issues, as well as guest posts from other curators and other voices. But if you have any suggestions for future topics or anything else you’d like to see here, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

“Artists” and “exhibitions” are the most frequently used words in my vocabulary. I have an unquenchable passion for artworks, exhibitions, museums and galleries. I have worked as a professional curator for years and can make a difference to your life by introducing you to new artists, new exhibitions and new connections with contemporary art. Whether you are looking for the best new exhibition in town or interesting new artists to follow, you are at the right place!

I believe that the personal experience of art is a key factor in our relationship with it. That’s why I find it very important to offer you reviews of both exhibitions and artists which will be written on site in the gallery or museum.

Expect insightful and honest reviews of exhibitions and artworks. My aim is to make a difference to your understanding and appreciation of contemporary art by providing useful information about the latest developments in the world of Art.

In September 2011, I was asked to write about contemporary art for the blog of a museum in the United States.  

I accepted, but when I began writing I realized that the kind of language that museums and newspapers use to talk about art is not what I wanted to use. I write for my own pleasure. I write to understand how and why things are the way they are. I don’t want to be part of a closed circle that talks only to itself.

I like writing about art; I like reading about it, too. But there are not many places where you can read anything at all about contemporary art, and fewer still where you can read something you don’t already know, or at least suspect. It struck me as wrong that this should be so. There are some good texts available on the Web and in other books, but they are hard to find unless you already know what they say. And much of the language used to describe art is so opaque that even if you do know what it says, it’s hard to see what its point is supposed to be.

This text attempts to bridge that gap by describing certain features of some contemporary artworks using language that is as simple, honest and direct as possible, without sacrificing precision or clarity.

This recent video from Art in America is a very interesting and informative video on contemporary art. It is not to be taken lightly because this video will make you understand the true value of contemporary art and why it is as important as it is. You will learn about what curators are looking for in an artwork and how they judge their values. You will also see for yourself who the three most important artists today are: Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst and Takashi Murakami. I would argue that these are not the best artists of today but they are the most influential ones in modern times.

Takashi Murakami is a Japanese artist who use bright colors, kitsch imagery and cartoon characters to explore themes like consumerism, popular culture, globalization and post-modernity. His work can be viewed as a critique of society in which he uses low-brow imagery to question modern culture.

The most recent example of his work is his exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City which opened on March 5th, 2012. His last show at the Guggenheim was in 2006 when he exhibited his “Superflat” series. The exhibition was very well received by critics, collectors and museum goers alike; it was so successful that

The question I’m constantly asked by viewers of my blog is, “How do I become an artist?” This is a tough question to answer because there are numerous paths that lead to success in the art world. There’s no one path that will guarantee you a career as a professional artist. However, there are some considerations that might help you in moving toward your goal.

The first thing I would say is that becoming an artist is not just about being creative or being able to draw well. It’s about developing and maintaining relationships with curators, gallerists, and critics. You have to become a part of the community. In order to do this, you have to be out there—not just online but also at galleries, museums, and other public venues. You have to develop a public persona and make connections with your audience.

When it comes down to it, it’s the sheer amount of time you put into your work that matters most. No one can paint 24 hours a day, but even if you spend only two hours a day painting (or making art), it will eventually add up. If you’re serious about creating art and having people take notice of your work, then I think this kind of commitment is important.

In the history of art, there are artists who are able to grasp a new concept and then translate it through their own life and put it in their work, and those who are not.

The important thing is that these artists, which we can call the ones who see life through their own eyes, do not show their emotions directly. They hide them behind an idea; they express them through another reality.

This is something you cannot learn from a book or by looking at other artist’s work. You have to learn how to do it by yourself, because only then will you be able to create your own style and express yourself with your own words.