Martin Cid's Blog: Martin Cid Magazine, page 129

Ahnnlee Lee: Puck, Nocturnal Paintings – ONE AND J. Gallery, Seoul

ONE AND J. Gallery is pleased to present the gallery’s first exhibition with Ahnnlee Lee. The exhibition “Puck, Nocturnal Paints” will be on view from 7th July through 18th August 2024. Puck is the vivacious fairy in William Shakespeare’s famous comedy “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and is an important motif in the exhibition. Puck loves to play tricks on people and laugh at the chaos that he creates. Puck secretly drops magical juice of the flower Pangy on the eyelids of the man and woman sleeping in the forest at night, making them fall head-over-heels in love with each other. By puck’s trick, it becomes botched and chaos ensues with the love triangle in the play. In the exhibition “Puck and the Night’s Pictures,” Purk is metaphorized as Ahnnlee Lee. Lee closely observes plants in his garden and other large and small things around him, and also takes a deeper look at human relationships. Our daily lives seem to repeat themselves, but if we look closely, they are filled with the dynamic situations and complex emotions derived from numerous human relationships. Lee captures emotions and experiences from his daily relationships for this exhibition. Like as Purk sneaks into a relationship, Lee secretly intervenes in complex and subtle human relationships including love, and captures it in anticipation of a new situation. As if looking forward to a new relationship, he throws paint on the canvas randomly, improvises lines that go against what he intended, or sneaks something into the painting so that only the artist himself can know as a secret.

His new paintings, including Kiss (2024), Carnival Confetti (2024), and Olive Trip (2024), are mainly made of sand. Sand is a common material used in sculptures, and Lee uses it in paintings by utilizing his experience in making them and the characteristics of sand that he can slowly build up. The process of mixing sand, acrylic, and various pigments and taking them out when they dry and repainting them is repeated. In this process, the artist draws emotion and reason by moving them back and forth, and completes the painting when it is painted in tiny units like spots.

[image error]Ahnnlee LeeAbout the Artist

Ahnnlee Lee (b. 1985, Korea) attentively observes the surrounding details and fleeting moments, including seeds, leaves, flowers, fruits, light, and birds. Drawing from his senses, he explores the inherent purity of his subjects, expressing it through a balanced and sculptural approach. Through gestures like scratching, weaving, and scraping, he infuses vitality into small and tranquil existences. 

Ahnnlee Lee received his DNAP and DNSAP degrees from Beaux-Arts de Paris in France. He has held solo exhibitions at ONE AND J. Gallery, Seoul (2024); Drawing Space SAALGOO, Seoul (2018); Drawing Space SAALGOO, Seoul (2016) and a duo exhibition at ONE AND J. Gallery, Seoul (2023). Participated in group exhibitions including New Spring Project, Seoul (2024); Gyeonggi Museum of Modern Art, Gyeonggi (2023); ONE AND J. Gallery, Seoul (2023); Frieze No.9 Cork Street, London (2023); Wumin Art Center, Cheongju (2022); Lee Kang Ha Art Museum, Gwangju (2022); ONE AND J. Gallery, Seoul (2022); Space So, Seoul (2021); HITE Collection, Seoul (2020); Jeju Museum of Contemporary Art, Jeju (2018); Seongbuk Creation Center, Seoul (2017) and others.

If you need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

Title: Puck, Noctu rnal Paintings

Artist: Ahnnlee Lee

Exhibition Dates: 7 July – 18 August 2024

Venue: ONE AND J. Gallery (26, Apgujeong-ro 60-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 06014, Korea)

Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 11am – 6pm (Closed on Mondays and holiday)

Opening Reception: 7 July, Sunday, 6pm – 9pm

Summer Night Program(Extended hours for exhibition): 9 – 14 July, 11am – 10pm

Website: oneandj.com

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American Comedic Icon Martin Mull Passes Away at 80: A Legacy Remembered

The entertainment industry mourns the loss of a versatile and much-loved figure, Martin Mull, who passed away at the age of 80 following a long and courageous battle with illness. Mull, best known for his roles in ‘Roseanne’ and ‘Arrested Development’, left a significant mark on American television and art as a respected actor, comedian, painter, and producer.

