BLOGS
It was really easy to blow off Season 1 of Work of Art: The Next Great Artist. Yeah, we recapped it and everything, but most of the world either tore it a new a-hole or completely ignored it because of its premise and/or its execution. Or maybe it's because many Bravo fans want to watch rich housewives pull out each other's weaves and cheftestants douse everything in liquid nitrogen without having to ponder what it all actually means, or because the average critic has little patience for ridiculous reality TV drama. I do think I'd be giving Work of Art too much credit if I said that it revolutionized or even challenged anything about the way we watch TV, but I will say that it's an underrated series and that I'm happy that it's back for a second season. In fact, I'd argue that this is one of Bravo's best shows, and we definitely saw glimpses of that on last night's premiere. Here's how:
The Art Is Interesting
Were I to try to talk about the actual quality of the art on the show, I would probably just embarrass myself, but I think I speak for a lot of Work of Art fans when I say that the appeal of the competition is that when a piece is good, you get it, and there have thankfully been very few moments where I've completely disagreed with the judges or completely missed the appeal of a work. I know some people find the premise of the show slightly offensive and that you can't make great art in such limited confines, but Project Runway has been debunking that myth for a solid nine seasons now. And art aside, the challenges and drama behind the actual work are usually on par with your average (and maybe even above-average) Runway episode. Then again, I have been known to occasionally enjoy Shear Genius, so maybe my bar is lower than the typical reality TV viewer's. But, come on, Brig was kind of cool.
The Cast Is Great
It's obviously early in the season, but I already like these artists way more than last season's, both because of the higher level of competition and for the distinct personalities. (By the way, did anyone else watch Cameron on The Glee Project and immediately think "MILES!"?) While last season we got self-taught-and-obviously-inferior Erik, this time Bravo has wised up and evened the playing field with artists who are no strangers to the professional art world. First of all, obviously: The Sucklord -- hello, we here at TWoP are geeks and were familiar with (if not fans of) his work beforehand. Then there's Leon, the deaf contestant. Besides already being a well-established artist, Leon's story is inspiring and his work is beautiful, and I am just generally all for people with disabilities on TV (hell, Blind Guy Erik even got me to watch Expedition Impossible). It's a bit soon to address each artist individually, but the styles are all over the place and seem representative of what's happening in the modern art community right now -- installations, street art, animal entrails -- and I actually look forward to spending more time with all of these people.
The Experts Are Excellent
Mentor Simon de Pury may not be as immediately welcoming as His Holiness Tim Gunn, but, as contestant Young Sun described him, the "old-world European count" brings stimulating perspective to the workroom and a really great accent. I've got no beef with China Chow (I love hearing her address The Sucklord) or Bill Powers (meh), and I absolutely adore Jerry Saltz as a judge -- he recaps Work of Art over at New York magazine fabulously. And the guest judges from week to week never fail to impress (last season included David LaChapelle and last night, Mary Ellen Mark stopped by), especially since Sarah Jessica Parker is never one of them.
Check out bonus Work of Art footage featuring Sucklord here:
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Culd it be that a reality show about one of the most useless segments of society (artists) isn't all that appealing?
The most useless segments of society are politicians and they have their own reality show up every day called "life".
Ha, Ricky, that was good.
Uncle Igmar, I don't think art is useless. You're on this website, so obviously you have some interest in film or tv, and that's a form of art. Music, literature, dance- these are all art forms too, and without art the world would be a vastly more boring place. "Art Can't Hurt You".
So glad this show is back! I like that this shows the creative process, it's very inspiring to me.
But the got rid of my Ugo. NOOOOOOOO!
I know, right? Ugo was so attractive.
I love this show. And yes, when I saw Cameron on The Glee Project, I DID think MILES!!!
I like the art but everybody is so freaking pretentious. They make up words to make their art sound so important. There's value in art of all kinds. Don't try to make yours sound more important or evolved.
Take it from someone who works in an art museum; that's what 90% of artists do.
Watched this show last year and LOVED it! I was pleasantly surpised and am thrilled that it is back.
it's such a great and impressive and underappreciated show that twop decided to stop recapping it.
Well, Unc, I'm not going to labor the point that artists can create work that is compelling, thought-provoking, and functional that can make people examine their current world. Or that watching someone's creative process could actually inspire others in whatever field. Or that (Fact!) artists moving into communities are usually the start of neighborhood revitalization. If that's what you think there is no changing that. But man, I would far rather watch this show with these highly functioning and useful people than one about Italian stereotypes, bored rich ladies, fake bachelor/ettes or whatever the hell a Kardashian does. Those are the real useless people. Give me an artist any day. But, you know, to each his own.
What Art said.
Only 90%?
I loved Miles last year, but thought this season is starting off even better. While I didn't "like" all the art, I could see some talent and inklings of the concept. I really enjoy explanations of the process and the "meaning" of why they created a specific piece. This is now on my DVR rotation.
Rachel I think you jinxed it! SJP is I believe going to be a guest judge later this season. Sigh...I'd like her to just remain an exec producer. ANYWAY,
I effin' love this show. Definitely in my top 5 reality shows. And that's coming from a lady that watches a ton of reality tv.
All contest shows judge the useless. Project Runway doesn't judge garments by how warm they keep the wearer, nor does Top Chef judge dishes by how adequately they provide nourishment. Cuisine and couture are decorative arts, judged by their aesthetic content. In Work of Art (and American Idol) we have shows that judge the fine arts, whose only use is their aesthetic content. In other words, while a cook or a tailor might be useful, even necessary, chefs and designers are useless precisely because they are artists. Of course, since the adoption of agriculture, we have had the luxury of feeding the useless, and we have always done so happily because we enjoy what they produce.
Which would make them not useless...
A rant is about to follow...I am disgusted by the pretense of most of the artists. They actually think art is all about making a statement...and being "unique". And, being gross or daring is worthy. Most of these "artists" have no concept of what the journey of being an artist is about. I am offended by the continued portrayal of the artist's journey as being unique above all else. Or that your expression is so precious that you cannot have it altered. In my opinion to become an artist, you need to loose all this ego and hunger for uniqueness first. Originality, in my opinion, is not achieved consciously. I believe it is served by stripping yourself of all this intention and letting your muses speak. I have been an artist for years, and cannot believe we are still celebrating this worship of artistic ego, and banal offerings. This has been done over and over again. The show should be named "Predictable Shock Art" The Next Precious Artist. I would love a show that forces these misguided artists into very restrictive conventions, and seeing what happens when they have to work with boundaries...it would be a much more interesting show. And, I believe they would learn alot.
I went to art school, and can kinda feel for the goals of some of these artists. a lot of the challenges and what the artists go through to make the world and society "art" is pain-stakingly stressful and difficult. More people should realize this and just shut up!