Guernica II

[Pangloss62]

If you happened to be watching any of yesterday's coverage of the U.N. Security Council as they dealt with N. Korea's alleged nuke test, you may have noticed a large tapestry reproduction of Piccaso's famous Guernica painting as the various talking heads marched to their designated talking head spot. It was really surreal to see these U.N. officials walk in front of perhaps the most visceral artistic expression of war ever produced in the 20th century.



You may recall that when Colin Powell made his case for Iraq II at the U.N., they covered Guernica up. Both the left and right still argue about the motivations for doing so then, but you could see it yesterday, and "ironic" is too weak a word to describe the effect. Maybe John Bolton will choose to speak in front of a Thomas Kinkade painting.

[BigV]

I read John Bolton as more of a Mondrian man, myself. All straight lines, only a couple of differnt colors, no curves, no greys, everything literally colored inside the lines.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Pangloss62

It was really surreal to see these U.N. officials walk in front of perhaps the most visceral artistic expression of war ever produced in the 20th century.

Thanks for explaining what that hideous piece of crap is suppose to represent.

[Pangloss62]

Thanks for explaining what that hideous piece of crap is suppose to represent.

You're welcome.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Thanks for explaining what that hideous piece of crap is suppose to represent.

I like it.

[Tonchi]

It's the ONLY Picasso of that phase of his which I like.

You really have to see the original, Bruce. It is more than life size. Do you know what happened at Guernica? On April 27, 1937, Adolf Hilter’s air force bombed the Basque village of Guernica for target practice. It was a market day. Approximately 1,654 people were murdered and 889 injured. (Statistics from an article about the painting.) Maybe this painting makes more sense to a resident of Bagdad. I wonder how many of them think we are less barbaric than the Germans.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I don't like Picasso's work. As a matter of fact I dislike it so much, I won't even say anything nice about it to get laid.

I've been told by art "experts", I would like it if I understood it, but I contend if it doesn't explain itself, it, and the artist, are not doing their job.

I also feel the art "experts" would sell you their kids drawings off the refrigerator, for a whole lot of money and with a straight face, if they could.

The bottom line is what Kirk said, "Art is what you can get away with".

[Tonchi]

Yeah, and in the end, "value" is what you can get some schmuck to pay for something. I do not like "modern art" and I agree that much of it (especially the so-called performance art) is a scam. But THIS particular painting has always had an impact on me. Compared to the "classical" painters and their posed battlefields, this work is wrenching, tragic. It is agony and horror, it is not supposed to be pretty.

[Pangloss62]

"I don't like Picasso's work. As a matter of fact I dislike it so much, I won't even say anything nice about it to get laid."

Well, Bruce, I suppose you don't like Art Blakey, Jimmy Smith, or any other Jazz artists either. Maybe you like Kenny G., however. It takes IMAGINATION to appreciate the abstract, in all areas of art. Abstract Expressionism is just one genre of many, but don't throw the baby out with what you think is all bathwater.

"I contend if it doesn't explain itself, it, and the artist, are not doing their job."

That statement certainly indicates your "understanding" of art. Are you saying you ONLY like representational art? If so, that's kind of sad, because that's the only kind of art that "explains" itself.

That said, I still think my statement about Guernica is valid.

One of my favorite paintings of his, was not until I saw it in person.

[JayMcGee]

We have become so used to death & destruction rained upon us from afar, we have perhaps forgotten the impact that Guernica made.

This was the *first* time ( ie it had *never* happenned before) that a town, rather than a military target, had been comprehesively and deliberately attacked from the air. Think of it as the 9\11 of the time, and you might begin to appreciate the impact, and how the concept of aerial bombardment of civiian population centres changed the world

[JayMcGee]

... and to my mind, Picasso captured that pain, horror and sheer frustration to perfection.

[Pangloss62]

.. and to my mind, Picasso captured that pain, horror and sheer frustration to perfection.
10-18-2006 07:37 PM

Indeed.

[Pangloss62]

Hey Big V.

Your Mondrian analogy is great. Really. You get an A. And I LOVE that painting. However, it's hard to say those Bolton attributes are good or bad; probably both.

A friend of mine noted Bolton's terse style...it annoyed him. For me, the jury is still in deliberation.

The educated international community understands the power of Picasso's 'Guernica' . Or should . I am afraid that you sound trite , JayMcGee .

I have been to Guernica . Guernica is a town in Spain , a town in Euskadi too . Depends on which side you are on .

For the people of Guernica who have been advertised around the world by that great artist and ....money-mongering advertiser Picasso , the true symbolic sadness is the death of a particular ancient tree which represented the Basque identity . That tree died about twenty years ago from a tree sickness .

And do not forget that Basque identity means rivers of blood . It is nonsense to weep over Picasso's 'Guernica' . And it is really crap anyway . Who understands Picasso ? Yanks seeking culture have to say they understand . What , a load of upside-down faces in some sort of weird loooooooong dr