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DAILY NEWS, VIEWS, REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS
CRITICS' PICKS, OPENINGS, YOUR VIDEOS, YOUR BLOGS
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The American artist Richard Prince spent a good part of last winter at the Eden Rock Hotel on St. Barth's, a regular destination for him, which hosted an exhibition of his work. Intent on exploring a new topic, he envisaged a post-apocalyptic world in which vacationers arrive on St. Barth's only to learn that the world has suffered an acute case of nuclear war. The protagonist, his family and the other travelers begin to struggle for survival in the mayhem of a world that has been changed beyond repair. The survivors face all the horrifying challenges that one would expect to encounter, from hunting for food to severe (and sometimes bloody) power struggles. Few other details have been released to the press or the public.
Prince didn't merely paint. He created a new world, complete with personalities, danger and desperation. Drawn together by more than a common style or theme, his work consists of chapters in a greater narrative. The series exhibited at Eden Rock recalls tales such as William Golding's Lord of the Flies and reflects Prince's evident interest in the battle between an anarchic state of nature and mankind's need for an overriding structure.
The result was 25 paintings depicting the cruel alternative universe of Prince's imagination. Haunting images adorn canvas, as figures bear the implements of both survival and savagery. One piece, in particular, is certain to remain in every memory that encounters it. Taut muscles grip a tattered American flag as danger stands in the foreground. The survivors, it seems, may cling to the rule of law and the comfort of tradition, but reliable order is constantly imperiled.
Prince's approach to this series was rather unorthodox. The artist wrote a screenplay to use as the foundation for the Eden Rock exhibition. This reference point led to the works on canvas, which Eden Rock gallery director Natalie Clifford says will provide the foundation for a novel that Prince plans to author with the help of a ghostwriter. Bringing the entire project full-circle, the novel is intended to be a vehicle for advancing the screenplay. Both the novel and film will be written under a pseudonym.
Since he wasn't sure how the militaristic overtones would play with collectors, Clifford said that Prince offered each piece at a price of $150,000, modest compared with the prices his works currently fetch (in May this year 'Man-Crazy Nurse, No. 2' sold for $7.4 million at Christie's). The experimental nature of the underlying themes called for conservative pricing. Collectors clearly were not deterred by Prince's overt brutality--a trait one would expect from his work anyway. Nearly every piece was purchased within the first 24 hours of the exhibition.
While the future of the book and movie may be uncertain, worries as to the experimental nature of the Eden Rock exhibition appear to have been unnecessary. Like the characters he plans to depict in other media, the artist ventured into new terrain and emerged victorious.
Tom Johansmeyer
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Tom Johansmeyer is a Manhattan-based freelance writer. He covers art market conditions, emerging artists and the recent intersection of fine art and adult entertainment. His work appears regularly in AVN Online, DTM and TraderDaily.com. Tom has also written for Boston magazine, Penthouse, Newsweek Europe and Cigar Report. |
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| Published on 11-08-2008 |
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