Picasso – Schoolyard Sissy

Demian — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:59:23 +0000

If you are a guy you were most probably once a boy. And if you remember anything about being a boy you probably remember having to defend yourself from other boys (unless you were the one on the attack). On the playground your friends (and even those you did not consider friends) would try out their newly learned wrestling moves or karate chops on you without warning. And pretty much non-stop.

Your response to these attacks would fall into one of three categories. You either (1) tried to deflect the attack with some sort of ‘Shaolin Monk’-like ninja move, (2) retaliated by showering your own fists of fury down upon your opponent, or (3) were caught by surprise, got the wind knocked out of you and were ridiculed by your friends and on-lookers as you tried to catch your breath.

Well, you may, as you insist, be a fourth-level ninja defender. But your friend Picasso over there? That boy keeps gettin’ whupped like a playground sissy. He may be a lover. But he ain’t no fighter. A flying elbow and he falls to pieces. A bitch-slap is enough to send him into a blue period. The poor guy.

Do the world a favor – if you find yourself looking at a Picasso… please… take two steps back. And watch where you are walking.

Picasso at Gagosian; Running From Death

Demian — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 06:11:55 +0000

Gagosian Gallery just opened a large show of Pablo Picasso paintings and etchings at their 21st Street location in Chelsea. I had the oportunity to run through the opening reception last night and I must say that I was impressed with what I saw. Not specifically with the work itself. I would argue that the end of Picasso’s career was not his strongest or most ground-breaking period of work. But don’t get me wrong, the work is by Picasso, so its great. But the impression that I got was that of a man frantically trying to paint away the impending aproach of the ‘end’. Tons of work. Which is impressive in and of itself. But piece after piece done in large brush strokes and few colors. Definitely less detailed, finished or, dare I say, thought out, than his best work. These medium sized ’simpler’ canvases gave me the impression that this was a man that thought just maybe he could keep busy and paint enough artwork to earn him a little more time in the land of the living. Alas it was not to be, Picasso is just as human as the rest of us. But the shear amount of output, only a portion of which is on display at Gagosian, is impressive to behold. Picasso’s creative surge, brought on by the one fear that we all share, is amazing to behold.

Demian Repucci » picasso

Picasso – Schoolyard Sissy

Picasso at Gagosian; Running From Death