A lot of attention was brought to the art world this year with major collaborations that brought the worlds of art and pop culture together. My two favourite things. Collaborations between the two worlds, seem to make perfect sense to me due to the creative concept they both share. Music is Art and Art can be formed through Music. My favourite collaboration was with Marina Abramovic – a performance artist of the durational variety and Jay Z – hip hop god. Their collaboration took place at New York City’s Pace Gallery when Jay Z and Abramovic came together for “Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film”. With a star studded audience which also included Pablo Picasso’s granddaughter Diana Widmaier Picasso. Check out the why Abramovic thought the collaboration is important for both young and old artists here: Abramovic talks about collaboration with Jay Z.
My second favourite collaboration was between Wes Lang – the self-taught tattoo/fine artist, with Kanye West. As always Kanye doesn’t do things half-hearted and especially when it involves his long anticipated world tour. So it took me by no surprise that he would seek someone who was kind of a big deal to do his merchandising art work which include polarising designs of skeletons wrapped in the Confederate flag, as well as Native American skulls clad in headdresses. The collaboration saw a bridge between hip-hop and rock, with many of the Yeezus slogans representing something that you would of found in the 80’s heavy metal days. I’m personally a fan, not just of the art work but both Kanye and Lang. I think the collaboration gave Kanye the edge which he so desperately craves and kind of owns, and I’m not going to lie I dig the whole skeletons with headdresses thing. Even if I’m not queuing up for Kanye tickets, I would take a double look at the clothes but I suppose that is where the credit has to fall to Lang and his undeniable creative skills.
But the collaboration that was by-far the most talked about was Jeff Koons – the art world’s poster child and the pop culture queen herself Lady Gaga, to create the visuals for her album ARTPOP (what a convenient title for the album). Both are no strangers to controversy and as soon as the announcement was made it was only time before our jaws dropped. Koons created a number of sculptures for the collaboration which were also shown in Gaga’s ArtRave in Brookly. The photo’s highlight perfectly the artistic themes of Gaga’s album, while showing the style of Koons work. Leaving little to the imagination, Gaga was nude apart from the rather reflective sphere hiding her lady regions. Although some people have made it known that they are not fans of the photos, I must say this – for me it represents what a collaboration between the art and music worlds should be. It should create a reaction, whether good or bad. Music and art are about tapping into ones senses and emotions, making them feel something that they might not otherwise of felt and that is what these images do. I like things that are a bit provocative, a bit suggestive and to be honest just a bit in your face. If everyone played it safe then the world would be boring. So hats, or should I say clothes off to both of them!
