Displaying items by tag: art

A fool and their money are soon parted as the old expression goes, but what do you do when that fool is your best friend? Yasmina Reza’s 1996 Tony Award winning play ‘Art’ explores the balance of opinion, influence and friendship. Under Marti Lyons’ direction, Remy Bumppo’s revival is a madcap drawing room comedy that might even make you question your own sense of taste.

Parisians Marc, Serge and Yvan are close friends until Serge (Chad Bay) purchases an absurdly expensive, but terrible piece of art. While Serge beams over his new acquisition, Marc (Justin Albinder) is shocked at how bad the piece is and struggles to comprehend how his friend could possibly like it. Meanwhile people-pleasing Yvan (Eduardo Curley), is stuck in the middle trying to play both sides.

Similar to Reza’s most acclaimed play ‘God of Carnage’, ‘Art’ is confined to one chic set, but finds theatricality in richly dense dialog and the over-the-top slapstick humor. Though, none of that would work without the strong chemistry on stage.

There’s a certain sitcom style humor to ‘Art’ that harkens back to the best episodes of ‘Seinfeld’. This 80 minute play is about a splintered friendship that’s been chipped away through petty, unspoken grievances. The three-way friendship dynamic is having a moment right now on the heels of this past season of ‘The White Lotus’. Though, perhaps unlike ‘White Lotus’ Yasmina Reza was wise to set her friendship triad in circumstances that don’t rely on gender stereotypes to explore the uncomfortable truths about triangular relationships.

‘Art’ is also a statement on the very idea of opinion: when to have one, when to express one and ultimately how to process someone else's. In the social media era, there’s a kind of pressure to have a strong opinion about everything, even topics on which you’re not informed. Reza suggests that those with the strongest opinions, may not always be the most confident about them. Hence, Marc’s intense desire to convert Yvan to his point of view.

In a three character play, it’s hard to say who the main character is but really either character could be seen as the character on which the play hinges. Eduardo Curley brings Yvan to life in neurotic perfection. Maybe the reason he doesn’t have a strong opinion about the work is that he’s mostly concerned with the anxiety of living. Yvan’s long, animated and silly monologues help cut the tension between Marc and Serge, but both friends are trying to prove themselves right based on whether Yvan agrees.

Yasmina Reza’s play remains timeless in its contemporary allegory. While it may be named ‘Art’ this play is about more than just a silly painting. Lyons’ production at Remy Bumppo is stylish and funny thanks to the intimate cast and Liz Gomez’s gorgeous set. The short play packs a gag-a-minute but leaves you wondering what is the best way to politely disagree with someone you respect?

Through June 1 at Remy Bumppo at Theatre Wit. 1229 W Belmont Ave. 773-975-8150

*This review is also featured on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/!

Five years ago, anonymous graffiti artists caused quite the hubub at the Modern Wing of the Chicago Art Institute when they "bombed" a major wall of the wing. Their message was clear: THIS is modern art. While a clever, powerful statement, and seemingly jabbing at the art that resides within the walls of the modern art wing, it presents a paradox: Isn't graffiti, by definition, a rebellious art? Would graffiti still be as powerful and compelling if it were inside the museum rather than outside?

This Is Modern Art, written by Kevin Coval, attempts to answer these and hundreds of other questions regarding high art versus common art versus street art and so on. The play, while neither a knuckle-whitening drama nor a belly-clenching comedy, merely seeks to educate the viewer on this commonplace, yet mysterious, art form. You'll learn the differences between "tags," "stickers," "throw-ups," and "pieces," short for "masterpieces." You'll learn the names of dozens of Chicago graffiti artists, or "writers" as they're called. You'll see what goes into "bombing" -- spray painting an urban canvas as much as possible without getting caught -- a city location, the preparation that needs to be done, the items to have, the backup plan, the lookout, the logistics... it practically gives you a how-to guide.

We pass by graffiti every day in this city. Some of us may see it as an eye sore that should be scrubbed away, as vandalism, as criminal activity. Conversely, some of us may see it as art that makes the city more vibrant and beautiful, as spontaneous creativity, as colorful accents on a gray urban backdrop.

But what does this art say? What does it do? It wants to be respected and appreciated, surely. It wants recognition from those who decide what belongs in a museum and snub it as low art. But does graffiti even want to be in a museum? In and of itself, graffiti is rebellion. It's anti-establishment. It's instant social/political commentary. And it's fleeting, temporary. If the Art Institute commissioned a graffiti writer to fill a wall inside the museum, could this still be considered graffiti? Or would it lose the essential qualities that make it graffiti art?

Maybe the point isn't to be in a museum; maybe graffiti seeks to dismantle these labels and present the notion that art should be free and accessible to everyone. Maybe, and most likely, it just wants to get us talking, and if we are, then it has done its job.

This Is Modern Art (based on true events) is playing at Steppenwolf's Downstairs Theatre through March 14th. Tickets may be purchased at the box office or by calling 312-335-1650.