Reminiscing Martin Mull

Born Martin Eugene Mull on August 18, 1943, he developed a spectacular career that moved across various creative fields. Mull was not just a comic actor, he also found success as a musician and painter. He first gained prominence on television through his appearances on ‘Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman’ and its spin-off ‘Fernwood 2 Night.’

Numerous roles followed, garnering him further recognition. The list includes memorable characters such as Colonel Mustard in the 1985 film ‘Clue’, Leon Carp on ‘Roseanne’, Willard Kraft on ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’, Vlad Masters / Vlad Plasmius on ‘Danny Phantom’, and Gene Parmesan on ‘Arrested Development’. Mull also made recurring appearances on ‘Two and a Half Men’ playing Russell, the drug-using, humorous pharmacist.

In his personal life, Martin Mull was twice divorced and married singer Wendy Haas. Together they had a daughter, Maggie, who currently works as a co-executive producer for ‘Family Guy’.

In a 2010 interview on ‘The Green Room with Paul Provenza,’ Mull identified as an agnostic. He stated he didn’t begrudge others their belief systems but concluded that organized religion did not align with his perspective. He believed more harm had been brought to the planet through organized religion than any other single invention.

Mull breathed his last on June 27, 2024, at his Los Angeles residence. A representative commented that he “fought valiantly against a long illness”. His legacy will continue to inspire those in comedy, acting, and the arts for decades to come.

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Experience the Stone Scripts at Sam Moyer’s ‘Ferns Teeth’ Exhibition

The mesmerizing magic of stone takes center stage at the exhibition named “Ferns Teeth” by Sam Moyer. Hosted by the renowned Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, NY, this solo exhibition is open from June 30 to September 29, 2024. Sean Kelly proudly presents Moyer’s ten-year exploration of balance, weight, and scale through her groundbreaking work with stone.

Upon entering the first gallery bathed in bright daylight, you’ll find yourself confronted by a single large-scale stone painting; ‘Fern Friend Grief Growth’ invokes a sense of serenity, might and the abstract beauty of nature. Accompanied by a marble bench, it invites visitors to sit and immerse themselves in Moyer’s vision of a stone wall or pile of rocks with ferns breaking through.

The second gallery, an intimate antechamber, is home to a central stone sculpture from Moyer’s Dependents series. Encircled by black-and-white photographs of eroded sea walls, it highlights the delicate balance between man-made architecture and natural forces.

Moving into the final gallery, ten new paintings titled ‘Clippings’ await. Arranged around the horizon of the room, these works are designed to encourage viewers to wander and explore, further enhancing their connection to the central theme of the exhibition.

Adding a touch of whimsy to the space, Moyer offers hand-cast concrete backgammon boards in the main lobby, inviting visitors to interact with her materials playfully. Available for purchase, all proceeds go to Hamptons Community Outreach.

Through her abstract works, Moyer beautifully merges the handmade with the readymade while exploring themes of value, labor, and beauty. Her sensitivity to spatial and lighting conditions and her interest in the viewer’s sensory experience create a truly immersive and enriching exhibition. Experience Sam Moyer’s ‘Ferns Teeth’ at the Parrish Art Museum and plunge into a world crafted from stone.

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Big Moxi Games Releases Wardens Rising Demo

Big Moxi Games is excited to reveal the demo for the much-anticipated hybrid game, Wardens Rising; a unique fusion of action RPG, hero shooter, and base defense mechanics. Announced at the recent Gamescom LATAM event, the demo is available to download starting July 29th on Steam as part of the Tower Defense Fest.

