I can’t help but keep thinking about this being the 40th anniversary of the ’68 Chicago convention and the tragedies of both Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Especially now that so many have suggested that we are at the same, or at least, similar crossroads today, I just keep thinking about it.
I actually disagree with the assessment of similarity to the two periods of time. In 1968 the social mood was much more “down with authority” ... today? ... it’s much more like “are you prepared? ... and is there such a thing as being an authority?” We want our institutions to be prepared for the future and we’ve not so sure they are so.
There was an artist who captured the ‘60’s, Peter Max. Peter’s an amazing man. Philanthropist, humanitarian, environmentalist and philosopher ... he is the most successful living artist in the world. He truly was the catalyst for connecting art and business. Max was the first person ever to have his work placed upon everything from bed sheets to sneakers. His product was out-licensed to the tune of $1 billion (yes, billion) before 1970.
While he would likely refer to himself as a neo-expressionist today, he has traveled from realist to pop artist (maybe archetype on this one) to his latest definition. His prescience in seeing how “the poster” was on the cusp of unprecedented ranges and intensities of color (all at inexpensive and high quality) allowed him to connect romantic, playful and psychedelic. He created the yellow submarine for the Beatles. Toulouse-Lautrec would have been proud. Peter readily says that his love of the cosmos and childhood expectation of becoming an astronomer was a major source of inspiration for the art of the 60’s. He captured a period of time.
Today, we should be looking for “that look”. What I mean is, what is the look for today? We’re far enough “in” to the 21st century. And, like Peter, I believe it will be somebody born in Europe ... developing years in Asia ... than blossom in the USA. However, in the 2010’s it will be some other order and more than likely an artist who blossoms in Asia. Keep your eyes open ... I’m convinced it’s about to happen.
W2
 | From the time capsule ... |
| It's Peter Max's Car, Man! |
| Peter Max Without a Doubt |
| Peter's Compassion |
| The Art of Peter Max |
| The interview |
| Twiggy |
| Yellow Submarine |
Barney Davey - 2/29/2008 4:54:01 AM DST (GMT-4)
There has been a huge void of leadership in the popular art market for years. Despite similarities to 40 years hence, technological changes have forever reordered how masses consume visual art and music.
Peter Max and The Beatles came through a fat pipe whereby millions were exposed and influenced with the same songs and imagery. LP albums were ripe for artistic collaboration between visual artists and musicians. Todays splintered distribution channels and digital music make CD jewel cases clunky thereby stultifying those very cool and effective collaborations from Yesterday (pun intended).
I believe something will happen, though it’s more a "Blink" reaction or from my S.W.A.G. (Scientific Wild Ass Guess) Factor than research based observation. It seems intuitive and logical it will come from the East. China is a boiling pot of cultural forces ready to be unleashed by virtue of the vast numbers of artists it is training. One can imagine a dominant visual artist whose enormous talent and influence will reach across the globe and permeate distribution channels on every level in ways not seen in 40 years. Perhaps that artist will collaborate with some musical artists from somewhere in the Caribbean or Africa, the musical offspring of Oliver Mtukudzi, Peter Tosh or Bob Marley, to create the same kind of impact Peter Max and The Beatles did with their work together to create an unbeatable unstoppable World beat and completely fresh visual imagery to storm the globe and upset the status quo around it.
It's interesting your post coincides with mine about Milton Glaser on my www.ArtPrintIssues.com blog. He is arguably the most important graphic artist of his time. He is best known for his iconic poster of Bob Dylan. There is no irony in that Dylan, a visual artist himself, has a current show of his work in Germany. Rather, there seems symmetry here somewhere. My eyes and ears are eagerly open...bring it on…I’m ready!
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