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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Happy Shopper on May 6, 2020 11:08:59 GMT 1, I really love his distorted portraits, and the thick paint was a great evolution from the charcoal drawings (I always wanted one of those, and still kick myself for not buying a nice one from his show with Lazarides).
I guess they're a bit messed up and disturbing though, and not to everyone's taste. He should be a household name, and maybe one day he will be... same situation as Bast, Paul Insect and a few others.
But, like those 2, he's obviously selling to someone! So who knows. Maybe he's actually doing very well, just not out in public!
I really love his distorted portraits, and the thick paint was a great evolution from the charcoal drawings (I always wanted one of those, and still kick myself for not buying a nice one from his show with Lazarides).
I guess they're a bit messed up and disturbing though, and not to everyone's taste. He should be a household name, and maybe one day he will be... same situation as Bast, Paul Insect and a few others.
But, like those 2, he's obviously selling to someone! So who knows. Maybe he's actually doing very well, just not out in public!
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Guy Denning
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Guy Denning on May 6, 2020 11:45:47 GMT 1, Thanks, Coach , and to the others above making valid points. I do not see an endgame... Neither does the artist. That's why he's looking for it. If you turn out, on canvas or paper, an exact facsimile of what was in your head before you started then you're not trying hard enough. Ant is searching his way, like we all are (or should be). Different destinations on the route will appeal to different viewers. There is no endgame - bar the one we all face. Artists or otherwise.
Thanks, Coach , and to the others above making valid points. I do not see an endgame... Neither does the artist. That's why he's looking for it. If you turn out, on canvas or paper, an exact facsimile of what was in your head before you started then you're not trying hard enough. Ant is searching his way, like we all are (or should be). Different destinations on the route will appeal to different viewers. There is no endgame - bar the one we all face. Artists or otherwise.
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Guy Denning
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Guy Denning on May 6, 2020 11:49:35 GMT 1, I find some of the best recent stuff has a Francis Bacon quality to it, so I find it awkwardly beautiful or striking. Not sure if this will make sense to anyone but my 2ps worth. Appreciate it is v different from his early stuff but even then, didn't he do faces in charcoal and some of this stuff is a little like a thick painted version of these? I am definitely an amateur with little knowledge when it comes to Micallef so I am sure someone will put me right... Not Bacon. I've said it before - Ant is a better draughtsman than Bacon. And if you want a painter to compare him with Leon Kossof or Frank Auerbach are better shots.
I find some of the best recent stuff has a Francis Bacon quality to it, so I find it awkwardly beautiful or striking. Not sure if this will make sense to anyone but my 2ps worth. Appreciate it is v different from his early stuff but even then, didn't he do faces in charcoal and some of this stuff is a little like a thick painted version of these? I am definitely an amateur with little knowledge when it comes to Micallef so I am sure someone will put me right... Not Bacon. I've said it before - Ant is a better draughtsman than Bacon. And if you want a painter to compare him with Leon Kossof or Frank Auerbach are better shots.
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Guy Denning
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Guy Denning on May 6, 2020 11:56:24 GMT 1, I love his work . Brutal , sculptural and oozing his artistic mind . Who else is doing stuff like this ? enough people for many to classify Micallef's current work as derivative. Who's calling it derivative? And who ever had an 'original' idea that wasn't informed by what came before? I'm not getting snippy - just interested ;-)
I love his work . Brutal , sculptural and oozing his artistic mind . Who else is doing stuff like this ? enough people for many to classify Micallef's current work as derivative. Who's calling it derivative? And who ever had an 'original' idea that wasn't informed by what came before? I'm not getting snippy - just interested ;-)
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vic
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by vic on May 6, 2020 12:13:53 GMT 1, People talking about art on here, get over.
This is going to sound very critical but I do genuinely love his earlier work. I look at this more recent work and I cant help but think someone believed the hype, maybe he's not quite ready for this style, not good enough yet. I don't know enough about painting, just a thought.
People talking about art on here, get over.
This is going to sound very critical but I do genuinely love his earlier work. I look at this more recent work and I cant help but think someone believed the hype, maybe he's not quite ready for this style, not good enough yet. I don't know enough about painting, just a thought.
