Wednesday, November 12, 2008

JOHN FEODOROV




John Feodorov does alot of work that deals with modern societies need for spirituality, and the kitcshy treatment of the existing tribal cultures.  i was most impressed by his "Collectibles" series of altered family photos that he added text to from those mail-outs for cheesy porcelain native american statuettes.   
I liked too his altered 'see and say.'  we all had them, i loved mine (muppet and farm-friends versions.)  feodorov made his into a ritualistic implement.  i think more than anything i like his work because it establishes this current trend of putting feathers and rainbows on everything in a solid artistic tradition.  while i think some contemporaries of mine may or may not share his ideas, it sort of allows me to like their work in spite of a general feeling that it lacks content.  of course there is a history of artists working with these ideas, it never stopped from the time when it was simply what people were and did, to what people lack and long-for and try to mimic or reproduce.  
it was ignorant of me to think it sprung a year ago from nowhere as a fad.  long live animal skulls and neon geometrics!