Lucy McKenzie

Hey there Brad here.

Found an article on Lucy McKenzie in Parkett no76 2006. She's a Scottish artist who focuses mainly on painting, but also indulges in drawings, prints, photographs, performances and videos. What grabbed my attention was her wide array of cultural references.

The painting below is called "The Danger in Jazz". Initially looking like a pretty dull Jazz reference, it's actually drawn from a video still of Lionel Ritchie's performance at the 1984 Olympic games. Wow. Lionel Ritchie eh.

Interestingly enough the 1984 Games was the one in LA that was boycotted by the eastern block, so rather than just being cheesy cheeky 80's nostalgia the painting also deals with the cold war, when both the east and west used pop music and sporting events as staged propoganda.

This then morphs into the above painting "They are lying on their C.V.'s"

I was also struck by this painting of Olga Corbut as my sister used to be a gymnast and i pretty much never heard the end of how excellent this Olga Corbut person was. Well, this painting is based on the moment when she lost. So there Alice. Nice effect tho. Must go to work now.

http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/artnow/lucymckenzie/default.shtm

http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/lucy_mckenzie.htm