"Why am I not as others are? Why was there a curse on my cradle? Why did I come into the world without any choice?"
These were the questions Munch asked. Listen, I cannot answer. This wondering is gruesome but leads to raw urgent paintings with red-haired tangle bunches, organ-flora, artist-as-savior scenarios, and life cycle symbology that attempts to put everything in visual context. Yes we are miserable, yes our livers are shriveling, yes there are times when blackness reigns, when operations must be performed and communion with others is impossible.
However, one may paint these pictures which speak of a cut away from reality - a cut between the head and the rest, the water from sky. A cut away is the representation of desire for the thing ungotten. Desire becomes slash, gesture represents menace, dread, and lust, simultaneously.
44 comments:
Did you see Munch at moma, MM?
Yeah it was amazing!!! Highly recommend the show. Should have mentioned.
His mother died when he was young, then his sister and he became obsessed with women until his mid-40's....then I don't know. I have to read up. He is a melodramatic man with big feelings and big ideas.
Everyone should see the show, it will make you really happy. It's huge, so you must take your time, and especially take heed of the woodcuts and lithographs in the back room. He really let the wood do its own thing - the grain became flowing landscape with little scratches here and there becoming figures.
He was all about the scratch, the laceration, the bleeding wound.
Hello Mountain Man,
He seems like Klimt's dark brother, less at ease with the material of the world, no orgiastic reveries here. Mad symbolist meloncholy and acknowledging the sad beauty of our powerlessness to "other" forces. Can't wait to see the show.
Thanks
What does this symbolize--huh? I mena really...is this so radical?? It's not Baselitz you know.
geez, i knew I was going to have to deal with responding to a beautiful MM post about the Munch show. Theres alot to say about the man who makes selfportraits as sunsets. The last two sentences of you post are brilliant. You get it and help me get it, thanks.
One of Munchs friends said something about how Munch didn't need to go to an island in the south pacific to find that which is primitive in man. Or something. makes Gauguin look cool and detached. I guess they were compaired to eachother while they were alive.
Anon from PainterNYC your an odd little bug aren't you?
The "female Jesus" piece is blasphemy!
MM How many pieces are in the show?
i can't wait to see this mm. did he really say that crazy stuff about the curse on my cradle? I am thinking we are related. there is not so much sun in the nordic climes. anyway... thanks for your lovely post on this!
MM, your description of the show is beautiful; I have nothing really to add except:
amoeba rocks
hair-blood
virginia creeper blood fire
i/eye
physical shadows
I also found this image online which I dig:
http://academic.luzerne.edu/mbrady/Munch.jpg
looks really contemporary.
He did this thing with the woodblock prints where he sawed the block into jigsaw pieces & inked them separately, then assembled them back together to make the print. You can see these kinds of shapes in a lot of his work. I really like that kind of ingenuity... he was thumbing his nose at tradition and doing it his own way.
Sorry so inarticulate... more coffee will be necessary.
Hi there. Yes FB, he said those things about his cradle. Those were quotes of his at the start of my post, I couldn't believe it. Maybe you are related - do you not have Norwegian blood in you? It could be.
DS I really like what you say and yes he and Klimt do seem related - cousins of Symbolism, one dark, one ecstatic...hey Corny thanks for liking my post. I love painting you are sweet, I will check out your post on Munch, the dark Norse Bejesus of Symbolism.
Slothy, as usual, excellent sleuthing. You should get a handsome reward.
Gladhandsome reward.
best of luck with the bratz this day, MM.
This blackened misfit from the bowels of the earth, sprung forth to spread artistic disease and pestilence. His swirlie girlies howl at the moon of his soul to berate his tortured self like the ddarkness of a good Norweigen deathmetal cult.
MM
enjoy
Regi, those are absolutely beautiful photos!! Thanks for the link. Right up my back alleyway. Did you know I was born in England too? Funny. I love the woods hills there, near where me granny lives.
Necrowench, I beseech you, burn yourself on the Norwegian pyre. It will be good and scarlet, crumbling and crisping flesh on the winter death mound. Do you have many tattoos?
