Shawn Barber and Vincent Castiglia New York Premiere

[Rabid]

Sup guys, thought everyone would like a slice of show. Last Rites Gallery in New York opened up last Saturday for Shawn and Vincent's work. Shawn showcased his new "erotic art" series while Vincent has his blood watercolors...enjoy all :)

http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1373&Itemid=90

[DSillustration]

Some of Shawn's best stuff in my opinion.

[Rabid]

It'll be up for a few weeks for all you NY'ers, definetly check out Last Rites Gallery since they also feature some of Hussar's latest Works...

[MiniGoth]

Veddy cool!

[bhanu]

ahhh nuns doing kinky shit...what more can a guy ask for....I was looking forward to it since the news at Shawns blog. Too bad ...I live too far to see the paintings in person...maybe just pics will have to suffice.

[Dizon]

Hmmm....nun action.

[Rabid]

Wow and I thought I saw all the photos, sweet......

http://lastritesgallery.com/anathema_opening.php

[Maxine Schacker]

despite his obvious ability as a painter, his work is nothing more than an extension of the direction one part of our culture has been going in for quite some time. It perfectly expresses the emotional and spiritual state of being of that segment of the culture, and is an outgrowth of the ever more violent and graphic direction a large part of the traditional comic book and video game industries has taken.

Like so much of what's been gaining popularity over the last couple of decades, it counts on shock, implied violence, and graphic sexuality. Unlike the work of Goya, for example, there is no cri de coeur here, no depth of feeling for humanity. This work at one time would have appealed mainly to motor cycle gangs, and storm troopers.

It's an interesting cultural development that it's become mainstream, mundane even.

Does it add anything positive to the world?

[Rabid]

What about Goya's series of "Disaster's of War?" I don't think he was propogating the positive aspect of humanity with those print series...
The terms of culture extension, outgrowth, these are terms you'll find in any art theory book to describe the Renaissance, a movement not often shared by the general populous until many years in demand...
"Shock, implied violence, and graphic sexuality"...ever check out the Hellinistic sculpture period? (In particular Lacoon and His sons being devoured by the sea serpent?) (Or try the Ugonlino sculpture. A man who's myth was that he was damned to the lowest level of hell after he ate his sons from starvation while imprisoned with them for mutany and betrayel. (Attached a picture of this scultpure I took when I was in the Metropolitan. Noticed how he gnaws at his fingers to try and quell his lust for hunger and utter cannibalism.)Yet again, very common terms during that period...
Ever hear of Hans Memling? If not you may not have been paying attention in Art Theory Class (if you had it) this piece in particular seems to fit your description quite well...not to mention that throws your idea of a "new outcropping" since this dates in the mid 1400's...


If your looking for something positive out of this, how about the recognition of evil. Which is necessary for any to understand the good within this world. If you can't define and experience "evil" you can't define what is good and in truth what is coercion. I personally don't consider this "evil" not even in a long stretch, I have my own opinions of reasoning behind these pieces which isn't hard to extract if you take the initial shock out of the way and examine them. It is easier for some more than others to look past this...maybe some of this art counts on truths...you don't have to look far for shock. These pieces don't appeal to me for shock value whatsoever, and considering how you quoted recent videogame and comic book violence. I think the target audience the neo artists would be less shocked than most considereing their constant bombardment to this type of material in other mediums. For it still to be considered valuable art it must have a deeper end that some don't see. If you are not used to dealing with your own genital qualities, sheer blasphemies, and general violence. Then you are simply thrown back out of the work, the introspective bouncer in your head throwing you back to the street saying "sry chum, but until you can stomach or come to terms, your just left on the surface by what you see..."

Often the most shocking points of these pieces are red herrings from the values expressed...

"Last few decades?" Try the last few centuries...