About Face

I have been really into the current series of HBO documentaries this season (with the exception of the Chris Crocker dud). The latest one, About Face: Supermodels Then and Now, interviews former (super)models and raises questions about beauty, age and the fashion industry in general. I found it fascinating.

So many beautiful, strong women in this film (I want Jerry Hall to be my BFF)...but the fiercest of all, the longest working supermodel in history, Ms. Carmen Dell'Orefice. Stunning.

Marina Abramovic - The Artist is Present

I caught the HBO documentary The Artist is Present the other night, which chronicles the 2010 MOMA retrospective on performance artist Marina Abramovic. Powerful. I didn't think I was familiar with the work of the self-described "grandmother of performance art" before I saw this film. However, I quickly realized that I actually was familiar with her; I just didn't know it. Marina has been exploring the limitations of the body, the relationship between artist and audience and challenging the state of consciousness for over three decades. In her retrospective at MOMA the title says it all; she is literally just present. Seated on a chair within a taped off boxed space she invites her audience to sit across from her in silence, that's it. However, what transpires is surprisingly moving. It's incredible to watch what bubbles to the surface when humans allow themselves to calm down, sit in silence and be present in the moment. The emotions that the strangely inquisitive and penetratingly calm gaze of Marina stir in her audience truly is art. It asks questions, challenges its audience and forces everyone to look within himself. I found the piece and the documentary truly fascinating. I highly recommend it.