The Artcast

Episode 2: Steve McQueen at the Tate Modern discussed by Caz Murray, Vikki Kosmalska and Laura LennardJoin us discussing the major Tate retrospective of the artist and film director Steve McQueen.The only person ever to win an Oscar and a Turner Prize, McQueen is a prolific video artist and film director. This exhibition focuses on his video art work from 1999 to the present day. Join Vikki, Caz and Laura to hear this week’s review and if you like what you hear please rate, review and subscribe!If you want to email us, we would love to hear from you: helloartcast@gmail.com And you can follow us on instagram: @theartcast Our wonderful editor Jonny Lennard has also launched his own podcast The Old Boys Book Club. It's not about art, but we highly recommend you give it a listen. Available on all major podcast platforms and you can find them on insta here: @theoldboysbookclub.  Last, but not least - thank you to the incredible Nat Witts for our jazzy jingle and Jonny for his amazing editing.

Episode 1: Radical Figures at The Whitechapel Gallery, discussed by Laura Lennard, Caz Murray and Vikki KosmalskaThe Whitechapel Gallery is looking to overturn art criticism’s 1980s declaration that ‘painting is dead’.The gallery has presented a case for painting’s ‘radical’ relevance within the contemporary art canon, showcasing the work of 10 painters of varied nationalities and styles to make their point.But did our intrepid reviewers, Caz and Vikki, buy either painting’s relevance or it’s radicalism?The exhibition got us questioning: what does it truly mean to be radical? What can painting as a medium bring the contemporary viewer that other mediums of art cannot? Is it even appropriate to suggest painting is dead in the first place?In other news we share a cautionary tale about getting too close to artworks (largely for Vikki’s benefit) and keen readers will have already clocked that the Artcast team is a trio once more.Join Vikki, Caz and Laura to hear this week’s review and if you like what you hear please rate, review and subscribe!If you want to email us, we would love to hear from you: helloartcast@gmail.com And you can follow us on instagram: @theartcast Our wonderful editor Jonny Lennard has also launched his own podcast The Old Boys Book Club. It's not about art, but we highly recommend you give it a listen. Available on all major podcast platforms and you can find them on insta here: @theoldboysbookclub.  Last but not least - thank you to the incredible Nat Witts for our jazzy jingle and Jonny for his amazing editing. 

Episode 4: Dora Maar at the Tate Modern discussed by Vikki Kosmalska and Caz Murray. For our final episode of series 4 we delve into the world of photographer, painter and poet Dora Maar. History has remembered Maar primarily for being the muse and lover of Picasso and the full breath of her artistic output has only been recognised since her death in 1997. This exhibition is re-writing her back into the artistic canon, shining a light on her innovative and varied photographic practice, her influential role in the Surrealist movement and how she collaborated (and influenced) her better know peers. For Art News, we cover the recent decision to award The Turner Prize to 4 artists. Wider opinion on this is mixed and we discuss what means in the current climate and implications for The Turner Prize in future. Thank you so much to everyone who has tuned in this season (and this year!) If you like what you hear please rate, review and subscribe. If you want to email us, we would love to hear from you: helloartcast@gmail.comAnd you can follow us on instagram: @theartcastOur wonderful editor Jonny Lennard has also launched his own podcast The Old Boys Book Club. It's not about art, but we highly recommend you give it a listen. Available on all major podcast platforms and you can find them on insta here: @theoldboysbookclub. Last but not least - thank you to the incredible Nat Witts for our jazzy jingle and Jonny for his amazing editing. Merry Christmas from The Artcast and see you in the New Year (and new decade) for more chats about art!

Episode 3: Lucian Freud: The Self Portraits at The Royal Academy discussed by Vikki Kosmalska and Caz MurrayWe head back to the Royal Academy to take on Lucian Freud. Renowned the world over for his figurative paintings, his distinctive painting style and his ability to render human skin, this exhibition takes a different tack and explores his artistic development through self portraits he created throughout his career. Safe to say our reactions to this exhibition weren’t what we were expecting. We discuss how accessible this exhibition is, whether we would recommended it and what we discovered (or didn’t) about Freud along the way. For Art News, we cover a story about the Italian Ministry of Culture who have got themselves in some hot water by not doing their homework and leasing a 13th Century Monastery to some rather unsavory tenants. Thank you so much for listening, if you like was you hear, please rate, review and subscribe!The Artcast love getting a bit of correspondence, so if you have any feedback or want to ask a question for the “Ask the Artcast’ feature, get in touch at helloartcast@gmail.com. DM of follow us on Instagram: @theartcastThank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing (and for our question this week). 

