Philip Guston, Odd Man Out (BBC4 arts documentary, 2004)

BBC4, 28-01-2004: "Andrew Graham Dixon explores the life of the controversial US artist who died in obscurity."
Not my copyright, obviously - just sharing found ephemera.

[@bonsaitomato8290]

I worked for David McKee, guston’s dealer from 1973, they had a relationship since 1967, and the stories he conveyed to me were invaluable. I still have some of guston’s paint tubes. Glad to see he got into this video, he deserved a much more prominent place since he shepherded Guston through his most influential years toward the place he holds today.

[@mark1138]

I watch this every once and a while, I just find it so heartwarming. To devote yourself to art and your craft, later in his career abandoning the trends of his clique and mainstream success for personal expression. But the very last painting, of him and is wife, is just so beautiful, like after al the trouble, self-doubt, and tumult of his life there was some respite and peace found in a devotion to painting and love. Truly Andrew Dixon nails the eulogy when he asserts with an almost fierce strength, "This was a life... A life lived."

[@letom.359]

Very well said...👏👏👏

[@josh-cq5il]

i love this so much. made me realize that i have to get more uncomfortable and bold with myself. thank you and rest your soul

[@paulbehnke0]

Guston did not die in obscurity. A retrospective opened in San Francisco just three weeks before he died. It then traveled to, among other places, The Whitney. Guston was vigorously represented by the McKee Gallery, in Manhattan, from 1974 until his death.

[@chipwalter4490]

Yeah but they need the drama plus this is Anglo-centric

[@cmoran9103]

They talk about that in the documentary. The final spin is "He had an uptick just before he died". So.

[@diegoinjapan]

That was a great one, thanks for posting it. I recently bought a book of his, and am trying to make sense of his art. So the video helped. It also makes sense that he used to read comics.

[@cringetingles]

one of the greatest of all time. guston's work got me through art school - as a kid who grew up drawing cartoons and writing graffiti I felt as though I could always relate to his desire to abstain from conventional work. much love Phil. your work and words have done so much for many young artists.

[@casteretpollux]

Shocking that the Tate has banned the Guston Now exhibition. Reactionary and very political action by the art institutions involved.

[@khambrelgreen]

Love the soundtrack which had the Small Faces and Velvet Underground. The biopic got some of the facts askew, but it was enjoyable watch.

[@jackgalmitz1883]

Thank you for showing and analyzing the great artist's life and work!

[@barbaraarlen2882]

Really helped define Guston's life for me. Thank you.

[@SpencerHutchinson84]

His work profoundly unsettled me as much as it amused me when I first encountered it. Make no mistake, no amateur can paint like that, it is the work of a true master.

[@JohnBrown-be6re]

Many thanks for posting this.

[@sebastientanguay4866]

Thank you very much for sharing this documentary. Salutations de Montréal.

[@garyreams8123]

"Controversial"? "Died in obscurity"? No,..wrong,....wrong to both. His change from abstract expressionism surprised many people, but he was way ahead of them and went on to greatness. His later paintings are amazing, very original and wonderful. He left a lot of people behind and became even better and more unique. Both of his styles of painting were excellent.

[@carolynmullet1726]

Wonderful film. Great artist.

[@novianovioTV]

Excellent analysis

[@shardanette1]

A very well done, all too short documentary. They briefly mentioned early on how he was respected by his peers for his mural skills. I wish they had time to go into how he got those skills. It’s an interesting story. Plus it would have introduced us to Reuben Kadish. Not only was he an early friend and collaborator and important artist himself, but his son married Musa, who we see in the documentary.

[@MrPhotodoc]

Philip actually found his dead father swinging from the rafters of a shed near his home.

[@andizhanstuey]

Love this ❤ Anyone know which version of Smoke gets in your eyes is playing over the end credits? 🤔

[@margaretholland671]

Very touching and uplifting. A wonderful artist.

[@steveogle3679]

An artist who never entered the "wax museum". I'll never forget the first time I saw "Cabal " at the Whitney in 81. So fresh I could smell it. Feel it. Like a sculpture. Alive. See you in heaven Philip to have a laugh and few cocktails at the Cedar Bar. Then back to the studio to work. Because the work is never done.

[@artofcoe_ed2018]

Just beautiful. Well done..

[@leftoverking]

great music to illustrate the story of a great painter. loved it!

[@EfrainMcshell]

This is the art that says more than a lot with pictures, is not technically fancy is not a photograph but is reality in its most truest ways, I feel so compelled to find this as true art, the art of expression of the real human experience, cannot avoid the depression have to face it to exorcise it through out the brush and canvas or wood or graffiti. This is what we do, this is what we are. Expression keep expressing extírpate all you feel.....

