➡️ Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/395rmjxc Born on December 27, 1948, in Châteauroux, France, Gérard Depardieu has emerged as a distinguished figure in the realm of French acting. Raised in modest circumstances, he unearthed his fervor for the theatrical arts during his eventful youth. After his commencement with a local theater troupe in Châteauroux, he embarked on a journey to Paris in the 1960s to hone his acting skills at the renowned "Cours Florent." His breakthrough moment materialized with his remarkable portrayal in François Truffaut's "The Last Metro" (1980), a performance that garnered him the esteemed César award for Best Actor. His collaborations with director Bertrand Blier, notably in films such as "Get Out Your Handkerchiefs" (1978) and "Too Beautiful for You" (1989), further solidified his status as a versatile actor. Elevating his prominence to a global level, he achieved international acclaim through the historical drama "Green Card" (1990), which earned him an Oscar nomination. His prolific career encompasses a wide spectrum of films including "Cyrano de Bergerac" (1990), a Cannes-decorated masterpiece, and "Les Misérables" (1995), an adaptation of Victor Hugo's literary classic. Depardieu's imposing presence and profound emotional range render him an indispensable icon in both French and international cinema. His personal life has been punctuated by triumphs and controversies, encompassing multiple marriages and contentious tax disputes with the French government. Despite these undulating experiences, Gérard Depardieu endures as a legendary thespian, perpetually dedicated to his craft in film and television. Beyond his acting accolades, Gérard Depardieu is celebrated for his ardent pursuit of art collection. His ardor for the arts has led him to amass an expansive and diverse compilation of artworks over the years. His collection spans epochs, mediums, and artistic genres. He exhibits a particular penchant for painting, sculpture, and photography, with his eclectic preferences apparent in the pieces he has acquired. His eminence and flourishing career have facilitated collaborations with diverse artists and galleries, granting him access to extraordinary artistic creations. His aesthetic preferences span a wide gamut, traversing classical paintings to contemporary photography. Noteworthy artists whose works he has procured encompass luminaries such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Zao Wou-Ki, and lensmasters like Henri Cartier-Bresson. Among the treasures adorning his collection, a quintessential sculpture stands out: "The Walking Man," an imposing bronze crafted by Germaine Richter (1902-1959). This sculpture has almost become synonymous with the actor, emblematic of his journey through roles and eras. Valued between 500,000 and 800,000 euros, it attests to the rarity and profound significance of this remarkable piece. Depardieu's artistic realm further encompasses the realm of painting, exemplified by the captivating oil painting titled "Light Blue with Heavy Tasks," crafted by Olivier Debré (1920-1999). Estimated between 25,000 and 30,000 euros, this artwork captures intricate emotions through dynamic shapes and colors, offering insight into the artist's inner dialogue. The collection also houses sculptures that encapsulate enduring artistic friendships. A delicate bronze named "La Promenade des Amis," sculpted by Diego Giacometti (1902-1985), embodies the essence of the creative bonds that linked the actor to this artistic luminary. Valued between 150,000 and 200,000 euros, this piece stands as tangible evidence of the richness of relationships in the art realm. Among the pictorial gems, "The Yellow Cow" by Nikki de Saint Phalle (1930-2002) radiates exuberance and vitality. Estimated between 50,000 and 70,000 euros, this vibrant painting mirrors the dynamic temperament of Depardieu himself. Within this curated collection, the names etched in art history come to life: the works of Alexander Calder, Joan Miró, Ossip Zadkine, Eugène Leroy, and Henri Michaux intermingle harmoniously, crafting a diverse and opulent ensemble that attests to Depardieu's discerning artistic sensibilities. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCh5rwO98aE

Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/2s4h3zut 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1: I want to bring the reader closer to the art technique of collage, which is often overlooked in favor of painting, sculpture, and photography. This numerical climax, called "top 10," is an attempt to put the most important collages in the history of art in order of importance. So, with a purely educational goal in mind, I want to give a good introduction to my curated selection by giving a brief history and description of collage. This will help the reader understand and appreciate this way of making art, which involves gluing papers, photos, objects, newspaper clippings, magazines, etc., on top of each other and then sticking them to a rigid support. From an art historical point of view, this technique started in the early 20th century, when it was used to make a number of avant-garde masterpieces, most notably by Picasso and Braque, the masters of Cubism, and later by artists who practiced Futurism and Geometric Abstractionism, as well as Neo-Dada, Surrealism, Pop, and Nouveau realisme, who made more complicated assemblages. This, however, is the story that Eurocentric Western art books tell us. These books often don't go into enough detail about how collage was first used when paper was invented, in China in 200 B.C., and in Japan in the 10th century, when calligraphers started writing their poems on surfaces with glued paper and words on them. Still, the Western world is definitely the one that came up with photomontage, which is a collage made out of photos. Richard Hamilton is one of the best artists who uses this method today. In any case, it's important to note that photomontage is also used to describe other ways of combining pictures, such as Victorian printing, printing from more than one negative on a single piece of printing paper, front projection, and computer editing techniques. Now, after this short "lesson," we've reached the moment of truth. You're now full of ideas, so I'll leave you to think about and understand my top 10 on the method in question... ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zusRoS_DoLA

