A towering figure in the art world, standing at 6'7", John Baldessari's epic career is crammed into 5 and a half frenzied minutes. Narrated by Tom Waits.
A Brief History intersperses stories of Baldessari’s upbringing, success and artistic obsessions with objects of his daily life. If the stories are treated as sacred, untouchable hallowed ground, as celebrity life stories often are, then the everyday objects are a mundane and profane connection with the audience. These objects cast Baldessari as an ordinary person with a chair, a pencil, a messy desk and a coffee machine, just like most people.
The tongue in cheek dialogue between Baldessari and narrator Tom Waits is sharper than Baldessari’s push pins. This wit, coupled with rapid cutting between shots and non linear storytelling, give this documentary a stature similiar to Baldessari’s. Baldessari is both a world-class artist and a six-foot-seven giant – he stands out from the crowd.
Playful, provocative, down to earth and surreal, this film prods at the notion that art is solely for critics, academics, and other artists. Art, in Baldessari’s world, speaks to everyone.
No items found.
No items found.
Previous Article
Next Article
A towering figure in the art world, standing at 6'7", John Baldessari's epic career is crammed into 5 and a half frenzied minutes. Narrated by Tom Waits.
A Brief History intersperses stories of Baldessari’s upbringing, success and artistic obsessions with objects of his daily life. If the stories are treated as sacred, untouchable hallowed ground, as celebrity life stories often are, then the everyday objects are a mundane and profane connection with the audience. These objects cast Baldessari as an ordinary person with a chair, a pencil, a messy desk and a coffee machine, just like most people.
The tongue in cheek dialogue between Baldessari and narrator Tom Waits is sharper than Baldessari’s push pins. This wit, coupled with rapid cutting between shots and non linear storytelling, give this documentary a stature similiar to Baldessari’s. Baldessari is both a world-class artist and a six-foot-seven giant – he stands out from the crowd.
Playful, provocative, down to earth and surreal, this film prods at the notion that art is solely for critics, academics, and other artists. Art, in Baldessari’s world, speaks to everyone.
No items found.
No items found.
Previous Article
Next Article
A towering figure in the art world, standing at 6'7", John Baldessari's epic career is crammed into 5 and a half frenzied minutes. Narrated by Tom Waits.
A Brief History intersperses stories of Baldessari’s upbringing, success and artistic obsessions with objects of his daily life. If the stories are treated as sacred, untouchable hallowed ground, as celebrity life stories often are, then the everyday objects are a mundane and profane connection with the audience. These objects cast Baldessari as an ordinary person with a chair, a pencil, a messy desk and a coffee machine, just like most people.
The tongue in cheek dialogue between Baldessari and narrator Tom Waits is sharper than Baldessari’s push pins. This wit, coupled with rapid cutting between shots and non linear storytelling, give this documentary a stature similiar to Baldessari’s. Baldessari is both a world-class artist and a six-foot-seven giant – he stands out from the crowd.
Playful, provocative, down to earth and surreal, this film prods at the notion that art is solely for critics, academics, and other artists. Art, in Baldessari’s world, speaks to everyone.
.png)