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Love Is In The Air on May 6, 2020 16:13:52 GMT 1, I find some of the best recent stuff has a Francis Bacon quality to it, so I find it awkwardly beautiful or striking. Not sure if this will make sense to anyone but my 2ps worth. Appreciate it is v different from his early stuff but even then, didn't he do faces in charcoal and some of this stuff is a little like a thick painted version of these? I am definitely an amateur with little knowledge when it comes to Micallef so I am sure someone will put me right... Not Bacon. I've said it before - Ant is a better draughtsman than Bacon. And if you want a painter to compare him with Leon Kossof or Frank Auerbach are better shots. I appreciate your comments and am not familiar with Kossof so will look him up. Bacon is my favourite painter of all time so it was very much meant as a compliment. I can definitely see the Auerbach comparison with some work and that is certainly no bad thing either.
As you have expressed in other posts Guy, he is pushing himself and changing as an artist, I guess the same way we change as people over the decades. Why would he want to paint the same thing or the same way he did 15 years ago?
I find some of the best recent stuff has a Francis Bacon quality to it, so I find it awkwardly beautiful or striking. Not sure if this will make sense to anyone but my 2ps worth. Appreciate it is v different from his early stuff but even then, didn't he do faces in charcoal and some of this stuff is a little like a thick painted version of these? I am definitely an amateur with little knowledge when it comes to Micallef so I am sure someone will put me right... Not Bacon. I've said it before - Ant is a better draughtsman than Bacon. And if you want a painter to compare him with Leon Kossof or Frank Auerbach are better shots. I appreciate your comments and am not familiar with Kossof so will look him up. Bacon is my favourite painter of all time so it was very much meant as a compliment. I can definitely see the Auerbach comparison with some work and that is certainly no bad thing either. As you have expressed in other posts Guy, he is pushing himself and changing as an artist, I guess the same way we change as people over the decades. Why would he want to paint the same thing or the same way he did 15 years ago?
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Guy Denning
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Guy Denning on May 6, 2020 18:08:07 GMT 1, As you have expressed in other posts Guy, he is pushing himself and changing as an artist, I guess the same way we change as people over the decades. Why would he want to paint the same thing or the same way he did 15 years ago? Exactly. A distinctive style can be an albatross around an artist's neck. I know one in particular on this side of the channel who can command 50K a painting - but it has to be in his signature style that he's become known for over the last thirty years. He's desperate to break out of it and has tried but it's a hard slog again to get both galleries and new and existing collectors on board. But at least he's having a go... and I admire that. Same with Ant. We're good mates. We've exchanged work so I'm hardly an independent voice but I love his older stuff too. But I honestly love the freedom in this new work - and the maturity of it. He's made technical choices that are not easy to get away with in this medium and I think he's doing it really well.
As you have expressed in other posts Guy, he is pushing himself and changing as an artist, I guess the same way we change as people over the decades. Why would he want to paint the same thing or the same way he did 15 years ago? Exactly. A distinctive style can be an albatross around an artist's neck. I know one in particular on this side of the channel who can command 50K a painting - but it has to be in his signature style that he's become known for over the last thirty years. He's desperate to break out of it and has tried but it's a hard slog again to get both galleries and new and existing collectors on board. But at least he's having a go... and I admire that. Same with Ant. We're good mates. We've exchanged work so I'm hardly an independent voice but I love his older stuff too. But I honestly love the freedom in this new work - and the maturity of it. He's made technical choices that are not easy to get away with in this medium and I think he's doing it really well.
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mose
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May 2017
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by mose on May 6, 2020 19:10:08 GMT 1, enough people for many to classify Micallef's current work as derivative. Who's calling it derivative? And who ever had an 'original' idea that wasn't informed by what came before? I'm not getting snippy - just interested ;-) A. People in this very thread are mentioning his recent work as directly looking like other current work. Personally, I concur.
B. Agree wholeheartedly that art, like say language, is informed by the past and develops/evolves but almost always shows its roots. That being said, thick impasto portraits are not new, are not a new take on an old approach, they just are the old being done now IMO. See Hirst, Damien and his 'The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth' show from 2008 for old being done now/derivative.
In the modern age, technical mastery is just not enough. There are 1,000,001 painters in China that are just as technically proficient as anyone we look at today but we don't find their work relevant or meaningful.