Episode 2: Bridget Riley at The Hayward Gallery discussed by Vikki Kosmalska and Caz Murray on until the 26th of January. This episode we take on Op Art heavy weight Bridget Riley, best known for her meticulous geometric paintings where things are not what they seem. This exhibition somewhat divided opinion in team Artcast - are her paintings simply optical illusions that hurt your eyes or is there a deeper meaning in her work? Listen to us debate our different reactions and don't worry, unlike the current political climate we are in, we keep it civil! For Art News, we cover the recent announcement about the extensive refurbishment of The National Portrait Gallery and the potential impact of it’s upcoming 3 year closure.   Thank you so much for listening, if you like what you hear, please rate, review and subscribe!The Artcast love getting a bit of correspondence, so if you have any feedback or want to ask a question for the “Ask the Artcast’ feature, get in touch as helloartcast@gmail.com. DM of follow us on Instagram: @theartcastThank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing. 

Episode 1: Antony Gormley at The Royal Academy of Arts discussed by Vikki Kosmalska and Caz Murray.The Artcast has returned for another series and we are excited to be taking you through our top picks of exhibitions this Autumn season - we’ve got some treats in store for you! First up is the internationally renowned sculptor Antony Gormley currently on at the Royal Academy. This exhibition features instillations created especially for the space, his early work and a glimpse into his sketch books. Exploring the human form, human existence and bringing us back to basics (in a good way) this exhibition did not disappoint and gave us a lot to ponder. For Art News, we cover recommendations from researchers on what pose we should be striking on our insta feeds and also how the ever impending Brexit is affecting the art world.  Thank you so much for listening, if you like was you hear, please rate review and subscribe!The Artcast love getting a bit of correspondence, so if you have any feedback or want to ask a question for the “Ask the Artcast’ feature, get in touch as helloartcast@gmail.com. DM of follow us on Instagram: @theartcastThank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing. 

Summer Special Episode 3: Cindy Sherman at The National Portrait Gallery discussed by Caz Murray and Vikki Kosmalska. For the final episode for our mini series of summer specials we review post modern heavy weight Cindy Sherman. Sherman is best know for her practise of transforming herself into a multitude of personas (600 and counting!) and capturing this through photography.We discuss her representation of societal norms over the years, her connection to and irreverence of to the fashion industry and how we all, in our own ways, construct and present different personas to the world. Just without the vast array of wigs that Sherman has to hand.  And in Art News, we chat about a rather surprising (and very valuable) discovery someone made in their local charity shop. Thank you so much for tuning into our Summer Specials.  if you like was you hear, please rate review and subscribe!The Artcast love getting a bit of correspondence, so if you have any feedback or want to ask a question for the “Ask the Artcast’ feature, get in touch as helloartcast@gmail.com. We plan to be back in September with more art reviews!DM of follow us on Instagram: @theartcastThank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing. 

Summer Special Episode 2: Van Gogh and Britain at the Tate Britain discussed by Caz Murray and Vikki Kosmalska. Van Gogh needs no introduction and is up there as one of the most famous and talked about artists of the modern era (see the slew of bio pics about him if you need evidence). And yet, the Tate Britain pulls off an ambitious exhibition offering new perspectives on his life and work, through exploring what influenced him and who he influenced in turn.  We discuss notions of the individual creative genius and the tortured artist, both attributed to Gogh, and what we miss by viewing him this way.  And as always, we pick our favourite pieces to add to our now rather substantial hypothetical art collection. To follow the wonderful felt creations of Lucy Sparrow, go to her instagram @sewyoursoulThank you so much for listening, if you like was you hear, please rate review and subscribe!The Artcast love getting a bit of correspondence, so if you have any feedback or want to ask a question for the “Ask the Artcast’ feature, get in touch as helloartcast@gmail.com. DM of follow us on Instagram: @theartcastThank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing.

Summer Special Episode 1: Edvard Munch, Love & Angst at The British Museum discussed by Caz Murray and Vikki Kosmalska. The Artcast is back and jumping straight into it exploring life, death, love and suffering with Edvard Munch. Best known for his work ‘The Scream’, the painter and print maker is probably the epitome of existentialism. Although covering weighty subjects, this exhibition is strangely refreshing and provided so much to talk about: whether Munch was as on board with the bohemian way of life as he professed to be, his ambivalent relationship towards women, the impact of traumatic losses during his childhood and how hair really is everything (to quote Fleabag series 2). Laura is still part of team Artcast and will be returning for the next full series in September. In the meantime, Caz and Vikki do their best to guess what her reactions would be (note always add more gilding).For Art News, Vikki and Caz discuss their new baroque feminist fav Donna Olympia Maidalchini Pampilj and you can read more about her here: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/jun/23/velazquez-portrait-olimpia-maidalchini-pamphilj-feminist-power-behind-a-pope-sothebys-saleThank you so much for listening, if you like was you hear, please rate review and subscribe!The Artcast love getting a bit of correspondence, so if you have any feedback or want to ask a question for the “Ask the Artcast’ feature, get in touch as helloartcast@gmail.com. DM of follow us on Instagram: @theartcastThank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing. 

