Peter Plagens and Joan Bankemper at NANCY HOFFMAN GALLERY

[DogSneeze]

His work is such a tasteful synthesis of safe abstract styles (e.g. facile Ab-Ex with a dollop of bright geometric abstraction on top) is almost unbearable to look at. Got the formula down yet, Peter?

[mrbaxtercat]

i love plagens work...chaos and order coalesce nicely...@andrew weis..i don't see them as cynical at all...

[spawnofdawnacle]

Un. Please more caution around the ceramic and epoxy. James Kalm on Failblog would sadden us all.

[kidluna]

This may be far out, but I see the geometric forms as like mystic interventions jus' kinda hanging out. I feel like the marks around the grey, are important...but they seem to be mocking painting. It's like the "serious painting" in the background is being covered and overshadowed by the juvenile, mystic, geometric "spirit" that seems to be saying "IDGAF".

[kidluna]

@kidluna but also there is a symbiotic relationship between the two, and the "stuff" around the geometric form seem to be protecting it.

[jahuyser]

In reference to Bankemper's work, I love how the totality of the elements transcend the kitschy nature of many of the individual elements. Also I think your Brancusi reference is astute. The verticality also makes me think in a corporeal sense, as if each piece represents the totality of a person, and maybe specifically a woman, and maybe more specifically Joan herself. As artists understand, each piece we create is a self portrait in some fashion or another. Lovely, rich and evocative.

[jahuyser]

As a maker myself, I often argue internally about what constitutes a strong group of work. Plagens' paintings are gorgeous, but I am left wondering why the geometric color chunks always sit on top of the gooey amoebas. They seem a little programmatic, like he found a solution and just repeated it. There is a lot of room to play with the relationship between those two languages that he leaves untouched. Is the repetition for the sake of commodity? That said, the varied grays are wonderful.

[jameskalm]

@jahuyser I spoke with Peter about his intentions in the paintings. I mention "Pop Abstraction' in the reveal. I see this as a very conscious awareness of how paintings work, the devices and styles, and what they've been designated to signify, As Peter's been looking at, and thinking about art for a long long time, he knows what he's doing. Other "Pop Abstractionists" that relate to this work would include Carroll Dunham, Jonathan Lasker and Nicholas Krushenic.

[claureic]

I like P.Plagens. He has a great piece on the najp site about Robert Hughes's documentary on the art market;

[rybgpo]

Like the Plagens!

[Cre8iveSignWorks]

i dont want to criticize the critic, so i wont, but if people buy these works, where do they put them? coz i wouldnt know what to do with any of them.

thanx james

[kidluna]

@Cre8iveSignWorks probably above their couch or something.

[eenkjet]

the ceramics were fascinating. very nice.

the abstracts would best serve the art world as a props for a mockumentary discussing the demise of the art world. but we heard the artist's opinion, "he doesn't care". and it shows.