[@letom.359]

Simply a genius...🙏🙏🙏

[@dewittcheng4009]

When will his Klan paintings be deemed safe to show again?

[@davidfreeman7455]

The man was a great artist not a traitor or a Judas

[@harryrobbins6376]

What’s the music at about 1 minute in? I recognise it but can’t remember the name

[@mfw1936]

Guys like Dixon reveal their ignorance of the process of art-making when they choose to turn the history of an artist's work into a soap opera. He gloats over his own superficial insights into Guston's backstory. Yet, he says nothing about how the paintings are made, or why they look the way they do. ie.: the concerns and the focus of the artist, himself.

[@jhb61249]

Guston was not alone in the suffering and questioning. The others had their share as well.

[@tonibarbara]

fantastic

[@robertafierro5592]

As an oddball, myself, I owe no one anything in the Art World.

[@chipwalter4490]

>pats self on back

[@Erasmojorgegomez]

Art for art sake!!

[@SpaneenOomlong]

I love his work. The Chicago Art Institute has a few good ones.

[@flour926]

Weird and a bit depressing to hear about these self absorbed people hating someone because he reduced the value of their own art.

[@dennisdalesandro6105]

my first true love...

[@robertcook2680]

He didn't die in obscurity!

[@gregorylent]

he could afford his habit, amen

[@BNardolilli]

yay, the Monks

[@sn1000k]

Amen

[@boschevartist]

He was not an American, he was born in Montreal.

[@caballosinnombre3981]

I was born in Buenos Aires

[@boschevartist]

i am talking about Guston

[@KBD-ONE]

Americans want to claim everyone on their land if they are successful

[@NumeralAA]

Guston the great...no one has come close to him since.

[@junkettarp8942]

Guston is real.

[@peterreginato4604]

good interview but Pollock could draw and drew like no one else ...he was a master draftsman

[@SpaneenOomlong]

No one else because he had his own style, not because he was better than anyone else.

[@Kathleenpoors]

Pollock admitted his brother was a far better draftsman. That was not Pollocks skill.

[@caballosinnombre3981]

apocryphal story about a tortured drunk or honest reporting of an explanation to distinguish himself..... who knows? "If I could draw a hand do you think that I'd paint like this?"

[@peterreginato4856]

@@Kathleenpoors have you looked at Pollocks last paintings from the 50s ? the idea that Pollock couldn't draw came from Greenberg who tried to suppress drawing and skill or in general neutralize the hand

[@peterreginato4856]

@@SpaneenOomlong didnt say that but ..have you looked at Pollocks last paintings from the 50s ? the idea that Pollock couldn't draw came from Greenberg who tried to suppress drawing and skill or in general neutralize the hand

[@mcleanedwards7748]

No the leg is a map

[@yyyuuuu2659]

26:25

[@outtathyme5679]

Dixon is the master of pomposity

[@Johnconno]

Was he a hero or a traitor? Errr...He was a painter. A very good one.

[@guynouri]

Why strange China Of you can smash out into unnumbered flying 😅 pieces

[@guynouri]

Why arrange China. When it can smash Into numberless 😅 Flying pieces and sound

[@joevasquez3434]

Wasn't there any successful artist who had an actual happy childhood?

[@chipwalter4490]

Yes, willy wonka

[@jedje]

Funny how he hated Pop-art, but somewhat been influenced by it in his latest works. :D

[@chipwalter4490]

Honey he was more than influenced by it, he jumped the shark

[@dustyrustymusty3577]

Yeah. I agree his late work was junk.

[@groovynut222]

Andrew Graham-Dixon is a bit Alan Partridge sometimes, isn't he...

[@paddyskate]

PR LS yes. I watched him doing a forgery thing on the bbc recently and was hard to watch sometimes

[@mcleanedwards7748]

California interstate

[@victorhugorodriguezcastane6310]

Puro arte basura

[@drobbi]

c'mon, Guston isn't nearly as influential as either Pollock or Warhol. Can't you make your case for Guston without such misleading hyperbole?

[@caballosinnombre3981]

Obviously, man you're not a bowler

[@drobbi]

@@caballosinnombre3981 You really know how to hurt a guy!

[@_Music.A_]

🗑

[@kikeheebchinkjigaboo6631]

A bunch of alcoholic artists

[@phillumenistfilms]

Amen

[@anthonyfinta6809]

This is commercialized garbage -

[@phillumenistfilms]

As you were...

[@davidfreeman7455]

The man was a great artist not a traitor or a Judas