No one could spend money like Michael Jackson. His mansion in California had a personal zoo and amusement park that cost him $5 million a year just for maintenance and staff. Over the course of his life, he made 1.1 billion dollars, but he spent it all and then some. He died being hundreds of millions of dollars in debt.
Is This Art?
Pierre Brassau burst upon the art world at a Swedish art show in 1964. The critics were nearly unanimous in their glowing reviews. Newspaper art critic Rolf Anderberg gushed over the paintings of the unknown French artist. He wrote, “Pierre Brassau paints with powerful strokes, but also with clear determination. His brush strokes twist with furious fastidiousness. Pierre is an artist who performs with the delicacy of a ballet dancer.”
$120,000 Banana Eaten Off The Wall
When presented with abstract art, those who dispute its value often say, “I could do that!” Jackson Pollock, one of the more famous abstract artists, used a technique of splashing paint on a canvas in a way that looks random. But his work is not as simple as it may seem. His non-traditional style conveyed energy and emotion rather than literal reality.
When Art Attacks
Great art can move us to tears, inspire us, and its beauty can take our breath away. For some people though, a trip to the art gallery is like experiencing a physical attack. This condition even has a name: Stendhal Syndrome. Sufferers cannot view art they perceive as beautiful without falling ill. Exposure to art they enjoy triggers a rapid heartbeat and overwhelming dizziness. This often leads to panic attacks and fainting.
Van Gogh’s Ear Is Reborn
On a cold winter night in 1888, Vincent Van Gogh cut off his ear with a razor blade. He wrapped it in a cloth and brought it to a brothel. He gave the bloody ear as a token of love to a prostitute named Rachel, who fainted when she saw it. Van Gogh returned home and almost bled to death. This is the most common story of Van Gogh’s famous fit of madness, but there are competing theories.
See With Your Ears; Hear With Your Eyes
We see with our eyes and hear with our ears. At least that’s the conventional way to do things, but no one is calling Neil Harbisson conventional. Neil is colorblind. Unlike many colorblind people, who are unable to see just a few specific colors, like red or blue, Neil can’t see any colors except for grey. He has spent his whole life experiencing the world as only different shades of grey. That is until recently.
Alex Grey: a Unique Artist
So, Alex’s unique background has led to some truly amazing and unforgettable works of art. Have a look at Alex’s website, or just do an image search on his name and you will know what we’re talking about. And let us know what you think about his unique art on our own website: deepenglish.com