CAMH

So I put together a little teaser video relating to this really interesting exhibition I got a chance to see while I was in the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston (CAMH). Since the exhibition was largely inspired by themes of contemporary media what better way to present the post than via a Youtube video? #ontrend (Feel free to subscribe if you want! There's definitely more to come on the channel).  This is probably my first time editing anything like this as well so no judgement please. Only postive vibez yeah?

All the pieces were by Mark Flood in his exhibition "Gratest Hits". I'll tell you a little bit more about the exhibition and add in any more images I may have left out just after the video! Enjoy watching! x

WARNING this is going to sound like a very pseudo intellectual post BUT bear with me and actually give it some thought! You may find it interesting (or maybe not lol). If you don’t then you can just enjoy the imagery and maybe comment what you think the pieces are about? Go wild.

Now in my opinion, this is not an exhibition whereby one is expected to swoon over the beauty of a piece, or  drool over unbelievably flawless technique. Rather this exhibition was in place to shock- to provoke thought and conversation. I believe Flood uses “Gratest Hits” as a medium to mirror the new corporate/digital age that we live in- an age that dictates the trends- the what’s hot and what’s not.  He uses his art to describe a world where there are high corporations who largely determine what "popular culture” amounts to in society.

The kitschy feel of the pieces is somewhat a representation of  mass media distribution and the formation of pop culture. I believe it represents the hypocrisy of pop culture and the media. How things are packaged in this "perfect" shiny and glamorous image to attract attention but upon close scrutiny, the lack of depth and quality is evident. How "popular culture" really just sends subliminal messages which may actually be harmful to society.

Flood takes this idea and then points it directly at the art industry. He puts forward this interesting question as to who exactly decides what great art is and what gives them the right to decide this??

- Eme