Oscar Murillo: through patches of corn, wheat and mud at DAVID ZWIRNER

James Kalm takes leave of his studio and makes a beeline to West Chelsea to take in Oscar Murillo’s “through patches of corn, wheat and mud”. Murillo’s artistic career has taken a meteoric arc, and this thirty year old artist is internationally recognized. Though much early interest was kindled by his provocative performance work, his painting has also recently received intensive institutional support. “Through patches” presents two distinct sections of work, first; a vast installation of black sewn and collaged tarpaulin paintings draped, stacked, folded and presented on metal structures. This display presents these paintings a just another commodity, a collection of “product” that reproduce a trade mark look, but have little to no individual characteristics. The second gallery presents a more conventional hanging of large expressionistic works that seem intentionally to riff on the well known styles of famous artists, as if Murillo were using a focus group algorithm to decide what percentage of what artistic mannerism the market desires at any particular time. This mode of avoiding “originality” thus reduces any chance of loosing market share by avoiding unpopular painting decisions. A musical introduction is provided by the Meetles. This program was recorded September 24, 2016 in Chelsea.

[@lawrencemiller1923]

Thank you James. Best -

[@daltonfreed8206]

Sewn tarpaulin paintings, in the 1st half, are outstanding.

[@clamda]

Thanks for all your videos James, so appreciated

[@brydon10]

Thanks a lot James, always interested in seeing Oscar Murillo's work.

[@tiagomanuelrocha]

About the 2nd half of the video: it doesn't matter from whom you get influences from or if the paintings resemble a lot this or that painter... what does matter is getting them to be well accomplished paintings, making the pieces work as good art in the end. In my opinion, these do. Originality matters of course, but if someone presents me with a great cubist painting, I don't care if it looks a lot like a Picasso or not, it's good art nevertheless. Great video James, as always!

[@louisegoodman1819]

Personally I think that the “excess” in the first part is part of the focus on commodification, and I find very effective.in the second part the comments are too focused on the abstract marks, to me the paintings are about the relationship between them and the representational images. To me his work is brilliant. The challlenge is immense, the results superb!!!

[@mayormc]

I enjoyed this now for the second time. Very happy to be able to see it.

[@camilopalomino8319]

So good gracias por compartir

[@thirdrockjul2224]

Thank you Kate.

[@michaelroberts8300]

Thank you James.

[@ginogino3551]

PESADO EL HOMBRE. HERMOSA ATMOSFERA EN TODAS LAS PIESAS, UN PARCERO MUY CONSPICUO CON SUS TIEMPOS TRABAJASO!!!!

[@FuckingMosh666]

expressionism and pop art always are in a finest line, remind me to Sigmar Polke works too.....................................................................................Great show Thanks !

[@camilopalomino8319]

Cool

[@deelot1]

Thanks for uploading this as I like Oscar's work

[@deelot1]

I prefer his works on the ground floor than the paintings upstairs though.

[@culturefan]

I had a hard time with the instillation too, though could appreciate aspects of it. The paintings I could appreciate more, good coloring and a mix of various techniques. Thanks.

[@isaiscorreao8330]

Excelente expoosicion .me alegra haberla visto por este medio, pero seguro en vivo debe ser conmovedor,

[@tonsfocus]

The other artist he seems to crib off of is Joe Bradley. I heard Oscar was a studio assistant for him, though now I can't seem to find any evidence to support that...

[@kydop6128]

Really? that's interesting. I think Bradley has more of a focus, I haven't seen Bradley delve into installation, sculpture, etc... Just painting... Interesting point though!

[@jhb61249]

Lots of good work, regardless of bottom line analysis. Thanks half-ass!

[@MrIrons-og3rg]

unexpected- something about it

[@kydop6128]

Oscar's work feels fresh to me but he is obviously trying to reference other artists from the 70s 80s which is fine!

[@intuitivedressurfritz-albe9631]

I dont understand the negativ commentaries, the paintings are brilliant! Not everybody needs to invent the wheel new to develop nevertheless an phantastic picture speach. Murillo has incredible ästethic and creativ results in his work. Why unnecessarily comparing the used elements with other artists who used them also? What did Picasso and most of the other great artists? We all live in a history...