Witness humanity’s fate hanging by a thread as you step into the shoes of a Warden, the last bastion against a never-ending interdimensional threat. Employ strategic building, resource management, and unleash your Warden’s special abilities to fend off enemy waves and secure victory.

Customize your unique Warden from five hero choices, each teeming with distinct skills and play styles. Sharpen your strategic planning by building and optimizing your defenses using an assortment of items including towers, traps, walls, and more. Unleash your unique style by unlocking, upgrading, and customizing your Warden’s gear, and experiment with different builds to adapt to various situations – no one defense is the ultimate solution!

With Wardens Rising, the fun never ceases. Battle across 24 maps, confront challenging bosses, and delve into endless replayable co-op missions that offer fresh invasions, keeping the game constantly exciting.

By downloading the Wardens Rising demo, players can witness first-hand the electrifying blend of action RPG, base defense, and hero shooter elements. The demo encompasses the initial part of the single-player campaign and several replayable coop multiplayer mission mode maps.

Starting July 29th, answer the call, download the demo, and prove that you have what it takes to become a legendary Warden. With a full release planned for PC and consoles in early 2025, now is the perfect time to join the ranks and experience the action.

For more information, visit: https://wardensrising.com/

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“Savage Beauty”: Season Two of the South African Thriller on Netflix Arrives

“Savage Beauty” is a South African series starring Rosemary Zimu.

The series “Savage Beauty” employs a tried and true formula that manages to keep viewers engaged: an unknown woman becomes involved with an influential family and, through the tensions of their relationships, conflicts arise, and the stranger changes the trajectory of the powerful household, entwining herself with one member after another.

This time around, we are introduced to a model that becomes entangled with the powerful family who happens to own a prominent cosmetics chain in South Africa. What follows is an intricate web of intrigue, romance, murder, and numerous drastic twists and turns. And it goes without saying, this season promises to deliver even more surprises.

The spotlight is on the protagonist, Zinhle, portrayed by the ravishing and talented Rosemary Zimu. She perfectly embodies Zinhle: strong, spirited, but also haunted by her past. The narrative revolves around her, bearing similarities to countless tales of powerful families that will go to great lengths to retain their dominance.

This season, the power struggle is between the husband, his multiple mistresses, and his wife (Grace Bhengu), who compete for the position of CEO within the family business.

The curtain rises on the second season with a funeral of one of the sons and our protagonist on the run, accused and wandering among beggars.

“Savage Beauty” is an exhilarating and gripping thriller, and the second season premieres this Friday, the 28th, on Netflix. Enjoy the show.

Where to Watch “Savage Beauty”

Netflix

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“A Family Affair” on Netflix: A Gentle Comedy Starring Two Big Names to Forget The Worries

“A Family Affair” is a Netflix movie starring Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. It is directed by Richard LaGravenese.

“A Family Affair” primarily showcases the versatile talents of Nicole Kidman and comedic expertise of Zac Efron. Their roles in the film undoubtedly shine, particularly in the first part.

Plot of “A Family Affair”

A blockbuster movie star and the mother of his assistant-screenwriter embark on a romance that aims to mend their lives.

“A Family Affair”: An Uncomplicated Classic Comedy

“A Family Affair” is a film with two big stars, and that seems to be enough to justify a story that, in no way, will be remembered. It’s a light comedy, one that intends to impart more lessons about maturity than produce comic or funny situations.

“A Family Affair” knows how to play with what it has: let the two stars perform, and with a script that doesn’t interfere too much, create a simple comedy that allows its virtues to slip through a classic romance story with few laughs (or almost none). It’s a comedy of gentle smiles, about characters gradually evolving. Well-written, but does not tell anything sufficiently significant or “exciting” to touch our hearts, in a film that aims, precisely, to reach our hearts.

Our Opinion

A light comedy that knows how to stay in its place and let its two leads shine: Zac Efron manages to make us laugh as the eccentric and capricious Hollywood star, and Nicole Kidman continues to prove that she can perform any genre, dramatic or comedic, with great efficiency.

