Derivative. Decorative.
Welcome boys and girls to a new edition of Art Coverage.
You say potato I say potato. Potato. Potato. Tomato. Tomato. You say original. I say derivative. Original. Derivative. Original. Derivative. You say Cool. I say Decorative. Cool. Decorative. Cool. Decorative.
The artist I am talking about today folks is Mactruque. Either loved or hated there doesn’t seem to be a middle ground when it comes to people’s tastes about his work. I for one feel his work is derivative and decorative. I see his work as unfocused and unoriginal. I see all of them as closer to under paintings than finished works.
He seems to flip flop from ab-ex and street shout outs to rough figurative renderings and sometimes mixes it together with a bit of collage. There’s even a new highly textured Mona Lisa portrait. The only common thread I can see in his new work is his nearly muddied color palette which is consistent throughout his numerous works. Now some folks would argue that he’s amazingly prolific and how that should be proof of his genius. I would argue quality over quantity as I would prefer three works of art from Mactruque that seemed to have a consistent theme, concept and style or none at all.
I came to this conclusion while sitting in Flux gallery a couple of weeks ago. I was surrounded by an onslaught of Mactruque’s work. It was indeed a dank sensory overload and in retrospect I thought how it was not much different than visiting a Thomas Kinkade gallery, but on the plus side Thomas seems to have more focus and a concise style. It was like a computer programmer had made an algorithm that fabricated paintings for neutral Rooms To Go decor.
Also a distracting feature to the new works was how they were labeled in unreadable cursive handwriting making reading the descriptions and names of the works nearly impossible. Globatron is perplexed. Mactruque is like an inside joke that a very large group of Jacksonville gets. Globatron wants in on the joke folks. Please explain to me why I should like Mactruque’s work? I’d gladly concede. Is his work similar to how some folks get British humor and some folks don’t. I happen to love Monty Python.
Mactruque is one of Jacksonville’s most well known artists and is having an opening of new works at Flux Gallery on June 20th. Don’t listen to me. You be the judge. Click here for details.
9 Comments
A different Ben
June 18, 2008I’m glad you brought this up.
I disagree with you…or maybe I would say I see things differently.
I almost bought one of his pieces at Vestal.
I think there is meaning in beauty ( or aesthetic, or exploration of subjects and media ). I don’t believe art without concept is merely decorative. I also believe that concepts come in many shades, some are both rich and subtle.
I think the amount of work he puts into his paintings is very appropriate to the price he’s asking ( the piece I wanted was just $60!). I haven’t been to Flux so I can’t speak to the work there, but the stuff I saw at Vestal looked like it was working towards something and was the product of a lot of effort.
I think the underpainting quality you’re referring to is more like the later works of Degas. Trying to strip an experience down to the essentials.
As far as the Thomas Kinkade comparison goes, I can only say that when I look at Mactruque’s work, I personally get more out of it than I do Kinkade’s nonsense. His work seems more honest to me, where Kinkade seems to be leveraging sentimentality to make a buck.
Given what appears to be a background in traditional arts, I wonder if we’ll get the same outraged response this time. I think formally studying art teaches the rare skill of graciously accepting criticism.
tmp
June 18, 2008Ben,
I agree with some of your argument, especially the non-comparison to Thomas Kinkade. No one should compare any artist to Thomas Kinkade. Apples and oranges comes to mind. However, I think you stated a mouthful when you wrote,” I think the amount of work he puts into his paintings is very appropriate to the price he’s asking ( the piece I wanted was just $60!).”
Macrtuqe the sixty dollar artist.
Globatron,
What is he derivative of?
A different Ben
June 18, 2008Heh, I could have worded that better, huh.
Globatron
June 18, 2008Definitely not saying that it’s the lack of concept that get’s me with his work. I’m thinking he does have concepts he’s working with but they are just so hard to read. It’s the lack of focus more than anything. It’s all over the place. I really enjoy work that seems to come from the same body of work.
Globatron is pretty original I’m thinking. At least for Jacksonville.
Not sure though. If you know of any other ski masked art critics give me a heads up and I’ll have to change my game.
tommy a.
