Pop Masters at the Home of Arts - Part II

In part one of our review of the Pop Masters exhibition at the Home of the Arts (HOTA), we delved into the brilliance of Andy Warhol. Continuing our exploration, we will examine Damien Hirst, Jeff Koons and Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Cross by Andy Warhol

As you enter the exhibition's second room, you are immediately drawn to another remarkable Warhol painting, Cross (1982). Warhol's exploration of religious themes became prominent during the final decade of his life, influenced by his upbringing in a profoundly religious Byzantine Catholic household.

Andy Warhol, 1982, Cross, synthetic polymer paint and silkscreen ink on canvas, Courtesy of Mugrabi Collection, New York, viewed at HOTA, Gold Coast.

This late-career painting commands the viewers attention, asserting its presence and inviting you to approach from various angles.

Andy Warhol, 1982, Cross (close-up),

The dominant yellow crucifix starkly divides the canvas, creating a black void reminiscent of minimalist, abstract paintings. Warhol's daring and masterful approach blurs the boundaries between representation and abstraction, creating an artwork that intriguingly blurs the lines between the sacred and the profane.

Medicine Cabinet by Damien Hirst

Once you have acclimatised to the giant cross in the room, you're free to start looking around once more, and immediately you notice a most peculiar 'medicine cabinet'.

Damien Hirst, the renowned British contemporary artist, is widely recognised for his provocative and conceptual works that delve into profound themes such as life, death and the complexities of the human condition. Among the notable pieces featured in the Pop Masters exhibit is one of Hirst's iconic artworks from his 'Medicine Cabinets' series, titled 'When You Were Down They Were Down'.

The 'Medicine Cabinet' series stands as a captivating exploration of medicine, presented through the unique medium of an actual medicine cabinet. At the heart of this installation, a large mirrored shelf takes centre stage, meticulously adorned with a captivating array of hand-crafted ceramic pills.

Through this evocative composition, Hirst invites the viewers to delve deeper into the intriguing intersection of art and pharmaceuticals. The Medicine Cabinets series prompts contemplation on the role of medicine in our lives, while simultaneously challenging our perception of healing and our dependence on medications.

The subtext 'When You Were Down They Were Down' emphasises the intricacies of our relationship with medicine, and the vulnerability we experience when we are unwell. Hirst follows a deliberate hierachy in his arrangement of the pills, with those intended for the head positioned at the top, gradually descending to the pills designed for the toes at the bottom. This composition invites viewers to reflect upon the intricate relationship between medication, the human body, and the complexity of our physical well-being. By employing ceramic as the medium for the pills, Hirst emphasises the paradoxical nature of medicine - its potential to heal, yet also its inherent fragility and artificiality. The harmonious combination of the mirrored shelf and the meticulously crafted ceramic pills serves as a testament to Hirst's artistic prowess, creating a cohesive and visually compelling installation that encourages viewers to engage with the thought-provoking exploration of medicine and its impact on our collective consciousness.

Monkey's Ladder by Jeff Koons

As I once more starts to explore the space again, I noticed what at first glance appeared to be a photo collage hanging on the wall. Upon further inspection though, I realised that it was a painting by Jeff Koons. In the past I've been dumbstruck by Rembrandt's ability to paint hands so realistically that you have wonder that so much talent and patience can inhabit a single human being. But Koon's Monkey's Ladder (2003), is equally skilful, but totally fresh.

Jeff Koons, Monkeys (Ladder) 2020, oil on canvas, courtesy of the Mugrabi Collection, New York, viewed at HOTA, Gold Coast

It's hard to wrap ones head around the fact that this is an oil on canvas painting. Koons' art often blurs the boundaries between high and low culture, challenging conventional notions of taste and artistic value. This painting of an inflatable monkey, akin to a poolside toy, with glimpses of a naked woman peeping through the background, certainly plays into his signature style. Koon's New York studio employs up to 120 assistants at any one time to produce his artworks. Whereas Warhol's studio, known as The Factory, was a place of gatherings and happenings as well as creation and production, Koons' studio is more akin to an actual factory.

His painstakingly detailed paintings are created by a team of assistants, working over a period of up to 18 months to paint just one work. This is art-making of meticulous process, and massive resources.

Andy Warhol is quoted as saying that 'good business is the best art'. Koons with his workers and factory and unique production ability, might just be the ultimate example of this.

Football Helmet by Jean-Michel Basquiat

In the next room of the exhibition there are several pieces created by the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. Basquiat and his artworks are inherently linked to his Puerto Rican and Haitian heritage. Untitled (Football Helmet), below, plays with the stereotype of Black men's athletic prowess, while simultaneously pointing to their vulnerable position in society.

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled (Football Helmet), 1981-1984, synthetic polymer paint and human hair on football helmet, Courtesy of the Mugrabi Collection, New York, viewed at HOTA, Gold Coast

This incredible artwork - part painting, part sculpture, part talisman - featuring the artist's own hair, is testament to the extent to which Basquiat exposed the most vulnerable aspects of himself in his work. Fascinatingly, he loaned Andy Warhol this very helmet with instructions to wear it for 24 hours to understand how it felt to be observed as a Black man in America.

Next week we will finish exploring the Pop Masters exhibition at the HOTA and move on to the ever relevant artist Banksy! Thanks for sticking with me! Below are a few pieces that we will discuss in the next post!