Indeed, “A Family Affair” is an incredibly efficient film with a simple story, but neither funny nor exciting.

Where to Watch “A Family Affair”

Netflix

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“Òlòtūré: The Journey” mini-series on Netflix that takes you on a brutal trip

“Òlòtūré: The Journey” is a Nigerian Netflix serties starring Sharon Ooja. With Omoni Oboli, Beverly Osu and Ikechukwu Onunaku.

The story of Òlòtūré reached us back in 2019, and now it continues in the form of a three-episode mini-series, where we get to witness this woman’s journey from Nigeria to Europe.

We already know the story: a journalist who wants to uncover the trafficking of women and the networks of pimps that operate from Nigeria and send women to Europe. A whole human trafficking saga brought to light, this time in the form of fiction, directed by Kenneth Gyang, also the director of the film.

“Òlòtūré: The Journey”: A brutal portrayal of an even more brutal reality

Anyone looking for large cinematic effects won’t find them in “Òlòtūré: The Journey”. This series is intended to serve as a vehicle to expose a grim, brutal, and evil reality that still exists and claims victims every day in Nigeria. It’s the drama of women and the depiction of a place that exploits the hardships to create benefits.

A harsh portrait that we will be able to see from this Friday, June 28, on Netflix.

Where to Watch “Òlòtūré: The Journey”

Netflix

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“The Whirlwind”: A Riveting Korean Political Thriller on Netflix

“The Whirlwind” is a South Korean series created by Kim Yong-Wan starring Sol Kyung-gu and Kim Hee-ae.

“The Whirlwind” is a fast-paced political thriller that narratively unfolds more as a spy film than a conventional political drama. It is a show rife with rhythm, highs and lows, and tension to its maximum.

This series takes full advantage of cinema’s narrative resources to make political intrigue both highly entertaining and utterly engaging. This exceptional production comes to us, once again, from the creative powerhouse that is Korea.

As the Hollywood industry grapples with crises and actors’ strikes, it appears that major productions in Asia have indeed started to fill the entertainment vacuum.

Plot Overview of “The Whirlwind”

The story takes place in the Blue House (the central government office in Korea), where the President anticipates his arrest, accused of accepting bribes from a cryptocurrency company for fiscal immunity. The series opens with an assassination attempt: the Prime Minister poisons the Korean President, but the attempt fails.

Betrayals, assassinations, corruption, big corporations – if you thought everything in Korea was devoid of corruption, “The Whirlwind” introduces you to politics, a world riddled with deceit, grime, and ruthless individuals constantly betraying each other. The person who reaches the summit is, by definition and necessity, the most traitorous of all.

“The Whirlwind”: A Top-Tier Political Critique

If you’re familiar with the story of the “chaebols” (large Korean corporations nurtured by political patronage), you’d know their significant influence in the country, particularly their increasing political power fueled by their economic dominance.

“The Whirlwind” uses this reality as a basis to take us into a highly entertaining fiction. Apart from being rooted in reality, it portrays a conflict that can be extrapolated to the majority of democracies and leads us to an almost universal conclusion: regardless of the era or the geographical location, politics is a filthy, evil, and cruel domain fit only for nefarious beings.

“The Whirlwind” is a series that presents a harsh portrayal of these individuals. It aims for realism, but never forgets its primary mandate as a television show – to entertain the audience. It maintains a relentless pace, intricate plot twists, and high-level accusations. The characters are consistently portrayed as vile, and the producers show no mercy towards politicians.

Our Take

“The Whirlwind” is yet another top-notch Korean production. It’s not just about apocalyptic series or macabre games anymore; from Korea, we are now introduced to political intrigues with wonderful production, meticulous scripting, entertaining, critical, and highly appealing to the audience. Hollywood should take notes, but it might already be too late considering the quality of these productions emerging from Asia.