[@fastfoodart5552]

cool

[@sculptor3d]

My first impression of the first room wasn't good but the more you filmed, the more I liked it. I did however think it was a little too cluttered, needed more room or less work. I like his paintings I'd like to know who isn't riffing on someones well known style? none of us create in a vacuum and we're all influenced by the past. I never thought I'd be defending Oscars work!

[@jameskalm]

I think the clutter is part of what he's going for. This installation seems to recall a warehouse full of stuff (could be paintings, or could be shower curtains) but it's just stuff that's created to sell, a situation of over production with no creative reason for being except to satisfy the market.

[@donemigholzjr.7344]

sculptor3d you make a great point and it is one I have been struggling with as of late. I was thinking that it is none of my business or anyone else’s business what anyone does with a brush and canvas. “What you see is what you get but what you get is not always what you see” and leave it at that. Thousands of artists are making a living selling paintings that have been done over and over and it is that repetition that brings on a high quality in art that the public is seeing and paying for and good for them. It is too bad for the artists of originality and good for the people that can sell and for the talent of those that do not hesitate. Or I am sure I have missed some University discussion on this subject but ... Is a copy of art...Art? Is a copy of a “style of art” art or as a copy it can be nothing more than a copy? Are the accolades for the copy not to diminish the amount of work and effort even though the art of the work has been done mostly by another? By allowing copies of art to be considered art on the same scale as art it is diminishing the original art. Not that a copy of art cannot be art but it should be at least acknowledged as such in some way. Maybe call it “Refined art”. Or Artists are way too sensitive about the subject to even discuss it.

[@sculptor3d]

clutter may well be what he;s going for but as an installation it doesn't work. There are a bunch of separate works that although related if they were given more breathing room would have a greater impact and a creative reason for being. I never allow the dollar sign to enter my studio but that said, in the end isn't all art made in order to satisfy A market?

[@rrdd8457]

you're trying to apply logic to subjective art.

[@donemigholzjr.7344]

Subjective art to be sold; subjective art that sells as an original one of a kind piece of art that indeed is made up of one, two, multiple forms, of color combinations and styles that have a long standing of being successful. Making subjective art that is inward with the tried and true rules of previous art that sold to suggest guineas when it is the sales person that ignores this revelation and is a genius for selling such over explored and over produced art? Oh, wow sorry.

[@stojanovich]

the first part of the exibition is kounellis,morris,beuys mix in some arte povera yadda yadda yadddaaa..dull dull

[@casket8530]

It's almost as if a black artist can't work with abstraction without mentioning Basquiat. Oscar's work is more in tune with Rauschenberg.

[@samba_digital]

I see your point but he's Colombian not black

[@casket8530]

Elliott Robbins well haitians are africans. They were brought over from africa from france. Maybe i should say "artist of color" but anyways thats not the point

[@casket8530]

Artist of color. I'm sure you know what i meant, you are just being petty by pointing that out. plus columbians are descendants of africans as well, it's a mix. Oscar looks like a black dude. But like I said, that was not the topic of comment. This is youtube, not a classroom

[@kydop6128]

I see Oscar's work have more substance than Basquiat... As far as Rauschenberg, I think Oscar and him align pretty well...

[@PintoBlades]

WTH????

[@myenglishbay]

He is in desperate need of editing. More is less in his practice. There are some lovely nuggets of good old fashion slap and dash painting. The clutter obscures his message.

[@singlespies]

Thanks for making the video. I appreciate your efforts here as always. Not nice of me to say but I find this artwork to be utter banality - instantly forgettable.. Why does he have a career? I don't know.

[@cliffdariff74]

Many of those paintings, whether good or bad... are a mess.

[@kala8204]

Don't we all like a good mess here and there

[@davidmayhew4818]

I'm loosing my taste for art real fast.

[@anatoos240]

your loss

[@fedesization]

Another conservative view of latinamerican identity. It involves the ussuals actors: Informal struggle, feedstock and commodities from third world economies, vague references to modernism as myth, glamorization of poverty

[@boomboomkawabanga]

Thanks but no thanks.

[@morralo]

horrible

[@lisengel2498]

Great show James - art uses all kinds of thing to make something that can be of interest - and it is also an interesting question that each person in the audience might ask themselves - what am I attracted to? What do I find ugly or boring? What is popular in a Culture? Images and installations - are both subjektive and objective - they are there as an object and we relate in different ways - we give attention, we experience, we share , we dream , we wonder , we search different kinds of meaning, beauty, surprize, or any other kinds of values