Sandro Chia at CHARLES COWLES GALLERY

[NicolaRedwooddforest]

Sandro Chia's paintings glow with warm light and colors.

[pokslow]

What fabulous paintings! I have been following Chia's work since the 1990 when he was already a "big name". I know a lot of his graphic works but sadly haven't had much chance to get to see his oil paintings. I live in Malaysia and I hope I will be back in Europe soon for an extended stay to see in real life such great contemporary art of which i am a great fan of.

[phonedial9]

a combination of Cezzane and Picasso's classical period

[jeffreycollins]

Wish I could have seen these in person. I love frames on paintings that look like they were hand made. I can't stand those gold frames that seem to be on every impressionist painting.

[antoniomalta]

Even after Picasso, people today are still going for conventional paintings like Sandro Chia's.

[LawrenceCharlesMille]

Chia is a poet. There are worse things. The Neo Expressionists cleansed the palate, quenched a thirst even, after a progression to draught. Schnabel became increasingly European after rising like a geyser. Does an indigenous American painting exist now? Jazz. Blues. Rock and Roll. Claureic, I too have high regard for Guston.

[candeaguilar]

looks like Matisse and Picasso..

[claureic]

It is strange how all his backgrounds seem to echo Franz Marc.

Also, without the Transvanguardia, there would not have been Fischl or Salle. They owe an obvious debt to the three C's.

[claureic]

In the late 1980's, don't you think Chia got carried away by his success? It seems he was trying to please a certain type of collectors. I remember seeing a huge painting by him, and it was a greenish repetition of what he had been doing, just because the market was asking for it. The new works, the ones in this video, reveal an artist who doesn't care what the market thinks. That's what I meant by vulgarity, about his work in the late 80's. Maybe Saatchi's fault...

[MrWowforever]

why is it that once an artist gets a taste of success he/she is then accused of making work solely for the market, as if the market commands the hand. Art is hard and success often allows an artist to paint a lot, which is the goal of the artist, market or not. i know it's hard to believe any artists are sincere with Hirst and Murakami pumping out the art....but lets not let the 'market' define our understanding of the mystery of art and the joys of real, earned success. :)

[claureic]

You are right, and I could also quote examples of artists who, albeit successful, never churned out market-oriented material: Polke, Barcelo, Riley, and (sorry if I seem old-fashioned and obsessed...) the great Philip Guston...

[jameslour]

I am a late comer to Guston, but 2 years ago standing beside him, I fell deeply in love with him. Perhaps it is the recognition of his self doubt and struggle that I admire.

[claureic]

If you like Guston, there is a book written by his daughter, entitled "Night Studio". It gives a pretty good idea of what you very rightly mention about him: his self-doubt and struggle.

[MrWowforever]

Fischl and Salle are of the same generation as Clemente, Chia and Cucci. The debt belongs with the Capital Realists in Germany (Richter and Polke) and the slow realization by the American art establishment of this work, especially Polkes technique of layering. Also Francis Picabia's influence on all of these painters.The three C's always seemed more involved with Europes histories...Kirchner, Kandinsky and Italy's own all consuming and overwhelming past.

[claureic]

I am curious to know your opinion on Schnabel.

[MrWowforever]

(just my opinion) Schnabel benefited from the anti-painting scene of 1978 new york, not much knowledge of contemporary art in germany at the time; quoting Beuys and Polke on a big Texas scale. i think he's a good artist, smart and ambitious. he is a target and made into a cliche, but he's smart.

[jameskalm]

Id have a hard time giving you a totally objective opinion of Schnabel. As a young artist, recently arrived in New York, I discovered Julian on my first visit to Soho. It was his first show at Mary Boone. I was stunned. Watching his progression from rabid up-start to hot prospect to superstar was amazing. At some point he became more interested in becoming a celebrity than being a great painter. His films are pretty good, but the heart went out of his painting, maybe into the film biz.

[claureic]

Chia is like fine Italian wine: getting better with age. I am not sure you could say the same about Saatchi...Even through the video, you can spot his virtuoso brushstrokes. His art has lost its vulgarity and gained a new elegance.Thanks James.

[jameskalm]

I'll apoligize, but there's something to be said for "vulgarity", perhaps it's my Dadaist leanings coming through. JK

[jameskalm]

Love him, or hate him, Chia is synonymous with the return of the figure and Neo-Expressionism. I dont think we can appreciate the guts it took to risk that nowadays. Whether these paintings are conceptual tropes or authentic kitsch, they are nonetheless, fabricated with a magnificent understanding of how to push paint. JK

[2s2s2ss]

lapped it up....nice to see a more gentler side to painting...agree with jameslour comment,but still can appreciate nice poetic charm...methinks the doctor has ordered me figuration that enchants...good commentary james, your ace!

[yummzy]

Sandro Chia, a good man and artist that the profiteer Charles Saatchi tried to destroy, like a few others, by making a loss and flooding the market. But he couldn't.

Bravo Sandro.

[spawndawnacl]

Oh, I love these paintings. Though I seldom notice frames, these I loved also. I would be proud to own or prouder to have produced any of these. Thanks, thanks, thanks.

[MrPixies]

The commentary is a ten. I don't like the paintings, it's the style. They are nice, if that makes sense(?) Thank you.

[jameslour]

Perhaps it is that they are remnants of the past, fossilized in spite of their attempt at fluidity. The color in many of the pictures seems so shallow. The figures are too stylized. Each body is like every other body, repeating itself. Is the point to make fun of modern art or to remember it. Whichever, I am not impressed, in spite of his notoriety. Please, throw me a friggin bone.

[jameslour]

I ask myself after watching this video 3 times, why do the paintings seem so irrelevant. They appear to be well executed, composed, and very well framed (perhaps the deepest quality of the whole). I dont believe it is the subject matter, although quite self possessed, or the meaning of meat with a knife or a gun or money lying all about. So what is it that bothers me.

[seintzeit]

maybe because it's gay. i mean this in a positive way.

[HenhousetheRed]

I spy with my little eye Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

[seintzeit]

that was fun; i think these look great; i remember when we were all young(er) he was so, cute.

:)

[davidfstarr]

Thanks James!

[purewonka]

I haven't even heard his name in years. Cool to see that he is still at it.

[rizzin2thetop]

Thanks so much for sharing your videos! Their always so interesting to see.