Peregrine Honig

Like Amy Wilson, Peregrine Honig's watercolors have charming images with very adult scenarios, as you can see above by "Wonkey Donkey checks into rehab!" The donkey is similar to classic children's characters from the Golden Book series, yet he clearly can't keep his addictions in check (although to his credit, he is looking quite embarrassed and ashamed).



Her work deals with current issues in society (well, the garbage celebriculture/People magazine/Jersey Shore/Miley Cyrus clusterfuck version of society) but through the eyes of a child, where the idea that Peter Rabbit and pseudo-Winnie the Pooh are gay-banging each other in a plushy bro-show is news, so it's bringing in these ideas of destruction of an innocent culture in the most delicate medium imaginable.

Puberty for Louis Vutton

Honig also did a series about models with diseases, or perhaps just the truths about the fashion industry. The image above sheds light on this truth that the runways are suffocating with extremely young girls and girls who have diseases (like fetal alcohol syndrome).

In the article below, Honig states: “It’s very strange that [modes] are that tall and thin, and when people look very different, we’re inclined to stare. My drawings are about people who would also be viewed the way we are not supposed to look at others. I think these images are more empowering for the viewer and not exploitive.” Though this is moreso related to her series of children with diseases (like Downs), Honig's paintings are just so delicate, yet wonderfully powerful and over-the-top.



Her Fashism series is chilling, and these works are significantly larger (usually 3' x 2') than the previous series, so I think that the overall effect would perhaps be far more overwhelming and obvious.

Chanel Hoodie

This series is reminiscent of Egon Schiele (one of my favourite artists) in the best way possible:



If you're buying what she's selling, Peregrine's website should not be missed.

Amy Wilson

"It surprised me to no end" from The Myth of Loneliness series

The work of Amy Wilson reminds me of melancholy adult fairy tale (I agree with the author of the newspaper article below). The autobiographical quality of her work adds an emotional depth twinged with sadness, and it's almost shocking to see the speech bubble text full of largely depressing thoughts (many of the pieces deal with a childhood full of overwhelming depression and loneliness, and there are also commentaries on current events, like the war in Iraq). Her world of drawings is reminiscent of Henry Darger's Vivian Girls, in the idea that these adorable little girls have very real adult emotions and conflicts (although it should be noted that while both Wilson and Darger are gaining some kind of release through their work, Wilson's is meant to be seen in the public sphere and Darger was swimming in a secretive sea of rampant escapism).

As Wilson says on her website, "In my drawings, I like to explore the tension that exists between my interior world and the exterior one. I incorporate personal stories and observations along with commentary about current events (both personal and ones that make it to the news). They depict a "chorus" of young girls, all of whom I see as being an extension of myself and as representations of the many voices I have inside of me; as such I consider my work to be an ongoing exploration of self-portraiture. These girls give voice to my thoughts and are often depicted in scenarios inspired by experiences from my life."

This idea of using these figures to explore self portraiture reminds me of the work of Maria Lassnig, although far more poetic and less abrasive.

Be sure to click on the images in this post for the enlarged versions-- you're missing out if you don't.

Carlota Berard - Aqua Permanens

Aqua Permanens

Carlota Berard

2004

Carlota Berard performs a menstrual dance over a piece of cloth (2x2 meter). Berard choreographs the dance to her own musical composition. During the dance, Berard's period drips onto the makeshift canvas, and she traces her movements simultaneously with graphite. The cloth is cut into the small drawings/collages, which are seen at the end of this post. Berard's piece deals with women's work, the woman's body, identity politics, etc. She creates a lasting creation out of the monthly cycle (something that most women can't wait for it to end), something that only lasts for a handful of days.

"Each body substance or fluid has a different texture and a different way or perforating the body. The body pulsates in diverse ways when releasing any substance, by contraction or expansion and with rhythmical or non-rhythmical pulses. The body is full of a pulse, in other words energy or excitement, ready to ooze slowly and outwards a liquid and an intense emotion. The body also oozes when it slowly disappears within a frame of time to allow a metamorphosis, another performance to happen and another existence. There is a pulse within any artistic performance. The pulse not only concerns matter, but also the soul."
Carlota Berard, 2004
 
The closeness of the spirit,
nowadays a fluent thing to write or tell,
since no distant colour seems to stay.
No flagrant music without spell,
no poison pulse without smell.
Disposition is the key word, the secret.
We had a secret? Tell me if so, again and again!
Slowly and tenderly between distances,
pure and gelid transfuse of blood while breathing instances