Episode 6: The Renaissance Nude at The Royal Academy discussed by Caz Murray, Vikki Kosmalska & Laura Lennard.Sending Nudes is all the rage these days, why not check out the Royal Academy's show for some Renaissance style inspo for your next shoot? Rumour has it a classical contrapposto stance can be very lengthening...Jokes aside, this riotous exhibition showcases 85 glorious Renaissance nudes and uses them as a lens through which to explore key themes of the period: from religious art to classical mythology; from patronage to advancements in artistic skill. So much of this exhibition surprised us: we discuss what Northern European artists such as Durer brought to the Renaissance; we explore whether deeply religious art can also be erotic, and we launch an impassioned appeal to bring back the cult of the male nude in art!The Renaissance greats are all there (Leonardo, Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael, Donatello...) but there is so much more beyond.This is the final episode of Series 2, but stay tuned to our feed for news of our summer specials.Thank you so much for listening, and please remember to 'Ask the Artcast' any art related questions you might have for us. You can email them to helloartcast@gmail.com and we will do our best to feature your question in an upcoming episode!@theartcast on Instagram 

Episode 5: Tracey Emin, A Fortnight of Tears at The White Cube, Bermondsey until 6th April. Discussed by Caz Murray, Vikki Kosmalska & Laura Lennard.Tracey Emin, the Turner Prize nominee, original enfant terrible of the 90s art world, and core member of the YBAs: she’s an artist we’re all familiar with. An artist we think we all know. But her current exhibition at The White Cube in Bermondsey had us rethinking both Emin and her artistic output. A Fortnight of Tears explores the loss experienced by the artist through various life changing events. It provoked strong reactions and really divided opinion amongst Team Artcast. Tune in to hear the debate. We question:Is it limiting for an artists’ work to be so thoroughly entwined with their autobiography? Is there a place for expressionist painting in contemporary art?Should Emin be celebrated for giving voice to inherently female narratives on such a grand scale, or is it distasteful to commercialise her private pain? A phenomenally popular, free exhibition: there is no doubt that Emin is drawing in the crowds. Let us know what you thought:Email us: hellotheartcast@gmail.comDM or follow us on Instagram: @theartcast  Thank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing.

Episode 4: A Tate Modern Two Parter: Pierre Bonnard and Dorothea Tanning. With Caz Murray, Vikki Kosmalska & Laura LennardThis week we’ve tasked ourselves with two reviews. First up, Pierre Bonnard, a bit of a Marmite Modernist. He was both acclaimed by Henri Matisse as one of the greatest colourists of all time, and derided by Pablo Picasso who could not abide his work at all. Tune in to hear which camp we’re in and what we made of all that unadulterated colour.Secondly, we all embarked upon an enduring love of Surrealist artist, Dorothea Tanning. A veritable ‘Renaissance Woman’ who confidently straddles a plethora of artistic mediums throughout her career.Both exhibitions are on at the Tate Modern. If you like what you hear, please rate review and subscribe! As always, we’d love to hear from you:Email us: hellotheartcast@gmail.comDM or follow us on Instagram: @theartcast  Thank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing.

Episode 3: Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams at the V&A. Discussed by Laura Lennard, Caz Murray & Vikki KosmalskaThe highly anticipated Christian Dior exhibition at the V&A has already sold out! But if you haven’t got a ticket yet don't despair - there are two things that you can do: 1) Keep an eye out for extended dates...2) Listen to this week’s episode of The Artcast where we do our utmost to recreate it for you!Whether you like to wear your ballgown to the supermarket like our resident clothes horse Vikki, or you're more interested in the making of a garment like crafty old Caz, there is something there for everyone. If you’re one of the lucky people who got a ticket to the show let us know what you thought! Email us: hellotheartcast@gmail.comDM or follow us on Instagram: @theartcast  Thank you, as always, to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing. 