And no knock on Micallef. As I've said in this thread, I love his earlier work and continue to actively look to acquire a pre-2010 piece. I wish him well on what he does, personally I'm just no longer taking the ride with him. As an observer, a viewer, there's just nothing there for me anymore.
enough people for many to classify Micallef's current work as derivative. Who's calling it derivative? And who ever had an 'original' idea that wasn't informed by what came before? I'm not getting snippy - just interested ;-) A. People in this very thread are mentioning his recent work as directly looking like other current work. Personally, I concur. B. Agree wholeheartedly that art, like say language, is informed by the past and develops/evolves but almost always shows its roots. That being said, thick impasto portraits are not new, are not a new take on an old approach, they just are the old being done now IMO. See Hirst, Damien and his 'The Meek Shall Inherit the Earth' show from 2008 for old being done now/derivative. In the modern age, technical mastery is just not enough. There are 1,000,001 painters in China that are just as technically proficient as anyone we look at today but we don't find their work relevant or meaningful. And no knock on Micallef. As I've said in this thread, I love his earlier work and continue to actively look to acquire a pre-2010 piece. I wish him well on what he does, personally I'm just no longer taking the ride with him. As an observer, a viewer, there's just nothing there for me anymore.
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Fast Eddie
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Fast Eddie on May 13, 2020 0:07:26 GMT 1, https://www.instagram.com/p/CAF9yoCprP1
And then again, this piece speaks more to me... What a strange phase.
Not an obvious artist at all.
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dimonimoni
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by dimonimoni on May 25, 2020 16:43:24 GMT 1, I personally find Micallef's work totally fascinating, I would love to have one of his works but is far from my budget. Has been very influential to many artists that are now following all the way that he open and this is what it means to create culture. I understand the debate of exploring new styles and so on, but some artists find more interesting to deep in a medium or in a particular style as deep as possible than exploring here and there and not really reaching any deep thoughts on any of them.
I personally find Micallef's work totally fascinating, I would love to have one of his works but is far from my budget. Has been very influential to many artists that are now following all the way that he open and this is what it means to create culture. I understand the debate of exploring new styles and so on, but some artists find more interesting to deep in a medium or in a particular style as deep as possible than exploring here and there and not really reaching any deep thoughts on any of them.
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theclash
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by theclash on Mar 20, 2021 21:03:14 GMT 1, New Micallef out. Man this guy is good.
http://instagram.com/p/CMpxa68JUUg
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theclash
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by theclash on Mar 20, 2021 21:15:54 GMT 1, So so good.
It's taken four years to dry.
I am 100% going to Bristol to see this. One of the most striking pictures I have seen
So so good.
It's taken four years to dry.
I am 100% going to Bristol to see this. One of the most striking pictures I have seen
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qest
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by qest on Mar 21, 2021 1:56:32 GMT 1, Would really love a print of one of his works like this
Would really love a print of one of his works like this
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theclash
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May 2020
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by theclash on Mar 21, 2021 8:58:39 GMT 1, Would really love a print of one of his works like this
I wonder how something like this with the depth and texture would translate to a print, would be fascinating to see. I was lucky enough to pic up his Study on an Embrace print last year which is stunning.
Would really love a print of one of his works like this I wonder how something like this with the depth and texture would translate to a print, would be fascinating to see. I was lucky enough to pic up his Study on an Embrace print last year which is stunning.
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vic
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February 2020
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by vic on Mar 21, 2021 9:13:20 GMT 1, Wow it looks like that experimental phase has produced some tasty fruit. That is fucking incredible.
I doubt it will ever dry, that won't be going behind glass.
Just stunning
Wow it looks like that experimental phase has produced some tasty fruit. That is fucking incredible.
I doubt it will ever dry, that won't be going behind glass.
Just stunning
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TAXED
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Ravnur 2020
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Ravnur 2020 on Mar 21, 2021 14:34:50 GMT 1, Havenโt followed Micallef closely, but I do like that that he is on a journey.
Havenโt followed Micallef closely, but I do like that that he is on a journey.
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Swiss Alan
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Where is Antony Micallef going with this?, by Swiss Alan on Mar 22, 2021 15:11:04 GMT 1, Thatโs a great new piece. How much is something like that!!!
Thatโs a great new piece. How much is something like that!!!
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