Yesterday, thieves stole paintings by famous artists such as Picasso, Matisse, and Monet from Rotterdam’s Kunsthal museum. Described as a brazen and meticulously planned operation, the robbers took off with seven paintings worth millions of euros.
A 20m bronze sculpture of a naked pregnant woman, wielding a sword, by well-known artist Damien Hirst has arrived in Devon in England.
The Mona Lisa, also known as La Giaconda or La Joconde in Italy and France, is arguably the most famous painting in the world. However, it may lose that title due to an earlier version which recently went on display in Geneva, Switzerland.
We all had a good laugh a couple of weeks ago when we read the story of the old lady who tried to restore a famous 19th-century artwork, and ruined it by turning Jesus into a cross between a monkey and a chimpanzee.
Before his rise to fame, Banksy was actually an amateur soccer goalie. The below images are the first-ever CONFIRMED pictures taken of him, and were taken during a tour of Mexico in 2001.
One of Andy Warhol’s most famous pop art pieces is his print of “32 Campbell Soup Cans”, depicting the brand of canned soup, Campbell’s. In celebration of the 50-year anniversary of the prints, which first appeared on display in 1962, the company is releasing a new limited edition can, decorated in Warhol’s definitive style.
America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, is featured on the new cover of Spanish magazine, Fuera de Serie. This is not the first time that she’s graced the cover of a publication, however, it will be her debut as a topless, slave woman. Pic after the jump.
Yesterday, another naked painting of Jacob Zuma had the country talking, and of course everyone had an opinion. We contacted the co-curator of the show, Kirsty Cockerill, and asked her about why she included Ayanda Mabulu’s painting in her Our Fathers exhibition. We also have the full artist statement, and a video interview, after the jump.
Could Jacob Zuma’s Penis be the most painted presidential member of all time? Artist Ayanda Mabulu has created another painting that displays our President’s bits and pieces. CLICK THROUGH for full pic.
As far as owning a piece of history goes, this prison cell door, from Robben Island – the institution infamous for the incarceration Nelson Mandela – is about as good as it gets. The cell door is still in the same condition it was when it was removed in 1996, and may even have imprisoned Mandela himself!
An 80 year-old Italian lady is in a bit of trouble with her local church after it would appear she ruined one of it’s 19th-century paintings. “The Fresco” – painted by Elías García Martínez, is a valuable oil painting of Jesus, staring off the edge of the painting wearing a crown of thorns.
The Olympics are officially and you’ve undoubtedly been left with a gaping void in desperate need of filling. Seeing as the next epic installment is four long years away, it’s best to start weening yourself off slowly as soon as possible and what better way to begin that process than with an awesome gallery of multi-exposure photographs from this year’s games.
Only one South African film has made the shortlist of the Louis Vuitton Journeys Awards, and that film was made in Cape Town by Genevieve Akal of 2ovTV – and Harry Haddon – 2oceansvibe scribe and wine specialist. This is the second time the awards have taken place, and requires young film makers to make a short, three to five minute film with no dialogue, interpreting the manifesto that Louis Vuitton gives to hopeful entrants.
Spencer Tunick is world-famous for photographing hundreds of naked people at a time. His latest work brings to life his interpretation of scenes from Richard Wagner’s opera “The Ring”. He shot it in downtown Munich yesterday and used 1 700 naked volunteers, spray-painted either gold or red.
South African director, Oliver Hermanus, is out to make waves again when he begins work on The Well. His most recent success came in the form of the Afrikaans film, Skoonheid, that debuted at Cannes’ Un Certain Regard in 2011. The Well will see Hermanus reteam with Didier Costet, his French producer-distributor on Skoonheid.
In a move that makes the defacing of Brett Murray’s painting look quite low-key, an alleged young Mexican-American artist has stencilled over Pablo Picasso’s “Woman in a Red Armchair” at a Houston art museum.
A 2oceansvibe reader has alerted us to an incredible local artist’s portrait of soccer star Wayne Rooney. Hidden in the “antiques/collectibles” section of Gumtree.co.za is an original acrylic painting of the English striker, on sale for R5 000. It may well turn out to be the must have work for local collectors this year.
Jonathan Shapiro, more commonly known as Zapiro, has been named the 2012 recipient of the International Publishers Association (IPA) award for Freedom to Publish. He’ll receive it for his exemplary courage in upholding the freedom to publish whatever he wants, basically.
This past weekend marked the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, 60 years of politely smiling, waving and occupying an ultimately powerless position. In celebration, renowned street artist, Banksy, created an exclusive piece, which can be yours for free! Click through for cultural enrichment.
The Film and Publication Board has just given The Spear painting a “16N” rating. This means that children under the age of 16 should not have access to the artwork because it displays nudity.
Holy backpedal, Batman! After a hell bent crusade against the Goodman Gallery, the ANC has decided to withdraw its case. This comes following the march on the gallery yesterday, where the gallery and the ruling party got together and reached an agreement. The announcement was made this morning in a media briefing at the gallery.
As the dust settles between the ANC and the Goodman Gallery, all that’s left is for the Film and Publications Board to render their decision on the classification of our dear leader’s “umthondo” after a fraught hearing yesterday, but the how do you classify as offensive something that is no longer visibly offensive? And, what is the connection to “political criticism” in South Africa?
A protest march is currently underway and heading towards the Goodman Gallery, with people having been bussed in from as far as Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Check out all the action, and protest signs, after the jump.
Remember Paul Molesiwa, the security guard we saw in the video of the two guys vandalising the Zuma penis painting? Louis Mabokela, one of the two vandals, laid a charge of assault against him after Molesiwa was shown on camera head-butting and flipping Mabokela to the floor. Molesiwa is expected in court today.
It’s not often Juju gets good press. In fact, we couldn’t really remember the last time it happened. But, we’re going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he wrote this all himself now that he is well into his BA degree in communications through Unisa. Yesterday, Malema touched on some very important notions in a column for the City Press; notions that Nelson Mandela raised as critical 18 years ago.
The ANC is outraged at the South African National Editor’s Forum’s reaction to its call to boycott the City Press newspaper, following its publication of Brett Murray’s painting. It has now gone a step further, issuing a statement calling advertisers to no longer advertise in the paper.
So far we’ve heard from everyone regarding the controversial Jacob Zuma painting, “The Spear”, apart from the actual artist himself. In an affidavit to the police leading to his court case, Brett Murray explains why he created this work. Read it inside.
Today the ANC is in court over the controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma and his penis. Some of his supporters have gathered outside the South Gauteng High Court, along with six of his children. The other 12 of his confirmed 18 kids were absent. See the first pics of all the excitement inside.
Marvel is having a pretty good year this year, given the kajillions their Avengers film is making, not to mention all the glorious tie-ins, but another important event is set to drop in the pages of Astonishing X-Men this June – the long-awaited marriage of mutant Northstar (aka Jean-Paul Beaubier) and his human fiancé, Kyle in what will be a first for the comics giant.
The Film and Publication Board sent a team of five classifiers to view and classify Brett Murray’s “The Spear”. In other words, it stands a chance of receiving an age-restriction. The classifiers were supposed to meet this morning to discuss the size, length and visibility of Zuma’s penis (in the painting) in order to make an informed decision, but have now postponed it till next Tuesday.