Episode 2: Bill Viola / Michelangelo: Life, Death, Rebirth at the Royal Academy. Discussed by Laura Lennard, Caz Murray & Vikki KosmalskaThe RA’s incredibly immersive exhibition brings together works by the iconic Renaissance Man, Michelangelo, and the Modern video artist, Bill Viola. In an extraordinary mash up of mediums, we see incredibly worked, personal, 15th century draughtsmanship on the one hand, and highly staged, epic, contemporary videography on the other. Does this juxtaposition open up an interesting dialogue? Or are the artists doomed to partake in a predetermined, and largely limiting contest of skill? Both artists undoubtedly grapple with weighty concerns: human mortality, the inevitability of death, rebirth. We explore our own personal reactions to these universal themes and assess what has been gained or lost from this artistic pairing. In lighter news, we play dead artist blind date, and as always loot our favourite works from the exhibition for our imaginary collections. Thank you to the incredible Nat Witts for our jingle, and to the brilliant Jonny Lennard for our editing. 

Episode 1: Reimagining Captain Cook: Pacific Perspectives at the British Museum. Discussed by Laura Lennard, Caz Murray & Vikki Kosmalska.Welcome to series two! We’re back, reviewing a free exhibition at the British Museum: Reimagining Captain Cook: Pacific Perspectives.https://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/reimagining_captain_cook.aspx It’s 250 years since Captain Cook first set sail for the Pacific, but what does his legacy mean to you? Is he a figurehead of enlightenment exploration and progression or an enabler of colonisation and oppression? We focus on the British Museum’s display of 14 contemporary artworks by Pacific Island artists, all of which are concerned with Cook and his legacy. These incredible works open up Pacific perspectives and invite us to re-imagine Captain Cook’s legacy, raising questions around ritual, possession, (mis)understanding and what it means to be ‘civilised’.Works discussed in detail:Taking Possession: Lono (2017) by Lisa Reihanahttps://www.milfordgalleries.co.nz/dunedin/work/18526-Taking-Possession-Lono-30220-31380-34845 Civilised #12 (2008) by Michael Cook https://ocula.com/art-galleries/this-is-no-fantasy-dianne-tanzer-gallery/artworks/michael-cook/civilised-12/Cook (1981) by Aloi Pilioko Cookie in the Cook Islands (2008) by Michel Tuffery https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=841388001&objectId=3294927&partId=1In other Art News, Walthamstow Correspondent, Caz Murray introduces Waltham Forrest as the inaugural London Borough of Culture, and Laura ‘Poirot’ Lennard investigates the case of the stollen Michelangelo... Thank you to Ataraiti Waretini for her invaluable contributions, Nat Witts for our jingle and to our Editor Jonny Lennard for managing to make sense of our ramblings. Email us: helloartcast@gmail.comDM us on Instagram: @theartcast 

The Artcast: Series 2 Trailer with Laura Lennard, Vikki Kosmalska and Caz MurrayYour fortnightly arts review podcast is back, with a new series launching on 5th February! Tune in for more London-based exhibition reviews, international art news and general chit chat. Full season schedule below:5th February: Reimagining Captain Cook: Pacific Perspectives at the British Museum, 29 November 2018 – 4 August 2019. FREE EXHIBITION.19th February: Bill Viola / Michelangelo: Life, Death, Rebirth at the Royal Academy, 26 January — 31 March 2019.5th March: Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams at the V&A, 2 February – 14 July 2019.19th March: Dorothea Tanning, 27 February – 9 June 2019, and Pierre Bonnard: The Colour of Memory, 23 January – 6 May 2019, both on at the Tate Modern.2nd April: Morag Keil: Moarg Kiel at the ICA, 30th January - 14th April 2019.16th April: The Renaissance Nude at the Royal Academy: 3rd March - 2nd June 2019.Huge thanks to our long-suffering Editor, Jonny Lennard, and to our Jazz Momma, Nat Witts. Let us know what you think of the episodes or exhibitions reviewed so far. We’re: hellotheartcast@gmail.com and @theartcast on Instagram.