June 20, 2008I love mactruque’s work, it blows me away. When I see a mactruque I get things from it that I have never seen a artist do, messages. I think the paint itself shows talent and skill but is the least part of the great message. There is depth and meaning that at least I get. I can’t look at more then 3 pieces of his work without being overwhelmed. Sometimes I think his work looks the way it does cause he has to dumb it up to appeal to more then just some. This is just my opinion.
Globatron
June 20, 2008Tommy why do you think he has to dumb it down?
What types of messages do you get from looking at his work?
What type of depth and meaning do you get from his work
And when you say overwhelmed what do you mean by that? Do you get emotional? What types of emotions do you feel?
Thanks for helping me understand your viewpoint.
tommy a.
June 20, 2008why do i think he’s toned it down? totally speaking for myself i think i can say mactruque knows how to paint. sometimes i think he spends so much time in his studio and will come out and start talking about his thoughts and a lot of people don’t get it so they cast him out. i think his painting are the same way if you just took the time to listen you will find that there is a whole different world he can show you. some people don’t take the time they talk down at it, he’s crazy. i think he starts to think it. so i think he conforms a little. that’s just what i think.
messages? some are obvious, is that a spacecraft over that girls head or a halo, are they in a tunnel hiding or is it a manger. this is my opinion but i think mactruque likes to take words and figure there true meanings/origins. some are threatening and obvious and these are the things he is trying to say. he doesn’t just title something he gives his paintings names. they mean something. when i look at his paintings thats where i start. if something is messed up i think it’s for a reason and if you look close enough you will find them. it’s like a great basketball player letting a 8 year old score on him.
depth? it depends on how he is feeling. i have seen not so good mactruques paintings. i think its society it all depends on how people support him. i think this city is holding him back. if people would spend time and try and get it and he got positive feedback i think he would hold less back. i get religion, science, human nature and someone dealing with the art community.
overwhelmed? ill see a painting and i look at it and it makes me ask myself what i’m doing with my life. makes me feel small. if i keep looking at more of his works i would have to change my whole life. that is when i have to leave.
i personally notice people at art shows they don’t read titles they want a painting or photograph to tell them what they are looking for in a quick glance, sometime it takes longer then that.
once again this is just one person opinion. and sorry about the caps/spelling i’m in a hurry.
globatron i totally respect and appreciate your work. i wish you could go around asking people what art is? i would love to hear some responses.
Globatron
June 20, 2008Wow. that’s great Tommy. I really appreciate you sharing how his work makes you feel and what it makes you think. It does make me want to take another look at the show.
That’s what this is all about for me… being open enough to communicate about differing viewpoints and opinions. And in the process having the potential to change that person’s opinion or making that person think about something a different way. To me that’s where the magic of art happens. Between that place where you see something and the reaction you have to it. The thoughts that continue with you after you see or hear art or music.
I don’t see any of what you spoke about in Mactruque’s work personally but maybe my opinion will change. I do doubt it as his work doesn’t call me as I pointed out in my post. I don’t see focus in the works and they do seem unfinished.
I think it’s the lack of focus more than anything. I’m trying to separate the character that is Mactruque from my opinion of his work but again maybe that’s not possible either.
And for some reason Tommy the prophetic sometimes Biblical titles seem to be after thoughts. To me they seem to try and make the work more than what it is vs. describe what he has actually painted.
I’ve walked through many of an artist’s studio in my lifetime. Spent time as an art installer in Chelsea. Curated shows. Been to countless art fairs. And my opinion of his work I believe has been founded in seeing thousands and thousands of paintings in my short lifetime. I honestly don’t think his work could compete in a real art city. I feel there is a mystique to his character that has long outlived the quality of his work.
I find it baffling that Jacksonville doesn’t see that but with your very open and honest description of how his work makes you feel has began to make me think maybe there’s more to his work and that I need to re-investigate it.
Thanks Tommy. And much respect with your work also. Maybe Globatron could interview you sometime soon too.
Cheers.
tommy a.
June 20, 2008Your a awesome person Globatron.