Los Angeles and Frieze, Angelica Kauffman, Matthew Wong and Van Gogh
Mar 1, 2024
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Exploring Frieze LA's impact on the art scene, the Royal Academy's Angelica Kauffman exhibition, and Matthew Wong's response to Van Gogh. Dive into the challenges faced by museums during Covid-19 and the connection between the two artists. Delve into the evolving art landscape of Los Angeles post-Frieze and the ambition of female artists in history painting. Explore the intricate portrayal of Lady Hamilton and the artistic achievements inspired by neoclassicism.
Frieze Los Angeles has significantly impacted the city's art scene, establishing itself as a leading art event.
Angelica Kauffman's exhibition at the Royal Academy showcases her legacy as a pioneering female artist.
Matthew Wong's 'The Space Between Trees' poignantly connects with Vincent Van Gogh's 'Painter on the Road to Tarascon', reflecting a deep artistic bond.
Deep dives
The Impact of Freeze LA on the Los Angeles Art Scene
Freeze Los Angeles has significantly impacted the city's art scene, with the fair successfully establishing itself as a leading art event after five editions. Local and artist-run spaces observed a major shift in the city's art landscape, with Freeze LA becoming a pivotal event attracting international attention. The fair's evolution from its initial location at the Paramount lot to the Santa Monica airport demonstrates its influence on the art community, fostering growth and excitement within the LA art scene.
Angelica Kaufman and the Royal Academy Exhibition
The Royal Academy's exhibition dedicated to the 18th-century painter Angelica Kaufman highlights her significant contributions to art, despite facing challenges such as the threat of cancellation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show offers a tour of Kaufman's work, showcasing her talent and legacy as a pioneering female artist. Co-curated by Annette Wickham, the exhibition sheds light on Kaufman's biography, artistic style, and impact on the art world.
Matthew Wong's Homage to Van Gogh Through 'The Space Between Trees'
Matthew Wong's painting 'The Space Between Trees' serves as a poignant homage to Vincent Van Gogh's 'Painter on the Road to Tarascon.' This direct response by Wong to Van Gogh's lost masterpiece reflects a deep connection between the two artists, both facing internal struggles and finding solace in art. Through this work, Wong symbolically inserts himself into Van Gogh's painting, capturing a sense of contemplation and existential reflection similar to his own life experiences.
Matthew Wong's Journey in Art: Painting as a Last Resort
Matthew Wong's artistic journey, marked by a transition from photography to painting, showcases his resilience and determination to pursue art as a last resort in his life. Despite battling mental health challenges, Wong found solace and expression through painting, developing a distinctive style characterized by a mastery of color and profound emotional depth. His rapid artistic growth and exploration of various influences, including Van Gogh's work, reflect a profound commitment to his craft and a unique artistic voice.
Exploring the Symbolism and Depth of Matthew Wong's Work
Matthew Wong's use of color, texture, and symbolism in his paintings, particularly in 'The Space Between Trees,' demonstrates an intricate layering of personal experiences and artistic influences. The inclusion of symbolic elements such as the bench and the contemplative atmosphere in his works reflects Wong's introspective approach to art-making and his exploration of themes like belonging, solitude, and the intersection of art and life. Through his expressive and vibrant paintings, Wong leaves a lasting impact, inviting viewers to delve into the depths of his emotional and artistic journey.
As Frieze Los Angeles opens its fifth iteration, The Art Newspaper’s associate digital editor, Alexander Morrison, talks to our correspondent in LA, Jori Finkel about the changing landscape of the city’s art scene. In London, the Royal Academy has finally opened an exhibition dedicated to the 18th-century painter Angelica Kauffman, a show that was threatened with cancellation as Covid ravaged the plans and finances of museums. We take a tour of the exhibition with its co-curator, Annette Wickham. And this episode’s Work of the Week is The Space Between Trees (2019), the late Canadian-Chinese painter Matthew Wong’s direct response to a lost masterpiece by Vincent van Gogh, The Painter on the Road to Tarascon (1888). The connection between the two artists is explored in a new exhibition at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, Painting as a Last Resort. Its curator, Joost van der Hoeven, tells us more.
Frieze Los Angeles, until Sunday, 3 March, Santa Monica Airport, Los Angeles.
Angelica Kauffman, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1 March - 30 June.
Matthew Wong | Vincent van Gogh: Painting as a Last Resort, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, 1 March-1 September.
