Some Interesting Reading

By Charles Kessler


This website has maps of Africa dating back to 1554; some, like this, are beautiful in their own right.

Map of Africa, 1554, Sebastian Munster

Here's a depressing reason why the Chinese art market is booming: "one of the most essential functions of art works is corruption."

Sadly, the Barnes is not long for this world. For those who never got a chance to see this great, eccentric collection in its natural environment, the New York Times has a virtual tour here.

Without even finishing it, Jonathan Jones gives an over-the-top glowing review of Rome, Robert Hughes’s new book.

In another post, Jonathan Jones declares "We don't own modern art – the super-rich do." But the post is more thoughtful and complicated than you'd think from the title. He writes:

...contemporary art has a dual nature. On the one hand it is – like all fine art down the ages – a plaything of the rich. But that is not the whole story. It is also a public art. Spectacular installations, accessible videos such as The Clock, and free display spaces like the Tate Turbine Hall, make the art of today a common property, capable of communicating in exciting ways across nations and generations. It has a utopian aspect.

The Los Angeles Times has an article on how public art (like the di Suvero sculpture exhibition in the photo below) is thriving in New York partly due to the support of Mayor Bloomberg. They quote Creative Time director Anne Pasternak: "With [former Mayor Rudolph W.] Giuliani you usually didn't ask for permission, you apologized later," she said. "A bunch of us who program in New York have reason to be nervous for when Bloomberg is no longer mayor."

Mark di Suvero sculptures on Governors Island, Mahatma (1978-1979), foreground, one of 11 steel sculptures. (Jerry L. Thompson / Storm King Art Center

Finally, the Carnegie Institute and the Andy Warhol Museum and Foundation have collaborated on an iPhone app that allows you to make your own Warhol print simulating the way Warhol made his silkscreen prints. It’s temporarily on sale for only $0.99, and it’s a lot of fun. Here’s a sample I made using one of Han Silvester’s photos of Surma body painting:

Adapted from Hans Silvester, Natural Fashion,  no.4, 2007, C-print, 39 3/8 x 27 1/2 inches, Edition of 10