➡️ Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/3DaehUc The Orlando Museum of Art was put on probation by the US Museums Group following the Basquiat forgery incident. The museum may find it more difficult to do things like borrow artwork from other institutions if it loses the accreditation it has held since 1971 from the American Alliance of Museums. In June of last year, agents from the FBI stormed the Orlando Museum of Art in Florida. All 25 paintings from the exhibition Heroes & Monsters: Jean-Michel Basquiat, the Thaddeus Mumford, Jr. Venice Collection were stolen due to suspicions that they were forgeries. The exhibition was effectively closed by the raid, and now comes word that the museum's accreditation is in jeopardy after the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), of which it has been a member since 1971, placed it on probation. Aaron De Groft, the museum's director and CEO in Orlando, was dismissed by the board of trustees not long after the raid. Cynthia Brumback, the board chairwoman, was also removed from her position in December. The Basquiat debacle, which brought shame to the institution and prompted many to question its methods, appears to be the root cause of all of this. According to an AAM spokesman, "the museum's particular compliance difficulties," as determined by the organization's accreditation commission, determine how long a museum will be on probation. Probationary status is rarely given to a member institution. The representative claims that at any given time, less than one percent of licensed museums are on probation. What a museum needs to show this commission to come off probation "depends on the situation." Concerns regarding the legitimacy of the 25 artworks initially surfaced when the public learned of their existence in 2012, when the museum first announced its intention to display them. Although Basquiat's paintings on cardboard reflect his style, the material didn't gain widespread use until after he passed away at age 27 (in 1994). TV writer Thad Mumford paid $5,000 for a storage facility in which he kept twenty-five paintings he said were created in 1982. The artworks were discovered again in 2012 after Mumford failed to pay the locker's rent and were distributed among other buyers. The Orlando museum now has these items on loan. The FBI was investigating the origins of these pieces since it is against the law to knowingly sell forgeries. The agency had contacted the museum inquiring about these paintings, but the museum had not responded. The museum then spent $60,000 to have University of Maryland associate professor and Basquiat expert Jordana Moore Saggese determine if the paintings were indeed created by Basquiat. Saggese initially assured the museum personnel that some of the paintings were by Basquiat, but she then recanted and declared she no longer wanted her name associated with the exhibit. An FBI document suggests that De Groft, the museum's director, took offense to her request. In a threatening email to her, he wrote, "Do you want us to imply that you were paid $60,000. Alright then. In other words, be quiet. You made off with some serious cash. Don't try to be holier than you are." Having trouble borrowing from other museums? That could be because your institution lost its accreditation. This is, however, highly implausible given the dismissal of the two highest-ranking museum employees in Orlando at the time of the Basquiat disaster. Since the AAM does not conduct its own investigations, it must rely on the findings of the FBI and the promises of the incoming museum administration in Orlando to rectify the situation. We are working with the AAM to remove our probationary status, and we anticipate to remain in good standing," said Mark Elliott, the museum's new board chair, in a statement. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU-ewJh0hUA

Read the full interview here: https://bit.ly/3HCqrrJ "I was born an artist, it has always been in me. It was not my activity in the first period of my life, but at the age of 40 I stopped everything to make it my main activity"... What prompted you to approach art and become an artist? (events, feelings, experiences...) I was born an artist, it's always been in me. It was not my activity in the first period of my life, but at the age of 40 I stopped everything to make it my main activity. It was not an easy choice, but a necessary choice. What is your artistic background, the techniques and subjects you have experimented with so far? For the journey, it's about learning to survive, the romantic vision of the artist doesn't exist, I work a lot with the internet. Fortunately, moreover, platforms such as Artmajeur exist to give voice to artists. I started with no money, no knowledge, no pretensions, no culture, just the desire to do, to experiment. I explored the techniques, the subjects as I went, I was first guided by instinct, then I learned, I am still learning, art is a long apprenticeship. I went from drawing, to acrylic, to pastel, torn paper, cut paper, but also by computers, photography, 3d software, etc. The subjects were first esoteric, then societal, and finally human. I have long been attracted by current events, I believe I had things to say, I said them in my own way. I'm always looking for a way (or maybe a voice?) It's a constant evolution both in technique and subjects New mediums fascinate me, each technique inspires me differently. What are the 3 aspects that differentiate you from other artists, making your work unique? Quite honestly I don't know. there are several aspects; I work in series, by thoughtful or instinctive design, all independent of each other, both on subjects and on styles and techniques, it is always the exploration that interests me, of a technique, of a subject, etc. I am particularly attracted by a certain technical mastery, a concern for perfection, but also by the message conveyed through the work... ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BSzPJEjs0c