I find it so elitist, [Artoons, 2008–2022 series]

- Drawing & Print (Drawing & Print)

A sly sense of humor is key in Pablo Helguera’s long-running Artoons series, one that includes ~1500 drawings made over ten years. It’s no secret that the artworld tends to take itself too seriously, so it’s no surprise that Helguera’s project has developed a large following over the past decade—providing much needed comic relief.. Helguera grew up making and exchanging drawings like these with his father and brother, but never made drawing a part of his public practice until in 2008, when he began periodically posting what came to be known as ‘Artoons’ on Facebook. The series caricatures and lampoons agents and events in the artworld, combining just enough visual reference along with a caption. Always served with a dose of wit or irony, the series avoids contempt and sarcasm. While the drawings have appeared in numerous publications, including a monthly column in the Art Newspaper, a survey was exhibited earlier this year at the Juan March Foundation in Spain. While Helguera references legends like Saul Stienberg as influences, an artist who managed to make cartooning a serious practice used to address complex social and political issues, his work could also be compared to Ad Reinhardt’s practice of cartooning, which sometimes pointed its critical humor at the art world.

In addition to a long and diverse career as an artist, performer and writer of over a dozen books, Pablo Helguera has worked in the education departments of key institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum (1998-2005) and MoMA (2007-2020). That position has allowed him to become an “amateur anthropologist,” observing the artworld from the inside. Over the years he has witnessed the role of different actors (directors, dealers, curators, critics and collectors) and social environments (performances, openings, fairs, biennials). As an artists, Helguera has exhibited or performed at venues such as MoMA, Museo de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid; ICA Boston; RCA London; 8th Havana Biennal, PERFORMA 05, Havana; Shedhalle, Zurich; MoMA P.S.1, New York; Brooklyn Museum; IFA Galerie, Bonn; Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, Tokyo; MALBA museum in Buenos Aires, Ex-Teresa Espacio Alternativo in Mexico City, The Bronx Museum, Artist Space, and Sculpture Center, among many others.

Colors:

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Notions of cuteness, [Artoons, 2008–2022 series]

Pablo Helguera

A sly sense of humor is key in Pablo Helguera’s long-running Artoons series, one that includes ~1500 drawings made over ten years...

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Consider the Drone, Barbara London and Aura Satz in conversation

What’s in a sound? And what of a drone? Venerable curator Barbara London is joined in conversation by artist Aura Satz, an interdisciplinary artist based in London, UK with a particular interest in the sustained, ambient, and minimal...

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Primero Estaba el Mar

Felipe Arturo

2012

Primero estaba el mar ( First Was the Sea , 2012) is a system of equivalences between syllables and silhouettes of waveforms cast in cement...

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Press Release: Art21 to Release New Film: “Hannah Levy’s Adaptive Structures”

Press Release: Art21 to Release New Film: “Hannah Levy’s Adaptive Structures” | Art21 Our Series Art in the Twenty-First Century Extended Play New York Close Up Artist to Artist William Kentridge: Anything Is Possible Specials Art21.live An always-on video channel featuring programming hand selected by Art21 Playlists Curated by Art21 staff, with guest contributions from artists, educators, and more Art21 Library Explore over 700 videos from Art21's television and digital series Latest Video 15:03 Add to watchlist Politics of Listening Lawrence Abu Hamdan Extended Play February 7, 2024 Search Searching Art21… Welcome to your watchlist Look for the plus icon next to videos throughout the site to add them here...

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National Academy of Design Presents Sites of Impermanence

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