Episode 6: An Extended Christmas Special on Modern Couples: Art, Intimacy and the Avant-Garde at the Barbican. Discussed by Laura Lennard, Caz Murray & Vikki Kosmalska.For our last episode of the season we’ve indulged in a jam-packed discussion of a whole host of modern artists including Auguste Rodin, Marcel Duchamp, Virginia Woolf, Man Ray, Georgia O’Keeffe, Hannah Hoch and many many more! The Barbican’s vast exhibition focuses on Modern Art and Modern Love: bringing together works by a plethora of modern artists of various sexualities, races and genders. It focuses on collaboration rather than any singular, isolated genius, and as a result it presents a rich kaleidoscope of artists and works. We delve into the amorous modern avant-garde and ponder: Who gets the credit when a couple collaborates? Who is the artist and who is the muse? How intimate is too intimate when it comes to capturing your lover in a work of art? And what would the repercussions be if you filled your instagram feed with modernist eroticism?Artworks referenced in the show below:The Two Friends, Tamara de Lempicka: https://theartstack.com/artist/tamara-de-lempicka-lempicka/two-friends-9Negro Anthology (1934), edited by Nancy Cunard: https://www.pbagalleries.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/157/lot/43603/Negro-Anthology-Made-by-Nancy-Cunard-1931-1933Doll of Alma Mahler(1918), commissioned by Oskar Kokoschka from Hermine Moos: https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/alma-doll.jpgLee Miller with a Cast of her Torso, Man Ray: https://theartiscapegallery.com/modern-couples-art-intimacy-and-the-avant-garde-at-the-barbican-review/19-roland-penrose-lee-miller-with-a-cast-of-her-torso-downshire-hill-london-england-1940-roland-penrose-estateImages taken on Fire Island (1930s-40s), Pajama: http://www.pineshistory.org/art/paul-cadmus-jared-margaret-french-art-history/ The Embrace / I am Beautiful (1882), Auguste Rodin: http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en/collections/sculptures/i-am-beautifulThe Bride Pandora (1927), Hannah Hoch: http://faculty.washington.edu/dillon/rhethtml/satire/braut.htmlNot a Shoe (1950), Marcel Duchamp: http://www.thehistorialist.com/2014/10/1950-marcel-duchamp-says-not-shoe.htmlLet us know what you think of the exhibiton or of the episode! We’re: hellotheartcast@gmail.com and @theartcast on Instagram.A gigantic THANK YOU to Nat Witts for our jazzy jingle, and to Jonny Lennard for being such a patient and dedicated Editor throughout.  

Episode 5: Klimt/ Schiele at the Royal Academy: should an artist’s immoral life choices affect our viewing of their work, and what is the difference between art and pornography? Discussed by Laura Lennard, Caz Murray & Vikki Kosmalska.One hundred years on from the deaths of two giants of Viennese art, Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele, the RA brings rare works on paper by both these artists to London: an exhibition that Laura in particular has been ridiculously excited about! But both artists were famed for their eroticism and for their focus on the female nude, and both have elements in their biography that are uncomfortable for any 21st century feminist. As you can imagine, this gave us lots of talking points. Including: the representation of women; female sexuality; difficult artist biographies; the difference between art and pornography; and the moral obligations of our art institutions. With all that in mind, are we still allowed to love the artworks? Let us know what you think, hellotheartcast@gmail.com and instagram @theartcast.As always special thanks to Nat Witts for our awesome jingle and to Jonny Lennard, our long-suffering editor.

Episode 4: Anni Albers at the Tate Modern and Art made by Algorithms. Discussed by Laura Lennard, Caz Murray & Vikki Kosmalska.We’re enormously excited that the Tate Modern have invested in a major retrospective to showcase the oft overlooked artist Anni Albers. They have highlighted her as a ‘pivotal’ influence within modern art and introduced her works to whole raft of new viewers. A talented female artist getting some long overdue recognition? Hurray!!!But was the exhibition everything we hoped it would be...? Well on that, we’re divided.We discuss Albers’ weaving based practice and question distinctions between art and craft, the ancient and the modern, mass-production and the artist’s hand. Resident textile artist / ardent knitter Cazzy M was inspired enough to pitch a whole new yarn-based reality TV show! But does Anni Albers get your vote of approval? Let us know: helloartcast@gmail.com, or @theartcast on instagram.**Bonus arts news feature on the first ever algorithm made art work to be sold at auction**As always, special thanks to Nat Witts for our awesome jingle and to Jonny Lennard, our long-suffering editor.

Episode 3: Space Shifters at the Hayward Gallery, Jenny Saville and Banksy's Auction Antics discussed by Laura Lennard, Caz Murray & Vikki Kosmalska.We're back at the Hayward Gallery for this week's episode, having a good old explore of their highly experiential exhibition; Space Shifters. This is a brilliant exhibition to visit with friends and family because the interactive works will get you discovering, talking and playing in the gallery space whatever your age.It had us questioning: how formal should the gallery space be?Is there a 'correct' way to experience art?What would you do in a gallery space if no-one was watching?Join us to explore these weighty issues and more including Banksy's shredder and Jenny Saville breaking records.Let us know what you think, hellotheartcast@gmail.com and instagram @theartcast.As always special thanks to Nat Witts for our awesome jingle and Jonny Lennard our editor.