A look at new paintings by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan has shape-shifted more times in his career than any other pop musician. His music has always reflected that need to seek out new forms of self-expression. What's less known is that his paintings function in the same way -- providing virtual chapter markings and sign posts in a lifetime filled with twists and turns.
In a museum show that's scheduled to open in Europe in 2010, Dylan will exhibit nearly 100 of his works, including the world premiere of 30 large-format paintings from the artist's upcoming "Brazil" series. The show will also feature original paintings from Dylan's "The Drawn Blank" series.
The exhibition is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2010 at the National Gallery of Denmark (Statens Museum for Kunst) in Copenhagen.
Publicists for the show were able to provide images of two works that will appear at the museum. Both images come from Dylan's "The Drawn Blank" series.
In the first image (above), titled "Train Tracks" (2009), Dylan revisits his obsession with railway tracks that he has depicted in numerous paintings in the past. This latest variation features a blood-red sky dominating an anonymous rural landscape. The earth seems to reflect the hues of the sky as the railway stretches into infinity.
In the second image (below), titled "Man on a Bridge" (2009), Dylan once again depicts a favorite visual subject -- a man in a hat standing solitary in what appears to be a European city. The musician has created many variations on this striking composition.
In a statement, the museum's chief curator, Kasper Monrad, said that several of Dylan's images "reveal an affinity for some of the modernist masters, not least Henri Matisse's works from the 1920s."
-- David Ng
Credit: Bob Dylan
Looks like just a landscape with intense color. Just as he is a folk singer, it looks like folksy art. Best shows are LACMA (the tow houses colliding) and Phantom Gallery a little east on Wilshire, if you like real painters. Kimber Berry has some amazing work up there.
Posted by: Gary Sanders | September 15, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Dylan is a great artist with words, a poet with music as background and texture. He is not really folksy at all, but overcame the restrictions of his field, as Bob Marley, Joni Mitchel and a few others have.
As musical artists tend to jazz, blues, and Latin musics. Artists are always few and far between, and seldom cross disciplnary, as Mr. Zimmerman proves here. But he has earned the right, unlike others on this blog.
I aint going to see it, but hey, gotta give the man respect.
art collegia delenda est
Posted by: Donald Frazell | September 15, 2009 at 05:43 PM
two paintings out of nearly 100? what a tease! would love to see his work in a show in the USA. what an incredible talented man. thanks for sharing your talent with us.
Gayle Kenefick
Posted by: gayle kenefick | September 15, 2009 at 07:36 PM
bridge painting reminds me of ones I've seen done by jazz artist ej gold who did Herbie Hancock, now in the National Museum of American History
http://www.hei-art.com/jazzart/index.html
Posted by: toomy | September 16, 2009 at 11:36 AM
"Man on a Bridge" is my favorite Bob Dylan painting/drawing to date. It is an engaging composition, with well chosen colors and details. Perhaps a sailor lingering in the motion of the moment in a particular port-of-call? The visual style seems to echo early twentieth century art. The subject is objective for the most part, similar to what this artist has been doing with his music compositions lately. The blue thoroughfare is a delightful choice of color and the red cars floating on its surface provide a strong contrast and playful sense of motion. The artist could have chosen a better signature placement. All in all, a very enjoyable painting. I look forward to seeing more work from this painter.
Posted by: bridgegallery.net | September 17, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Bob Dylan is my favorite artist of all time...but he's a lousy painter. He's way better than David Byrne or Joni Mitchell...but he's still lousy.
When it comes to hybrid rocker/painters...Captain Beefheart and Paul McCartney are the only ones I know of who show any real painting talent.
Also, if you don't already know, Google "Frank Sinatra paintings"...that guy was great at whatever he did!! Check it out.
Anyway, i still love ol' God Dylan. Seeing him in concert recently was a fete not unlike seeing the Parthenon or the Mona Lisa.
Posted by: The Dark Bob | October 26, 2009 at 05:42 PM
Does anyone know who the publisher will be for the Brazil Series ? Thanks.
Posted by: Peter | November 25, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Dylan wrote great songs years ago - and now does mediocre ones. So perhaps it is not such a bad idea to try his hand at painting. His reputation as a music icon does interfere with the judgment of his work - but had he been 25, I would have given him the thumbs up. Now there is little time to improve...............but not bad.
Posted by: morten olesen | February 16, 2010 at 10:00 AM