Hey, MM. Of course this reminded me of Scream which of course reminded me of Karen Finley's appropriation of the Scream figure in her new show. Martha is still in bed, but George has awakened in a troubled state looking like Scream because he realizes that he that Osama Bin Laden has entered his body and is actually hiding in his asshole. Oh, the mind of Karen Finley.
A blast of fire on your pyre, MM. I like it hot. I feel all absurd and insane, spouting all manner of satanic drivel as well as rants about my girlfriend and other evil thoughts. I just tatooed the lyrics to my first single, "Frostburn Upon The Winter Of Mankind's Discontent" on my inner thigh with a Bic ballpoint and a broken Spaten bottle. Other tats include a dolphin jumping over my right nipple regurgitating on Elvis, a photorealistic bruise on my neck and the dayglo Ursa Major on my you know.
I have often thought that photorealistic tatoos of bruises and scars would be the way to go. Perhaps a tatoo of collagen enhanced lips might be another.
or a collagen implant of a raised boil, say.
hellololololololololol
Is there anybody here?
boils are even better.
Yeah, a little straightrazor scarification with hydrochloric acid or just lemon juice, rub a little black ink while healing and you gots you a boil. After that, subdermal saline injections for those special nights out, like say, the Armory opening. Fun.
Krix, maybe you and Necrowench could be friends? I am thinking? Necrowench. You are very fastidious with your information. How did you learn this? Did you go to a trade school or are you more of an autodidact?
No, MM, I didn't go to school, and I am more of a bikerchick than a carslut, so no autos here. Trial and error, trial and error, I still can't show my left arm in public.
MM I think I love you.
Anonymous, watch out. Everyone does.
Censi domo materra finestra qua?
I am bending forward into the night to see what's coming. My anus is red and flaming, burning a hot flame of spice. It is active, it is dangerous. Like martian chemistry.
Is that a scene from "Brokeback Mountain"
I haven't seen it yet.
Love in the woods...ahhhhhhhh, boys.
Pietro, do you know Francesca?
Necrowench, you are adorable. I am scarring your name on my arm.
Krixfort, if you are half as demented, damaged, bizarre and brilliant as Mountain Man, you are alright in my book (a rather thick, leather bound treatise on the joys of Satanism and self-mutilation) I discovered MM quite by accident and I can't get enough. He is upright, you know? Sits straight, and that scares alot of people.
Once you encounter MM you might get the impression that there's some sort of humor going on, maybe it's some sort of joke, but be aware this is as troooo and grim as it gets. So serious in fact, that MM has already received numerous death threats from other disgruntled bloggers, the contents of which will provide the concept and story for the upcoming full length album if he so choses.
MM is a massive behemoth of a man, clad in spiked armor and smeared in corpsepaint as he spews all sorts of necro wisdom in a demonic screech WAY up in your head. But all mixed in amdist the evil buzz is a distinct love of man and beast, a true identification with the Other (not the band, pussies), and a faith in the redemptive powers of unrestrained creativity.
Rock on Krixfort, let it bleed.
Huh. Necrowench. Thanks and stuff. I think. You may want to get back into your cage at this point, you sound a little thirsty or something.
Krix, maybe Necrowench is licensed to perform the tattoo likeness upon you. And if not licensed then surely experienced. Do you dare?
Wow, right as usual MM, I haven't had a drink yet. Sorry for the exuberance.
Hey Necrowench, your exuberance is much needed and appreciated, but your treatise-length post caused me to think you had worn yourself out. Too early for cocktails, but maybe a nice pill will soothe you.
You are very generous to make me so massive in your mind's eye. Truth be told I am humbly proportioned.
Nay, it's just this internal thing, energy from within, fire all roiling around.
"It's five o'clock somewhere" is what Dad used to say.
Your dad was right. Try some peppermint schnapps on your ding dong, if you have one. That will calm the roiling waters from within.
Do I dare? I am sometimes a daredevil. Sometimes with a devil may care attitude. Today I have to go do what the man says though. I'll leave the scarring and tatooing for the weekend or 3 in the morning.
Necrowench, your read on Mountain Man is astute. He is of epic porportions mentally.
MM has nice pecs; he must do push-ups or something.
Dingdong, MM, what kind of wench do you take me for?
Sorry, that was for Frogs.
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