Where to Watch “The Whirlwind”

Netflix

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Lions: The Roaring New Drama from HBO and BBC

Oscar-winning network HBO and globally acclaimed BBC join forces to co-produce the much-anticipated drama series, “Lions” (working title). This six-episode series hails from the imaginative mind of Richard Gadd, celebrated for his work on “Baby Reindeer” and “Sex Education”. Gadd, along with Alexandra Brodski (“Somewhere Boy,” “Rivals”) and Eshref Reybrouck (“Ferry: The Series” and “Cheyenne & Lola”), will helm the project, bringing this entrancing tale to life.

The series kicks off with a startling scene – the unexpected arrival of Niall’s estranged ‘brother’ Ruben at his wedding, igniting a fuse that triggers a blast from their past. Spanning four tumultuous decades, from the 1980s to the present day, the narrative winds its way through the peaks and valleys of their relationship. “Lions” aims to encapsulate the vibrant pulse of an evolving city and effectively translate the shifting dynamics of our world, grappling with the complex question of defining manhood.

“Lions” is brought to you by a powerhouse team, including Wendy Griffin as the producer, along with Tally Garner, Morven Reid, Richard Gadd, and Gaynor Holmes as the executive producers. Gavin Smith lends his expertise on behalf of BBC Scotland.

Kara Buckley, Senior Vice President HBO Drama Programming, expresses her excitement about this collaboration, welcoming Richard Gadd into the HBO family and appreciating his global recognition as a remarkable talent. Richard Gadd, the maestro behind this unique creation, expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to work with the international giants, HBO and BBC.

Lindsay Salt, Director of BBC Drama, commends Richard Gadd’s remarkable storytelling skills, expressing her anticipation for the audience’s reactions to this unique narrative. Louise Thornton, Head of Commissioning BBC Scotland, also echoes her enthusiasm for this high-quality storytelling rooted in Scotland.

Executive producers from Mam Tor Productions, Tally Garner, and Morven Reid, are thrilled to partner with both HBO and BBC and look forward to bringing Richard Gadd’s innovative vision to life.

“Lions” is administered by Mam Tor Productions for HBO, BBC One, BBC Scotland, and BBC iP

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Open Eye Gallery presents work by Leon Morrocco in Terre et Mer

Showcasing a selection of vibrant landscapes and sketch works, Open Eye Gallery presents a new series of paintings by Scottish artist Leon Morrocco RSA RGI in his upcoming exhibition Terre et Mer. Morrocco’s invigorating and sunny paintings capture the warmth of the southern European lifestyle, and the bright and calming beauty of its sea and mountainscapes.

Terre et Mer reflects Morrocco’s transcendental experience of nature as he moved up into higher ground, and transports us into a colourful realm of harmony and comfort. The contrast with the more rigid and architectural cityscapes of the coastline reminds us of the multifaceted aspects of life, and encourages us to be more mindful of our environment and how we connect with it.

Leon Morrocco returns to the mountains of the South of France in a body of works which takes us from the streets and beach fronts of Nice to the hillsides of Roquefort-les-Pins. It was a visit to a family home in the heights of the Alpes-Maritimes that initially inspired the artist to paint the drama of the hillside. Eventually retracting from the overwhelming popularity of the French Riviera, Morrocco reconnected with the wonders of his cherished mountains, where he could explore the expansiveness of nature and the freedom of his creative pursuit.

Reflecting on his artistic process for this selection of works, Leon Morrocco comments, It was a relief to be using organic shapes… it was looser and freer, it freed me up actually. The process of painting became more open-ended… and somehow with the landscape I was able to change quite a lot, without feeling like I was diverging from the subject matter; I was actually adding to it, I was able to be more creative with the shapes.

Whether we live a fast or slow life, Leon Morrocco’s upcoming show promises to be a memorable and cathartic experience, grounding us in the present moment – a return ticket to the bewitching French Mediterranean.

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